EUA and Swissuniversities call for Switzerland to join Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
“The EUA
European University Association
and Swissuniversities call for a rapid association of Switzerland with Horizon Europe and Erasmus+”, they declare on 04/12/2024.
The Swiss Federal Council and the European Commission adopted final mandates for the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU
European Union
on 08 and 12/03 respectively.
“Given the current geopolitical climate and growing concerns about knowledge security, it is more important than ever to focus on what we have in common rather than what divides us.
The current negotiating package includes an agreement that should lead to Switzerland's association with European research, innovation and education programs, namely Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. During a transition phase planned for 2024, Swiss researchers will once again be able to apply for the prestigious Advanced grants from the European Research Council."
"Everyone wants Switzerland's association with Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, but this is embedded in issues that are much more difficult politically. We hope they can be resolved quickly, because as soon as they do, there will no longer be any political obstacles to the association agreement", Thomas Jorgensen, director of policy coordination and foresight of the EUA, told News Tank, on the sidelines of the annual conference of the association which is held in Swansea (Wales).
“Switzerland belongs to the European research and training system and this also belongs to us. Our country breathes internationality and we cannot cut ourselves off from that,” Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities and rector of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, told News Tank. She also participates in the EUA's work in Swansea.
Switzerland and the European Union "share the same core values"
"Research is better equipped to preserve and advance Europe's prosperity, security and fundamental values when it has reliable structures to collaborate with like-minded partners in research and innovation", declare the EUA European University Association and Swissuniversities.
“This is especially true with partners who have an excellent research and education landscape and who share the same core values of academic freedom, research ethics and democracy.”
"At the international level, it is true that questions of security and the geopolitical situation are important. On the contrary, it would be wrong for a European country to think that it is enough to concentrate on itself and that everything will be fine,” said Thomas Jorgensen.
“The interruption of collaborations is damaging” (Luciana Vaccaro)
“We often make the Swiss association an issue of economic means but it is almost the least important, it is above all a question of collaboration, connection and access to prestigious scholarships like the ERC European Research Council ”, notes Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities.
“The interruption of collaborations between Switzerland and the EU European Union is damaging because collaborations and research and training projects are built over decades. This is what we need.”
“Aspiration for a full association”
The two associations also underline “their common aspiration for a full association of Switzerland with Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, which would bring essential clarity to the European R&I Research & Innovation and higher education sector”.
"The terms of the association of Switzerland should be similar to those of the United Kingdom, that is to say a full association. This has nothing to do with what we have seen with Canada or in New Zealand, which are only on pillar 2 (global issues), particularly because Switzerland is so strong on pillar 1 (excellence in science)", indicates Thomas Jorgensen.
"On the question of the extent of association with other programs like Euratom, Copernicus and Digital Europe, the current generation of programmes almost always have this clause, and I think most people would be happy to see Switzerland in digital Europe, for example."
Hope for a return to collaboration in 2025
According to Thomas Jorgensen, "the plans are for the negotiations to end in 2024. If that happens, the collaboration could take off very soon after. 2025 could be the year the collaboration with Switzerland returns to normal."
“I am hopeful that the agreements will be passed in 2025, because it is in the general interest,” concludes Luciana Vaccaro.
© News Tank Academic - 2024 - French copyright law: "Infringement of copyright (...) is punishable by three years imprisonment and a €300,000 fine. Infringement consists of all forms of reproduction, display or circulation of any intellectual work, in any medium, in violation of the rights of the author."