With researchers leaving the country, professors reluctant to work at Swiss universities, and Swiss students feeling disadvantaged, research in Switzerland is experiencing hard times. The reason? An unresolved relationship between Switzerland and the EU. Within the world of European research, Switzerland has become a “third country” without privileges.
“We’re a small country that has always relied on recruiting foreign researchers,” says Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board. According to him, that’s why there is an international atmosphere at all Swiss universities, which is conducive to the integration of people from abroad.
Knowledge and education are among Switzerland’s most important resources. This is reflected in its high-performing educational system, first-class infrastructure, and universities that regularly achieve the top spots in international rankings. Hengartner describes it as a veritable “ecosystem” that promotes cutting-edge research and has a solid, flexible – yet at the same time competitive – funding system. “Of course, we’re also able to offer excellent working conditions,” adds Martin Vetterli, President of EPFL Lausanne. He goes on to explain how the density of renowned scientists in Switzerland is far above average, which in turn attracts more young talent to the country. Or should that be “attracted”, based on the current situation?
The breakdown of negotiations with the EU over a framework agreement has had severe consequences for research. Switzerland was downgraded by the EU to a “non-associated third country” in its research framework programme, resulting in Switzerland losing its previous position and influence within Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme for research and innovation with a budget of almost 100 billion euros for a period of seven years (2021–2027). Compared to the 79 billion euros backing Horizon 2020, the previous programme in which Switzerland was still an associated partner, the funding has been increased significantly.
Although Switzerland may not be fully excluded from collaborating with its most important research partner, Swiss researchers are no longer able to lead large joint projects or receive grants from the European Research Council (ERC). Hengartner refers to these ERC grants as the “Champions League of research”, while EPFL President Vetterli can speak from his own experience: “I would not have been able to advance my research in digital signal processing as far as I did without an ERC grant of almost two million euros over five years.” Yves Flückiger, President of swissuniversities, also points out that Swiss researchers are completely excluded from several key areas of research, including the flagship programme for quantum research, which is of strategic importance for driving forward digitalisation; the construction of the international nuclear fusion reactor ITER, where Switzerland has been involved in project management since 2007; and the Digital Europe programme, which focuses on high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
According to Vetterli, Switzerland used to be among the most active of the associated countries involved in EU research, especially in the fields of health, environmental studies, climate, and quantum technology. Now, however, it has been sidelined for over a year, despite the financial efforts of the federal government, which has stepped in with interim funding of 1.2 billion Swiss francs. Vetterli reports on start-ups that originated on the EPFL campus and are now opening offices in Europe to ensure they continue to attract talent and can benefit from European funding, while Flückiger has heard of the first group of researchers who have already left Switzerland for France, Austria and Belgium along with their ERC grants. And Hengartner notes that candidates for professorships at the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology are now all enquiring about Switzerland’s prospects for reassociation in the near future.
Working in isolation is unthinkable in the field of research, not to mention the sphere of innovation. As a reaction to Switzerland’s non-association, the renowned Geneva-based company ID Quantique (more information in the box below) has opened a branch office in Vienna to maintain access to Horizon Europe. Flückiger states that the 100 jobs which would otherwise have been created in Switzerland are now in Vienna. In Switzerland’s case, Horizon Europe not only affects its research and the researchers who are worried about their top positions. It also influences students and professors who are suddenly hesitant about coming to Switzerland. And Horizon Europe is also vital for the transfer of technology, which leads to the founding of start-ups and SMEs as well as job creation in companies and the field of research. Essentially, the university representatives all agree that Horizon Europe plays a key role in Switzerland’s prosperity and position as an economic hub.
Flückiger believes that the Federal Council should not start focusing on securing new research partnerships outside the EU, since research competition takes places primarily between the EU, the USA and China, which is why Switzerland’s non-association remains the true problem.
When questioned, the EU delegation’s response is that Swiss researchers have always been welcome and valued partners in EU research programmes – and they still are. “Swiss researchers are allowed to participate in Horizon Europe projects under the conditions that apply to non-associated third countries. To obtain full association, which includes eligibility for EU funding, the EU regulation requires third countries to enter into an umbrella agreement governing the conditions and terms of association. Further developments on this issue must be considered in the context of the overall relationship between the EU and Switzerland.”
The EU is therefore putting pressure on Switzerland to comprehensively define its relationship with its European neighbours. Until then, the EU sees no reason to give Swiss research any preferential treatment. So far, neither the efforts of Swiss diplomacy nor an appeal by researchers have altered the situation. ETH Board President Michael Hengartner states that this situation is not only detrimental to Swiss researchers, but also to European research itself: “This is unequivocally a lose-lose situation.”
