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Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Switzerland's Federal Council has signed off an agreement that will allow the country to join Horizon Europe, another step towards ending a diplomatic stalemate over association that has dragged on since 2021. On April 9, the council approved the EU Programmes Agreement, which allows association to Horizon Europe, the Euratom atomic research programme and the Digital Europe Programme. 

Science Diplomacy: Exploring Strategies, Instruments, Current Priorities, and the Role of International Development Cooperation

Science Diplomacy: Exploring Strategies, Instruments, Current Priorities, and the Role of International Development Cooperation

Contemporary science diplomacy holds promise not only to strengthen diplomatic and science realms but also to advance sustainable development transformations. 

Swiss Association to Horizon Europe Faces Referendum Challenge by 2028

Swiss Association to Horizon Europe Faces Referendum Challenge by 2028

Switzerland could once again fall out of the EU's Horizon Europe research programme if voters reject a wider, underpinning deal in a likely 2026 or 2028 referendum, the leaders of the country's biggest research funding agency have warned. An overarching deal between Brussels and Bern expected this week should allow Swiss researchers to finally fully participate in Horizon Europe, after years of political squabbles locked them out of certain parts of the programme since it began in 2021. 

Swiss Researchers Should Be Able to Apply for European Research Council Grants in 2024

Swiss Researchers Should Be Able to Apply for European Research Council Grants in 2024

The EU and Switzerland have made further progress in talks about their relationship, opening the door for Swiss academics to apply for European Research Council (ERC) grants from next year. On 15 December, Switzerland's ruling Federal Council signed off a draft negotiating mandate with the EU, paving the way for formal negotiations to start next year. That followed on from 18 months of exploratory talks about everything from food safety to financial markets.

Federal Council Regulates Crisis-Related Activation of Scientific Expertise

Federal Council Regulates Crisis-Related Activation of Scientific Expertise

The Federal Council has adopted an implementation proposal regarding the creation of ad-hoc scientific advisory groups during crises. Switzerland’s ERI institutions are to jointly propose experts for the groups.

Swiss Cross Fingers for Fast Association to Horizon Europe After Commission Opens Talks

Swiss Cross Fingers for Fast Association to Horizon Europe After Commission Opens Talks

Swiss university leaders have welcomed the European Commission's announcement that it will finally open exploratory talks on Horizon Europe association, with hopes this could lead to an agreement as early as next year.

Swiss Eye 'window of Opportunity' for Horizon Europe Association After Federal Elections

Swiss Eye 'window of Opportunity' for Horizon Europe Association After Federal Elections

Swiss voters will go to the polls on October 22 as the country's scientists endure another year locked out of Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programme. In May 2021, Swiss leaders walked away from negotiations to agree a new overarching deal between Brussels and Bern, citing fears that it would allow EU citizens working in Switzerland to claim equal welfare payments.

Swiss Expect to Wait Until at Least 2025 for Association After UK Horizon Europe Deal

Swiss Expect to Wait Until at Least 2025 for Association After UK Horizon Europe Deal

Swiss university leaders expect to have to wait until at least 2025 before associating to Horizon Europe after the UK struck a deal with Brussels last week. Switzerland, like the UK, has been excluded due to wider political disagreements with the EU. But while the UK solved its dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol in February this year, Switzerland hasn't even formally re-started talks with Brussels that could pave the way for association.

How Science Bolstered a Key European Climate-change Case

How Science Bolstered a Key European Climate-change Case

A group of older women in Switzerland has taken the government to court over its inaction on climate change. Our experience of preparing evidence for the case offers six lessons for researchers.

Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants

Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants

The Swiss Federal Council has announced €625 million in grants for researchers to participate this year in Horizon Europe and other EU programmes, such as Euratom, ITER and Digital Europe. Switzerland is not an associated country in Horizon Europe and is currently locked out of other EU programmes as well, which means Swiss researchers have no access to funding from the European Commission. However, they can participate in about two thirds of Horizon Europe calls, provided they have their own money.

Meeting of Joint Swiss-British Committee for Science and Innovation

Meeting of Joint Swiss-British Committee for Science and Innovation

On 2 May 2023, State Secretary Martina Hirayama and British Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, opened the first meeting of the Joint Swiss-British Committee for Science and Innovation. This meeting between the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the British Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was mainly centred on bilateral cooperation in research and innovation.

Fearing China, Switzerland Sacrifices Scientific Ties with Taiwan

Fearing China, Switzerland Sacrifices Scientific Ties with Taiwan

Switzerland has so far refused to strengthen scientific cooperation with Taiwan, citing respect for the One China policy and fearing economic repercussions. But this hampers relations with the world’s largest producer of semiconductors.  

Switzerland Unveils 2023 Space Strategy

Switzerland Unveils 2023 Space Strategy

The government wants to safeguard the Swiss space research sector while promoting a "sustainable and responsible" universe. Adopting the Federal Space Policy 2023 on Wednesday, the government said the goal was to take account of the “rapid developments in and increasing importance of outer space”.

Geopolitical Tensions Mean Joining the EU's €95.5B Research Programme Isn't Getting Any Easier

Geopolitical Tensions Mean Joining the EU's €95.5B Research Programme Isn't Getting Any Easier

The EU is making some progress towards adding international partners to its Horizon Europe research programme, but complaints about the proposed membership terms continue to stir controversy.