‘Switzerland could lose competitiveness in research and innovation’

The abrupt end to negotiations over a framework agreement with the European Union left many unanswered questions about Switzerland’s future, including funding for scientific research and university exchanges. The head of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) says the Alpine country’s reputation as an international research hub hangs in the balance. The failure of the negotiations over a framework agreement puts at risk Switzerland’s participation in the EU’s €100-billion flagship research programme, Horizon Europe. Switzerland currently receives the second-highest share of funds of any state associated with Horizon Europe, and two-thirds of that goes to universities. With the level of Swiss access to Horizon Europe already uncertain before the failure of EU negotiations, EPFL President Martin Vetterli says Switzerland is now entering a very delicate phase that will determine its future ability to research and innovate. Although the negotiations on the...