The Commission and the Swiss Government have concluded negotiations on the association of Switzerland to all three pillars of Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation and the Euratom research and training programme. The signing of the Agreement on Swiss participation in Union programmes is expected to take place in 2025, pending the completion of all necessary validations on both sides.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said:
“Switzerland’s association to Horizon Europe and the Euratom programmes brings the long-standing cooperation between Switzerland and the European Union to a higher level. This strengthened cooperation will enable European research and innovation communities to benefit from a wider pool of talents and scientific excellence. I welcome this very positive development, which in turn improves Europe’s resilience, prosperity, competitiveness and well-being.”
Association of third countries to the EU’s framework programme on research and innovation is the closest form of international cooperation in research and innovation between the Union and non-EU countries. Once signed, the association will enable Swiss researchers and organisations to receive funding and participate in the programme on equal terms with entities from the EU Members States.
Background
Switzerland is a long-standing partner of the EU in research and innovation cooperation. Swiss researchers and innovators have participated in the EU’s framework programmes for research and innovation since 1987. In the same year, the EU-Switzerland Science and technology Agreement entered into force. After a period of partial association, Switzerland became associated to all parts of Horizon 2020 in January 2017.
Switzerland is strongly involved in most European programmes, including CERN, the European Space Agency, COST and EUREKA. It was also associated to the entire Euratom research and training programme 2020-2024 and participates in the activities carried out by the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion for Energy for 2014-2020.
More information
International cooperation with Switzerland
Press release
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
