Bern: The European Union and Switzerland have officially signed an agreement enabling Switzerland’s participation in Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and the Euratom Research and Training programme. This agreement grants Swiss researchers and organizations the same privileges as their EU counterparts, allowing them to lead consortia, receive EU funding, and access all thematic pillars and instruments of these programs. The collaboration aims to enhance cross-border talent pooling, research infrastructures, and industrial capabilities, thereby accelerating progress in areas such as climate solutions, digital transformation, and energy security.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the agreement was signed in Bern by Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, and Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. The agreement is effective retroactively from January 1, 2025. It also provides for Switzerland’s membership in Fusion for Energy starting in 2026, enabling Swiss contributions to ITER, a major international fusion energy project. The agreement further includes plans for Switzerland’s association with Erasmus+ in 2027, and once the Agreement on Health is in force, participation in the EU4Health programme.
This agreement is part of a larger package designed to consolidate and expand EU-Switzerland relations, negotiated between March and December 2024. The successful ratification of this package is crucial for long-term cooperation in research and other areas, modernizing a core element of the EU-Switzerland relationship. The EU remains committed to completing this process and strengthening its partnership with Switzerland.