Leading universities back Switzerland rejoining Horizon Europe

The Russell Group has joined other university groups across Europe in supporting “research powerhouse” Switzerland’s bid to rejoin the Horizon Europe programme.

In a joint statement, the groups welcomed the news that the Swiss Federal Council approved a draft negotiating mandate with the European Union.

Representing 61 leading research-intensive universities across Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland, the groups call for the European Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to work positively together to secure Switzerland’s association to the global research programme.

Highlighting the benefits of Switzerland’s association to the programme, the letter expresses the positive impact that would be felt in Horizon should the country join.

“Switzerland is a research powerhouse,” it said. “Given the multifaceted geopolitical and environmental challenges we face, Switzerland’s association is crucial to allow Europe to remain globally competitive and shape its own future successfully and on its own terms.

“Stronger research partnerships strengthen the whole of Europe.”

The UK’s return to the programme in September raised hopes that Switzerland, which was locked out of Horizon in 2021 after negotiations concerning its wider relationship with the EU broke down, could follow suit.

The university groups – the German U15, France’s Udice, the UK’s Russell Group, and Switzerland’s swissuniversities and Chamber of Universities – outlined three key reasons for associating Switzerland.

They said Switzerland was a “like-minded country” and a key partner for the EU research community – and vice versa – during times of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties.

“The inclusion of a partner like Switzerland significantly bolsters our capacity to navigate through these uncertainties, following the UK’s recent full association,” they said.

The groups also said that Europe’s scientific future lay in collaboration, and that Horizon Europe was the “prime mechanism” for this.

“To respond to future challenges and seize future opportunities, Europe needs to be able to attract and work together with the best talent around the world, especially in like-minded countries,” they added.

And they praised the significance of Switzerland’s expertise in environmental research and sustainable innovation in Europe’s green transition, adding: “We can only tackle cross-border challenges by working together.”

Experts have suggested that the UK and New Zealand’s long-awaited association will spur on talks with other nations, including South Korea and Japan – with Canada already set to join the €95.5 billion (£83 billion) research funding programme.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com