London, 18 February 2026 – As the UK continues redefining its research and innovation relationship with the European Union following Brexit, the EU-funded CONNECTS-UK project has played a key role in strengthening scientific cooperation and researcher mobility between the two ecosystems.

After two years, the project concluded with a high-level closing event co-sponsored by Fundación Banco Santander, in Queen Mary University of London, bringing together European researchers working in the UK, academic institutions, diplomatic representatives, policy-makers, science organisations and journalists to reflect on the initiative’s impact and explore future collaboration opportunities.

Created to support European research communities navigating the post-Brexit landscape and supported by the embassies of the Netherlands, Italy and France, CONNECTS-UK has helped bring researchers, institutions and policymakers closer together, strengthening professional networks, supporting mobility, and promoting science diplomacy and public engagement. By empowering the European research diaspora in the UK as a bridge between research systems, the initiative has contributed to maintaining strong dialogue and collaboration between the UK and the European Union. Preliminary survey data reflects this impact, with 83% of respondents reporting increased awareness of EU research opportunities and resources, and 85% reporting a more positive perception of EU values specially in scientific cooperation after participating in CONNECTS-UK activities.

Opening the event, Javier Sajuria, Dean for Education at Queen Mary University of London, welcomed attendees on behalf of the host institution and underlined the value of international cooperation in research and higher education.

Sara Alvira de Celis and Javier Pardo Díaz, Co-Chairs of CONNECTS-UK representing Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU), the project’s lead organisation, said: ​​“Connects-UK has played a vital role in bringing together EU scientific communities across the UK and aligning them around a shared purpose. The project has championed European values of collaboration and unity while supporting EU researchers and delivering wider benefits for UK society”

Isabell Poppelbaum, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom, representing the project’s main funder, said:
“EU–UK cooperation in science and innovation lies at the very heart of our relationship and is essential to our shared future. The UK’s association to Horizon Europe reconnects our research communities within one of the world’s leading programmes, enabling us to pool talent, drive cutting-edge innovation, and tackle global challenges together. Connects-UK has undoubtedly been a pivotal catalyst in building partnerships between EU and UK scientists and researchers — the very partnerships that are fundamental to addressing global challenges, advancing our societies, and strengthening our economies.”

Izaskun Lacunza, Director of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), stated: “FECYT is proud to have supported CONNECTS-UK, which has stood as a powerful example of scientific cooperation and science diplomacy in a changing European landscape. At a post-Brexit moment that required renewed vision and commitment, the project has shown that a strong and dynamic scientific partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom remains essential and mutually beneficial.”

Anna Fumarola, Project Manager of CONNECTS-UK, highlighted that “Through 52 activities and initiatives delivered across the UK, the project engaged more than 1,500 participants and over 80 stakeholders and helped establish new collaborative channels between researchers, universities and policy actors”. 

Policy and advocacy engagement formed a core component of the project, facilitating dialogue between diaspora researchers, European embassies, UK institutions and policy organisations, while contributing to evidence-based discussions  and research on mobility challenges affecting researchers after Brexit. 

Science communication and social inclusion were also central to the project. Through educational outreach programmes delivered in collaboration with Native Scientists, CONNECTS-UK helped widen participation in science among children from migrant backgrounds across the UK through workshops in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, showing that science can speak many languages and belong to everyone.

Participants in the panel “How did participation in CONNECTS-UK activities benefit you?” echoed the findings of the previous surveys, in which 93% of respondents reported significant professional benefits. These included increased visibility for young diaspora professionals, greater exposure for their research, and stronger amplification of their voices in advocacy campaigns.

The panel “Science Diplomacy and Policy” highlighted the strategic value of research diasporas for diplomatic missions, emphasising their role in providing expertise and facilitating bilateral dialogue on research and innovation.

The event also marked the launch of the CONNECTS-UK Network of European Diasporas in the UK, designed to ensure long-term collaboration and advocacy for European researchers working in the UK beyond the project’s lifetime.

The programme concluded by recognising excellence in science communication among European researchers working in the UK. Attendees voted for the Best Blog award to Dr Eva Junque (Spain), from the University of Birmingham, for her article Forever Chemicals and the Science That Informs Environmental Policy, highlighting how research can inform environmental decision-making.

The Best Video award went to Victoria García Giner (Spain), from the Rosalind Franklin Institute (Oxford), for her video showcasing her research in high-resolution life science microscopy aimed at finding the specific proteins that influence health and disease.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anna Fumarola
Project Manager CONNECTS-UK
project.manager@connects-uk.org

Further details on the CONNECTS-UK website and its social media:  X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About CONNECTS-UK:

CONNECTS-UK stands for ‘Connecting European Communities Through Science in the UK’ and is a pioneering pan-EU project co-funded by the European Union (EU) that aims to advance scientific collaborations between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK) in the post-Brexit context. The initiative brings together scientific diasporas from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, and the non-profit organisation, Native Scientists, to foster cross-border research, promote knowledge exchange, and drive innovation. CONNECTS-UK serves as a catalyst for groundbreaking scientific collaborations and partnerships in diverse fields of study. The EU funding of around half a million euros not only reflects its commitment to advancing scientific progress but also underscores the importance of maintaining robust research ties between the EU and the UK despite the challenges posed by Brexit.

By creating a robust framework for cross-border collaboration, CONNECTS-UK will enable scientists, researchers, and innovators to overcome the barriers created by Brexit and tap into the vast wealth of expertise and resources available in both the EU and the UK to jointly tackle pressing global challenges. 

CONNECTS-UK is a partnership, open to new collaborators, between

• Association of Italian Scientists in the UK (AISUK)
• Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (DNU inUK)
• Finnish Science Society in the UK
• French Education and Research Network UK (FERN-UK)
• Native Scientists
• Polonium Foundation
• Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the UK (PARSUK)
• Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU)
• Association of Slovens Educated (VTIS)