Association with the EU’s research framework programmes puts researchers from other countries on an equal footing with EU member states. It is granted to: 1. Members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) who are also members of the European Economic Area (EEA); 2. Countries that are in the process of joining the EU or are candidates or potential candidates for EU membership; 3. Countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP); 4. Other third countries and territories that meet a number of criteria relating to their economic, political, and research and innovation systems.
Roughly a year after negotiations for a framework agreement broke down, Switzerland is making a new attempt to regulate its future relations with the EU. However, the road to finding a viable solution between Berne and Brussels is still long – and marked by mistrust on both sides. Furthermore, there is no broad-based consensus within sight on the home front.
Learn more: Switzerland-EU relationship crisis drags on
What concrete results does Switzerland see from the European research funding programmes, and what benefits does it receive from the collaborations? Yves Flückiger, University of Geneva Rector and President of swissuniversities, is ready with his answer.
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Comments
Comments :
I am in agreement with most of the commenters here that this is intended to claim there is a problem where there is none. Switzerland has permitted a tremendous amount of evil to set up shop within its safe borders. If the residents don't wake up, that evil will consume and finally destroy this fabulous democracy and leave nothing left. Ditching the Gold Standard around 2000 is the beginning of the end of abundance and true independance for the Swiss people, as it was for the U.S. nearly 100 years ago.
La Suisse est présente et il n’est pas nécessaire d’adhérer à l’Union pour avoir sa voix au chapitre. L’Europe ne profite qu’aux politiques et aux riches entreprises. Chaque pays continue d’être nationaliste « achetez français », par exemple. Les salaires ne sont pas partout les mêmes et les entreprises s’installent où elles paient le moins et ceci sans être tracassées puisque c’est en Europe. Si on pensait un peu aux citoyens et pas à l’argent pour une fois?
Switzerland needs to be independent in it's relation with other countries, especially with Europe. The world is about to change dramatically and Switzerland has to have the ability to coordinate the national interest - especially in research of technology - the future is uncertain - and Switzerland has some unique advantages to lead the future. Europe and U.S.A are weakening and some other countries will prevail - India - Brazil- Israel are a relevant partners for future research and development.
Merci UDC qui nous protège du progrès et nous mène fermement vers le tiers monde.
This article is unserious. It reads like an unrefined pro-EU propaganda puff piece. It starts with the assumption that what happened is bad and cherry-picks details to justify this viewpoint. Important facts I would like to know that are left out:
What was the reason that the bilateral agreements failed? This is completely missing. i.e. what would we have to give up in order to sign the agreement tomorrow and join the wonderful ERC Schlaraffenland?
How much would Switzerland have contributed to Horizon Europe 2021-27 and how much would it have received? Switzerland would not have received €100billion. Why is this number even in there? It is irrelevant and shows the bias of the authors.
How efficient is giving taxpayer money to the EU and receiving it back again, compared to giving it to the SNSF?
Did Horizon Europe significantly increase the number of non-citizen professors who started up research groups in Switzerland? i.e. what are the actual numbers instead of just picking examples to support your argument.
Now that Switzerland does not receive ERC money, has the number of non-citizen professors increased or decreased? In which disciplines? What are the actual numbers? Again.. you can hear the crickets chirping.
C'est la critique de la critique. Vous reprocher le manque de chiffres. Rien ne vous empêche d'en donner, si possible avec les sources.
Need an agreement with the UK to promote research. The EU is being obstructive as much as it can after Brexit.
Après avoir lu l'article sur l'état de la recherche suisse au regard de ses rapports avec l'UE, puis les commentaires de lecteurs, publier mon avis en faveur de l'ouverture aux autres plutôt que le repli sur soi s'est imposé. Seule une recherche européenne est à même de survivre efficacement face aux blocs que sont la Chine, les Etats-Unis et d'autres puissances capables de moyens que même une Suisse riche sera incapable de concurrencer. Si la Suisse a pu jusqu'à présent survivre richement dans ce monde, ce n'est certainement pas grâce à son repli sur elle-même, mais bien grâce à son ouverture sur le monde, à l'acceptation sur son sol de gens venus l'enrichir de leur savoir et de sa capacité à l'échange. A vouloir tout sans donner en retour, c'est tout perdre tôt ou tard. Le CERN est l'exemple même d'une réussite partagée, co-construite à l'échelle européenne. La Suisse seule n'y serait pas parvenue, sans même évoquer que vous qui êtes contre l'UE et sa recherche, auriez les premiers criés à l'inutilité de la dépense. Non, il n'existe pas encore "en médecine de spécialisation psychologique soignant les crises relationnelles de la recherche scientifique", ni de soins pour la sclérose intellectuelle...
