After years of uncertainty, Switzerland is officially returning to the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme — Horizon Europe. On 21 October 2025, the Council of the European Union gave the green light for Switzerland’s association to several major EU programmes, including Horizon Europe, Euratom, Erasmus+, and Digital Europe. This marks a turning point for Swiss researchers and innovators who have been navigating limited participation since 2021.
From Partial Participation to Full Association
For much of Horizon Europe’s duration, Switzerland was treated as a non-associated third country. Because the Swiss government and the EU had not signed an association agreement, Swiss institutions were unable to receive EU funding directly. While researchers could still take part in certain projects, they had to rely on national funding from the Swiss Confederation.
This meant exclusion from key opportunities such as the European Research Council (ERC) grants, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), and the European Innovation Council (EIC) programmes — all of which are among the EU’s most prestigious research instruments.
Despite these challenges, the Swiss Federal Council consistently emphasised that full association remained its goal. And now, after several negotiation rounds, that goal has been achieved.
A Fresh Start: Association Effective from 1 January 2025
Following the conclusion of talks in late 2024, the European Commission and Switzerland agreed that the country’s association would be retroactive to 1 January 2025. This means Swiss organisations can now:
- Apply as beneficiaries in almost all Horizon Europe and Euratom calls;
- Receive EU funding directly, once the formal agreement is fully ratified;
- Re-enter flagship programmes such as the ERC, MSCA, and EIC.
Until the legal formalities are completed, a transitional funding arrangement ensures that any Swiss participation will be backed by a national financial guarantee from Switzerland. Once the agreement enters into force, all funding will flow directly from the EU.
Why This Matters
Switzerland has long been a leader in research excellence, hosting some of Europe’s top universities, innovation hubs, and cutting-edge startups. Its absence from Horizon Europe created a noticeable gap in Europe’s collaborative R&I landscape.
With this association, Swiss and EU researchers can once again work together seamlessly, strengthening cross-border partnerships and accelerating innovation in areas such as health, green technologies, digitalisation, and energy.
For the EU, bringing Switzerland back on board reinforces the openness of its research ecosystem — a reminder that science and innovation thrive best through collaboration rather than fragmentation.
What Happens Next
The formal signing of the agreement is scheduled for 10 November 2025 in Bern, followed by approval by the European Parliament and the completion of Swiss domestic procedures. Once finalised, Swiss participation will be indistinguishable from that of other associated countries.
In the meantime, Swiss applicants can already prepare proposals under the same conditions as their EU counterparts for the 2025 calls.
Learn More
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