Britain’s life-sciences sector should not expect the European Union to continue to allow access to EU research funding and participation in scientific programmes post-Brexit, industry experts have cautioned.

The UK has received €8.8bn (£7.81bn) in R&D funding from the EU, and participates in the Horizon 2020 programme, which distributes billions of euros in scientific research grants across the single market.

Norway, Turkey and Israel – non-EU countries – all participate in Horizon 2020 and benefit from it. While it’s not impossible for the UK to do the same post-Brexit, this cannot be assumed, particularly given the acrimonious feelings among other member states towards Britain, delegates at a conference hosted by QuintilesIMS were told.

“We should not expect that the EU will just hand it to us on a plate during negotiations,” said Luke Tryl, author of a report from QuintilesIMS that looks at Brexit and life sciences.