"La Suisse perd l’accès à la «ligue des champions»" - "L’érosion a déjà commencé" - "Il y va de la prospérité de la Suisse" - Mêmes arguments alarmistes et pleurnichards que ceux de décembre 1992. "La crise relationnelle entre la Suisse et l’UE perdure". Oui, et depuis même plus de 30 ans, et ... alors ? (Il n'existe(malheureusement pas encore en médecine de spécialisation psychologique soignant les crises relationnelles de la recherche scientifique ...)
Quand on voit le marasme dans lequel se trouve l'Europe, la corruption multilevel, la peur qu'a l'Europe de la démocratie, la façon dont sont dépensés les deniers publics, sans parler du fait que plusieurs pays de la CEE sont assis sur une cocotte minute prête à exploser, je pense sincèrement que des accords cadres nous mèneraient à être inféodé à cette dernière, plus que cela ne serait bénéfique pour la Suisse et surtout LES SUISSES. Certes je ne suis qu'un humble observateur et je ne suis pas dans le secret des Dieux, mais cette Europe là est effrayante, non-merci, qu'ils la gardent. En ce qui concerne les financements, évitons la Chine qui n'est pas un partenaire avec qui frayer et méfions-nous des USA. Rapellons-nous de la Maxime de Thomas Jefferson : "Le prix de la liberté c'est la vigilance éternelle." Personnellement je ne renoncerais jamais à ma liberté, pour quelque raison que ce soit. Tenons bon la barre et au lieu de nous lamenter sur ce que nous n'avons plus, utilisons cette énergie à trouver des solutions acceptables. À bon entendeur.
Voici un exemple typique d'un nouvel autogoal de la Suisse. Accepter certaines règles de l'UE ne veut pas dire faire partie de l'UE. Certes, il y a des problèmes dans tous les pays, après avoir vécu plusieurs années en Espagne et depuis 2016 en France, je les connais. Malgré tout, je préfère nettement vivre dans lUE plutôt qu'en Suisse et je trouve cela triste. Dommage pour la Suisse de ne pas saisir au moins quelques possibilités d'agrément.
I'd say one reason us swiss are leaving is because the cost of living keeps exponentially increasing and people are just getting by. Despite the wealth of Switzerland the working person continues to struggle. At least I can afford to buy a house in Australia.
Ce que révèle cet excellent article ne me surprend pas : l'Union Européenne se comporte comme une organisation impérialiste, non à la colonisation de la Suisse !
Les avantages du non rapprochement de la Suisse à l’UE sont largement supérieurs aux inconvénients. Citez moi un seul pays de l’UE qui va bien actuellement. La Suisse est un pays riche et c’est ce qui intéresse en priorité l’UE pour y transférer ses chômeurs et ses immigrés dont elle ne sait plus quoi faire.
Verlierer-Situation. Wenn beide Seiten verlieren, kann man sicher nicht vom Rosinenpicken reden. Hier hört für mich das Verständnis für die EU-Bürokraten auf. So wie sie sich um die Krümmung von Gurken kümmern, behandeln sie die Forschung - nach Parteibuch... wohl wissend, dass keine der Parteien damit profitiert. Rahmenvertrag: Die Schweizer Regierung hat es richtig gemacht, ein Erpressungs-Papier abzulehnen, welches in der Schweiz keine Chance bei einer Abstimmung hätte. Etwas Rücksicht auf die Freiheit und Neutralität der Schweiz hätte den EU-Funktionären nicht geschadet, aber der Wille war und ist nicht da. Merke EU: Erpressung kommt in der Schweiz nicht an.
Ich finde schade, dass der Artikel offen lässt, wieso die Schweiz ihren assozierten Statut mit der EU verloren hat. Die Schweizer*innen selbst haben dies per Volksabstimmung entschieden. Und jetzt ernten sie den Salat! Ich bedauere die antieuropäische Stimmung in der Schweiz sehr. Ich habe Verständnis für die EU, die konsequent eine Politik der Rosinenpickerei ablehnt, mit der Schweiz oder anderen Ländern.