Royal Society: good science has no boundaries

The UK launch event for Horizon 2020 has opened at the Royal Society in London.

Addressing delegates at the home of UK science, Sir Paul Nurse, president of The Royal Society, said “science and research was at the centre of Europe” and that “good science had no boundaries”.

Also speaking to attendees at the event in central London, and attended by Horizon 2020 Projects, was Sir John O’Reilly, director general of knowledge and innovation at the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. He commented that UK involvement in FP7 had been good, but hoped industry would play a greater role in Horizon 2020.

He said that “UK business participation has not been as strong as desired in FP7”, adding that the simplification agenda in Horizon 2020 should help to encourage SMEs and larger businesses to become involved.

Also speaking will be Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Skills, and Robert-Jan Smits, director general, DG Research and Innovation in the European Commission.