EU/SWISS RESEARCH FUNDING WORTH €400 MILLION
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The European Union and Switzerland have signed a comprehensive international agreement associating Switzerland to parts of Horizon 2020, Research and Training Programme of Euratom and the ITER project. This will see Switzerland participate in project consortia in eligible programmes on an equal footing with EU Member States, while financially contributing to these programmes with an estimated €400 million until the end of 2016.
Commenting on last week's signing, Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Science, Research and Innovation said: "This agreement is of paramount importance for our scientific communities. EU researchers benefit from access to excellent Swiss research facilities and institutions. At the same time, access to schemes for researcher mobility like Marie Sklodowska-Curie or to excellent research in programmes like ERC and Future and Emerging Technologies is vital for the Swiss. Furthermore, with this agreement Switzerland renews its commitment towards our long standing and fruitful collaboration."
As part of the Horizon 2020 programme, Swiss beneficiaries will be able to participate with an associated status in actions under the "Excellent Science" pillar, which contains the European Research Council, Future and Emerging Technologies, Research Infrastructures and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions as well as in actions under the specific objective "Spreading excellence and widening participation". In addition, Switzerland will also participate as an associated country in the Euratom Programme and the ITER project.
The participation of Switzerland is effective from 15 September 2014 until 31 December 2016.