Horizon Package 2021-2027: Federal Council enables direct financing and examines further measures

Switzerland is currently a non-associated third country in terms of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon Europe" and related programmes and initiatives. Under this status, researchers and innovators in Switzerland can participate in roughly two thirds of the programme. However, they do not receive funding from the European Commission. On 20 October, the Federal Council instructed the EAER to provide direct funding to the players concerned and approved the necessary credit reallocations. In addition, it has instructed the EAER, in cooperation with the FDF, to examine possible complementary and replacement measures to strengthen Switzerland's standing as a location for research and innovation. As Switzerland is currently considered a non-associated third country in the 2021-2027 Horizon package, Swiss research and innovation actors can only participate in two thirds of the programme. Even where participation is possible, Swiss project partners do not receive funding from the European Commission, but from the Federal Government or rather the EAER/State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).