The UK Government has established a high level stakeholder working group on EU exit, universities, research and innovation.

The group will provide a forum for government and representatives of the universities, science, research and innovation communities to discuss issues of common interest in approaching the UK’s exit from the EU.

The overarching purpose of the group is to provide a forum for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department for Education (DfE), Department for Exiting the EU (DFExEU), and a broad range of UK representatives of the universities, science, research and innovation communities to discuss issues of common interest in approaching the UK’s exit from the EU.

The emphasis will be on considering all factors related to research and innovation that need to be taken into account as government policy develops.

The group is classified as a stakeholder working group according to the Cabinet Office guidance. This group will not replace other mechanisms that BEIS, DfE and DExEU use to engage with all stakeholders with an interest in this issue.

The group will:

• discuss the development of future policy on research and innovation both domestically and internationally in the light of the UK’s exit from the EU
• share information about changes to the wider research and innovation landscape that are, or are likely to become, relevant to research and innovation policy development following the UK’s departure from the EU
• share intelligence about the health of the universities, science, research and innovation communities
• where possible share evidence of the impacts and opportunities for these communities following the UK’s departure from the EU

The working group will be chaired by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. BEIS and DfE will provide a joint secretariat reflecting the minister’s dual role. Depending on the agenda for each meeting, the minister from DExEU will attend.

The Government said that given the sensitive nature of some of the issues that might be discussed, the content of discussion will remain confidential.

Members represent senior representatives from the UK’s universities, science, research and innovation communities. Current members include:

• Jo Johnson MP (Chair): Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
• Professor Madeleine Atkins: Chief Executive - Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
• Gareth Davies: Director General, Business and Science Group - Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
• Nicola Dandridge: Chief Executive - Universities UK (UUK)
• Professor Dame Ann Dowling: President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
• Professor Sir John Holman: President of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Sir John Kingman: Non-executive Chair of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• Dr Ruth McKernan: Chief Executive – InnovateUK
• Professor Philip Nelson: Chair of the RCUK Strategic Executive, Chief Executive EPSRC
• Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan: President of the Royal Society
• Tom Thackray: Director of Innovation – CBI
• Professor Sir Mark Walport: Government Chief Scientific Adviser