Switzerland budgets CHF28 billion for research and education
Researchers at a lab at the Universita della Svizzera italiana, late August
Keystone / Pablo Gianinazzi
A total of CHF28.1 billion ($31.7 billion) will be invested in Swiss education, research and innovation over the next four years, parliament has confirmed.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/SWI swissinfo.ch/ilj
العربية
ar
سويسرا تخصص 28 مليار فرنك للبحث والتعليم والابتكار
The funds will mostly go towards universities and other institutes of higher education – as well as vocational training, which is the backbone of the Swiss education system, with two-thirds of school leavers opting for this route.
The CHF28.2 billion is CHF2 billion more than for the period 2017-2020. The government has previously stated that the aim is to ensure that Switzerland “remains an international leader in the field of education, research and innovation”.
During parliamentary debates there had been controversy over whether the Swiss 3R Competence CentreExternal link, that aims to implement the 3R principles (replace, reduce and refine) for animal experiments in academic research, should receive the bulk of CHF12 million in extra funding for research institutions of national importance. In the end, the proposal for additional funds was axed to ensure a speedy of approval of the budget.
Higher spending
Swiss spending on education remains relatively high. Statistics released earlier this year showed that the country spends considerably more than the European Union (EU) on education, the second-largest budget item: 16.5% of the total compared with 10.2% in the EU.
Currently Swiss universities are closed for on-site teaching, and have moved to distance learning, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Research activities – Swiss scientists are also active in coronavirus-related research – can continue but are subject to strict health guidelines. Schools remain open.
More
More
Switzerland spends more than the EU on education
This content was published on
As a percentage of total public finances, Switzerland spent more on education and less on defence than the European Union.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
Emergency crews contained the oil and began removing some of the pollution from the water’s surface, said the St Gallen cantonal police on Sunday.
Switzerland lifts sanctions on Syria after Assad’s fall
This content was published on
Switzerland is lifting economic sanctions on Syria, but targeted measures against figures linked to the former regime remain in place.
Thousands march in Bern calling for Gaza ceasefire
This content was published on
More than 10,000 people – or up to 20,000, according to organisers – marched through central Bern on Saturday afternoon in support for Gaza.
Zurich Pride draws large crowds amid financial strain
This content was published on
Following US President Donald Trump’s attacks on diversity initiatives, Zurich Pride fears more sponsors could pull out and is now facing financial difficulties.
Switzerland ‘deeply alarmed’ by Middle East escalation
This content was published on
Switzerland has voiced serious concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, and the UN chief says he is ‘alarmed’ by US strikes on Iran.
Switzerland among world’s most expensive for household electricity
This content was published on
According to a study by the comparison site Verivox, based on data from Global Petrol Prices, Switzerland came in tenth out of 143 countries.
Global uncertainty boosts Swiss-EU talks, says Cassis
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis says Switzerland’s talks with the European Union (EU) have been boosted by the current difficult global situation.
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to spend an extra CHF2 billion for the promotion of education and research over the next four years.
Why Switzerland’s dual-track education system is unique
This content was published on
Young people used to be faced with making a definitive career choice aged 15 in Switzerland. But nowadays they can change direction later on.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.