Brexit is set to become a reality, but its likely consequences for researchers are still emerging. The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January, but has remained part of EU trade and travel agreements while the final Brexit deal is negotiated. On 1 January 2021, those ties will be severed—and the future of research funding, international collaboration, and wrinkle-free supply chains of lab stocks hinge on the details of the final deal. Negotiations are ongoing this week, with stubborn disagreements over rules that would prevent businesses on either side having an unfair advantage because of labor and environmental standards, or state subsidies. But even if a deal is struck and ratified by both sides before the end of the year, many of the consequences for science will take time to unfold.

英国脱欧将成为现实，但对研究人员的可能后果仍在显现。英国于1月31日离开欧盟，但在谈判最终英国脱欧协议时，它仍是欧盟贸易和旅行协议的一部分。在2021年1月1日，这些联系将被切断-未来研究资金，国际合作以及实验室股票的无皱纹供应链的未来取决于最终交易的细节。本周谈判仍在进行中，对于规则的顽固分歧，这些规则将阻止双方的企业由于劳工和环境标准或国家补贴而获得不公平的优势。但是，即使双方在年底之前达成并批准了一项协议，对科学的许多后果仍需要时间来展现。