Proposed fund to compensate for the lack of association with Horizon Europe

A temporary solution should appear to compensate for the lack of association with Horizon Europe. By 12 votes to 1, the Science Committee of the Council of States wants to create a fund aimed at stabilizing the Swiss research centre.

Bern has not yet received a link to the Horizon Europe programme. Negotiations are pending. There are no indications that the situation will change in the short or medium term.

This situation is seriously detrimental to the think tank, the committee denounced in a press release published on Friday. In addition to losses in terms of projects and networking, the research community is concerned about the current situation, particularly with regard to funding stability.

Securing funds for research

The Horizon box should provide an answer. Funded by the budgetary appropriations for Switzerland’s compulsory contribution to Horizon Europe, this contribution will remain in effect as long as Bern is unable to participate in the European programmes.

Read also: Elisabeth Baum Schneider: “The priority is to join Horizon Europe”

The fund will finance transitional and additional measures. Its purpose is not to allocate additional resources, but to ensure funds already allocated to Swiss research. Parliament will manage its financing through the budget. Transparency in resource allocation will be improved.

There is a minority who oppose it. She does not see how the Horizon Fund will improve the situation compared to the current transitional measures. She believes that this will also lead to additional administrative work. The project is sent for consultation until February 15.