Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News

Image source, Peter Powell

In May the Prime Minister made the strongest commitment yet to "fully associate" the UK with the EU's £68bn research programme post-Brexit.

Theresa May said the UK would be willing to make "an appropriate contribution" and in return it would expect a "suitable level of influence".

She also said that Britain would participate in R&D with the EU's nuclear body Euratom.

The announcements have been welcomed by UK scientists.

British research is one of the greatest financial beneficiaries of membership of the EU. Between 2007 and 2013, the UK received £8bn from the EU for research - £3bn more than it put into the research budget.

As well as the money, membership of the so-called Framework programme enabled British scientists to participate in European research projects. But what is most important to UK researchers is the right to influence the areas of research that are funded.

Non-EU members are eligible to receive EU research funding but have no say in the development of research projects. There have therefore been concerns that Brexit would damage UK research.

Read more here.

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The potential loss of EU talent has emerged as a key concern of Scotland's public services, according to BBC research

Responses from Freedom of Information requests to 80 public bodies highlighted a range of issues, including that of EU migration.

The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.

Both the Scottish and UK governments have been intensifying their preparations with six months to go.

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Some of the biggest names in science are pleading for a deal on Brexit to avoid damaging British and European research.

A letter to Theresa May and Jean-Claude-Juncker has been signed by 29 Nobel Laureates and six winners of the prestigious Fields medal.

Science needs "the flow of people and ideas across borders", it says.

It comes as a survey found that many scientists are considering leaving the UK.

Sir Paul Nurse, one of the signatories and a Nobel prize-winner for research into breast cancer, said: "The message is, 'take science seriously'."

Read more here.

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

At decision time a majority of MSPs are expected to back a public vote on the terms of Brexit at decision time.

They’ll do so via a Liberal Democrat amendment to a Scottish government motion on scientific research and Brexit.

The amendment calls for “unequivocal support for a public vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal”.

SNP, Greens, Lib Dems and possibly some Labour members in favour. Tories expected to vote against.

Green MSP Ross Greer warns the university sector will suffer by a "bizarre mix of incompetence and malice" coming from the UK government.

We can't pick and choose to keep the bits of the EU we like and leave at the same time, he insists.

Mr Greer highlights the value of funding provided by the EU for research and the high levels of EU national staff and students.

While welcoming confirmation that funding will be provided for the current cycle of funding, the Green MSP questions what will happen to research projects after this.

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Mr Scott says few in academia, even less in politics, believe a UK government will pay more into Horizon 2020 than they currently do, after 2020.

The Lib Dem MSP states: "So many in this sector want a right to vote on whatever cobbled up negotiation appears out of London and Brussels."

Mr Scott says in terms of the university and research sector, "we should give them a right to vote on it and their future, and that's the amendment I move.".

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says Scotland's higher education institutions and staff are a strength.

"But it is a strength we are now in danger of losing," he warns.

There is a depth of concern within the science community about Brexit he says.

He asks how is "turning our back" on research staff and international collaboration in our best interests.

Mr Gray says: "The contribution EU citizens make to our research sector is indeed vast."

He adds 60% of the UK's internationally co-authored papers are with EU partners.

The Labour MSP says that for such strong bonds to continue our researchers must be able to travel to the EU and vice versa.

He argues: "The truth is that Brexit is already damaging science and research."

Image source, EUROPEAN UNION 2018

The European Commission has set out how it wants to spend €100bn (£87bn) on science in the next EU budget.

The funding programme, dubbed HorizonEU, external, covers the period 2021-2027.

Expenditure would be split across three main areas, with the largest sum (€52.7bn) going on "global challenges", such as health, energy, and food.

Open science, or researcher-driven projects, would get €25.8bn; and innovation directed at taking ideas to market would receive €13.5bn.

The spending proposal was set out by Science Commissioner Carlos Moedas in a press conference in Brussels.

• EC seeks to boost space spending
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Labour MSP Iain Gray says Brexit has been a "chaotic and catastrophic process".

We have world-leading universities and we excel in research, he adds.

Our research excellence is supported by our EU links, Mr Gray says, pointing to funding in particular.

We must continue to benefit from Horizon programmes, he argues.

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Mr Mundell stresses that the UK government is working very hard to ensures the stable status of EU citizens is maintained.

He says: "All EU nationals are welcome here in Scotland and we very much value the contribution they make."

The Tory MSP adds he is pleased the UK will continue working in the Horizon programme.

Mr Mundell says his party can't back the Lib Dem amendment but adds "I commend them on their sometimes obsessive wish to hold another referendum, we believe the matter has been settled."

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says it is vitally important to celebrate the outstanding contribution of Scotland's research institutions.

As a leave voter myself, practically no one voted to diminish Scotland's universities or research links with Europe and the rest of the world he says.

We want to see our research sector "survive, grow and thrive".

Education Secretary John Swinney asks how ending freedom of movement will impact this aim.

Mr Mundell accepts there will be challenges, but the British people voted for Brexit.

Scotland's participation in Horizon 2020 is under threat, Mr Lochhead warns.

"Years of building trust through cooperation and partnership, now being sacrificed Conservative party in-fighting," the science minister says.

He suggests that the UK's participation in Horizon 2020 has already reduced since 2016.

Mr Lochhead adds: "We face the prospect of a Brexit brain drain."

He calls for continued freedom of movement and for participation in EU research programmes to carry on.

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Mr Lochhead says: "Science and research is an important activity in Scotland."

He explains: "The total investment in research and development in Scotland is £2.3bn pounds a year,"

The science minister insists more and more expert voices have been speaking out about the damage that Brexit is causing to this investment.

International collaboration is at the heart of the success of science and research in Scotland, Mr Mackay adds.