ETH News

Switzerland will be partially associated with the European research programme Horizon 2020 from mid-September. This partial association, limited until the end of 2016, will enable researchers in Switzerland to apply for funding from the European Research Council (ERC) again.

After Switzerland's exclusion from the EU education and research programmes, negotiations could now start to move forward again. The aim is to come up with interim solutions for Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. But foreign minister Didier Burkhalter remains cautious.

The Swiss National Science Foundation’s temporary solutions aim to limit the damage after Switzerland’s exclusion from the EU’s research programmes. Switzerland’s full association with Horizon 2020 nevertheless continues to be the top objective of the Federal Council.

“Horizon 2020” was launched on 14 January 2014. Switzerland is a full associate member. The EU has increased the budget for the programme by 30% and has promised to reduce the administrative hurdles.

Good news for ETH Zurich researchers: Switzerland is continuing its involvement in the European Union’s research framework programme.