Against a backdrop of tight public finances and rising student numbers, the core mission of higher education institutions is to ensure excellence in teaching, research, continuing professional development and knowledge transfer. During the forthcoming ERI period, higher education institutions will also address issues previously covered by specific federal programmes: equity, sustainability, national and international cooperation, and digital transformation. The Confederation’s core funding is crucial to enabling this. 

• Strengthening Switzerland’s capacity for innovation: higher education institutions are a key driver of Switzerland’s capacity for innovation. Through scientific discoveries, technology transfer, collaboration with economic and social stakeholders, spin-offs and new partnerships, they help to develop new solutions and safeguard the long-term competitiveness of the Swiss economy.
• Ensuring the competitiveness of higher education institutions: the international competitiveness of higher education institutions is an essential foundation that enables them to offer research and teaching of the highest standard, to attract talented students and researchers, and to integrate successfully into the global knowledge and innovation landscape.
• Increasing society’s resilience: higher education institutions strengthen resilience and the capacity for social cohesion and democratic participation by generating and disseminating independent knowledge, encouraging critical thinking, and providing an evidence-based foundation for public debate and policy-making. In this way, they make a vital contribution to addressing current and future social challenges.

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions train highly qualified staff for the healthcare system and achieve excellent results in medical research and development.

This includes the following topics:

• Reducing the shortage of qualified staff in the healthcare system
• Increasing training capacity in human medicine
• Expanding the range of training programmes in the healthcare professions
• Identifying areas where costs are particularly high
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes 

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions strengthen their cooperation in order to organise and make effective use of the research infrastructure landscape.

This includes the following topics: 

• Visibility and coordination of national research infrastructures
• International interoperability
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions contribute to technological sovereignty and, to this end, develop – in collaboration with their partners – robust solutions and innovative ideas as part of a forward-looking approach.

This includes the following topics: 

• Digital sovereignty
• Protection and availability of scientific publications: Open Access
• Long-term management of research data
• Research foundations for technological sovereignty
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions strengthen their cooperation in order to organise and make effective use of the research infrastructure landscape.

This includes the following topics: 

• Visibility and coordination of national research infrastructures
• International interoperability
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions fulfil their responsibilities in redefining space policy and work together to capitalise on the opportunities offered to society and the economy in the space sector.

This includes the following topics:

• Space as a driver of innovation
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes

Objective: Swiss higher education institutions shape education for the future, lay solid foundations for the education system and foster dialogue between academia, society and the economy.

This includes the following topics:

• Teaching and learning in a state of change
• Effectiveness of educational pathways and the education system
• The importance of knowledge circulation
• Measures related to core funding and other programmes 

swissuniversities proposes the following for the ERI period 2029–32:

• an annual increase in core funding of 2.18%,
• the continuation of contributions to cover expenditure for construction and use of buildings,
• additional funding, yet to be determined, for thematic priorities,
• if applicable, funding for shared infrastructure facilities in accordance with Article 47(3) of the Higher Education Act (HEdA).

The following topics are covered in this context:

• Funding system for Swiss higher education institutions
• Increase in student numbers and basic contributions from the Confederation
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the financial resources allocated

The following motions are submitted to the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions:

• Proposals submitted to the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions
• Basic contributions, contributions to cover expenditure for construction and use of buildings
• Other investments under stimulus programmes
• Article 47(3) of the Higher Education Act (HEdA)
• Particularly costly areas
• Next steps