Horizon Europe
Since the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU on new agreements were successfully concluded, the European Commission has fully activated a transitional arrangement as of 1 January 2025, which enables researchers and innovators in Switzerland to participate in almost all calls for proposals of Horizon Europe as beneficiaries, from the 2025 programme year onwards. This means that they can submit project proposals in the role of coordinator. Switzerland’s participation in calls for proposals in areas considered strategic by the EU (including quantum and space) will be the subject of technical discussions with the European Commission.
For information on the Swiss participation in the new generation of EU programmes, please consult the website of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation: www.horizon-europe.ch
The website provides official information, including Q&A on the Swiss participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and other related programmes and initiatives (Horizon Europe, partnerships, Digital Europe Programme, Euratom Programme and ITER).
Horizon 2020
Since 1 January 2017, Swiss researchers and institutions were able to participate in all parts of Horizon 2020.
The negotiations with the European Union on the association of Switzerland to Horizon 2020 had been suspended following the adoption of the popular vote against mass immigration on 9 February 2014. Meanwhile, an agreement with the European Commission (EC) providing a partial and provisory association to Horizon 2020 had been negotiated. The agreement offered companies, researchers and institutions in Switzerland access to priorities ‘Excellent Science’ and ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ as well as to activities falling under EURATOM and International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) until the end of 2016.
Erasmus+ (2021-2027)
Switzerland is currently considered as non-associated third country (Partner Country) in the EU programme Erasmus+ (2021-2027). The Swiss government officially aims to re-associate to Erasmus+ for the year 2027 and is working swiftly towards full association still in this programme generation.
The status of ‘Partner Country’ implies that Swiss institutions are not eligible for Erasmus+ mobility projects and that funded participation in cooperation projects is restricted to certain actions only and subject to specific conditions. However, under the new programme generation, institutions in associated ‘Programme Countries’ can use up to 20% of their awarded funds for outgoing mobility [valid for higher education and accredited vocational education and training (VET) mobility projects] to any Partner Country, including Switzerland.
Negotiations on Switzerland’s association to the previous generation of Erasmus+ (2014-2020) were suspended following the adoption of the federal popular initiative against mass immigration in February 2014. In order to guarantee the continuation of Swiss participation in European mobility activities at all educational levels, a transitional solution financed by the Swiss government, the Swiss programme for Erasmus+, was set up. The Swiss solution supports mobility between Switzerland and Erasmus+ Programme Countries in both directions (outgoing and incoming).
Movetia is Switzerland’s national agency for exchange and mobility and responsible for the implementation of the Swiss programme for Erasmus+. The agency publishes calls for proposals and provides information on application procedures and specific participation conditions.
For more information on the Swiss participation in Erasmus+, please consult the website of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.