04 May 2022
Swiss Federal Council adopts measures on Horizon Europe
The Federal Council of Switzerland adopted a series of extensive measures to bridge the gap arising from the fact that Switzerland is currently considered a non-associated third country in Horizon Europe. Swiss researchers participating in EU projects are funded directly by the federal government, from financial resourced that were intended for Switzerland's participation in Horizon Europe. In addition, transitional solutions are offered for calls for proposals currently inaccessible to Swiss participants. Whilst rapid association to Horizon Europe remains the Federal Council’s goal, it has decided on further measures to diversify and strengthen the international orientation of Swiss research and innovation in its areas of excellence. Furthermore, the Federal Council has announced that it will intensify international cooperation in the space sector.
Switzerland continues to be a non-associated third country in the 2021–2027 Horizon package (this includes Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme, the Digital Europe programme and participation in ITER). Research and innovation players from non-associated third countries can participate in about two-thirds of the calls for proposals, but do not receive funding from the EU. Swiss researchers are barred from applying for individual grants from the European Research Council (ERC), the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). In lieu of these grants, analogous funding opportunities will be offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation and by Innosuisse. In total, funding for the measures introduced by the Federal Council for the 2021 and 2022 calls amounts to more than CHF 1.2 billion.
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