Guidance

Participating in EU nuclear research from 1 January 2021

How researchers working on civil nuclear fission and fusion will be affected from 1 January 2021.

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 13 August 2019
• Last updated: 24 December 2020 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 31 December 2020

This page has been withdrawn because the Brexit transition period has ended.

The UK has reached an agreement with the EU and Euratom to participate in:

• the Euratom Research and Training Programme
• Fusion for Energy
• the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project as a Fusion for Energy member

More information will be published in due course.

The UK left the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) on 31 January 2020.

The UK has reached an agreement with the EU and Euratom to participate from 1 January 2021 in:

• the Euratom Research and Training (R&T) Programme
• Fusion for Energy
• the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, as a Fusion for Energy member

This agreement is subject to ratification of the overall deal and finalisation of the EU’s budget and the Programme regulations.

Euratom Research and Training programme

Awards and consortiums

UK scientists, researchers and businesses will be able to participate in and bid for competitive awards from the Euratom R&T Programme.

UK participants will be able to lead consortia and distribute funding to other participants.

Fusion for Energy and ITER

The UK will remain a member of Fusion for Energy. UK companies can continue to bid for ITER contracts tendered by both Fusion for Energy and the ITER organisation.

UK researchers and staff can continue working at ITER from 1 January 2021.

Joint European Torus (JET)

The UK Atomic Energy Authority will continue to operate the Joint European Torus (JET) until at least October 2021. The UK government will continue to explore options for operation beyond that date.

Published 13 August 2019
Last updated 24 December 2020 + show all updates

1. 24 December 2020

   The UK has reached an agreement with the EU and Euratom to participate in the Euratom Research and Training programme, Fusion for Energy and the ITER project.

2. 13 August 2019

   First published.