12 Apr 2024
EUA and swissuniversities call for rapid association of Switzerland to Horizon Europe
The European University Association (EUA) and swissuniversities have issued a joint statement welcoming the Swiss Federal Council and the European Commission’s respective adoption of final mandates for negotiations between Switzerland and the EU.
Both associations state that research is best equipped to preserve and advance Europe’s prosperity, security and core values when it has reliable structures for collaborating with like-minded partners in Research & Innovation. This is especially true with partners that have an excellent research and education landscape and share the same core values in academic freedom, research ethics and democracy. With the current geopolitical climate and growing concerns around knowledge security, the paper states, it is more important than ever to focus on what we have in common instead of what divides us.
The current negotiation package includes an agreement that should lead to the association of Switzerland to European research, innovation and education programmes, namely Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. In a transition phase for 2024, researchers in Switzerland can again apply for prestigious European Research Council Advanced Grants. EUA and swissuniversities underline their common aspiration for full association of Switzerland to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, which would provide much needed clarity to the European R&I and higher education sector.