In a world marked by uncertainty, stable relations with the EU are essential to maintain scientific excellence, to foster innovation, and to safeguard Switzerland’s competitiveness. This is why the Swiss universities strongly support the package “Stabilisation and Development of Switzerland - EU Relations”.
Legal certainty and stability
The package adopted by the Federal Council provides a harmonised framework for economic exchanges, research projects, academic mobility, and cross-border contracts. This legal certainty allows the Swiss universities to participate in European consortia without legal obstacles, researchers to sign collaboration agreements within a transparent framework, and companies to invest in the EU with clear rules.
Research and innovation: a key priority
The agreement on EU research programmes (EUPA) grants Switzerland access to Horizon Europe, Euratom, ITER, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, and EU4Health. These programmes allow researchers to engage in cutting-edge projects, secure competitive funding, and strengthen their international visibility. Past experience has shown that Switzerland has been highly successful in this area, attracting both talent and significant European funding.
Erasmus+: mobility and scientific cooperation
EU programmes are coherent and complementary. Erasmus+, for instance, supports not only exchanges but also international cooperation and the internationalisation of higher education institutions. It promotes key values such as inclusiveness, sustainability, and equal opportunities. Association with Erasmus+ would also help strengthen the European University Alliances, in which many Swiss higher education institutions already participate with limited rights.
The full statement (in german)