Swiss research institutes receive EU funding boost
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded 222 coveted grants to researchers including 18 at Swiss institutes under the Horizon 2020 programme. Switzerland’s status in the next iteration of Horizon funding remains unclear.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jdp
العربية
ar
معاهد بحثية سويسرية تتلقى دعما ماليا من الإتحاد الأوروبي
On Wednesday, the ERC announced the awardees of €540 million (CHF605 million) in grants for research and innovation. Some 222 researchers will receive “Advanced Grants” of a maximum of €2.5 million each. The funds are expected to create 2,000 jobs according to the ERC.
Of the 18 awardees in Switzerland, five are at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich, which will receive €12.5 millionExternal link from Horizon. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the University of Geneva and University of Zurich each received three awards. Two researchers at the University of Basel and one at both the University of Lausanne and University of Fribourg rounded out the list.
The projects selected cover a range of subjects including neuroscience, astronomy, medicine, and urban planning. As an example, one EPFL team will be exploring the resistance of certain tumors to immunotherapies.
Britain received the most grants of any region with 47 awardees. However, Brexit may throw a wrench in Britain’s participation in “Horizon 2020”, as well as its extension to “Horizon Europe”, starting in 2021.
More
More
What is this EU framework deal?
This content was published on
An institutional framework would simplify future ties between Switzerland and its biggest trading partner.
Switzerland’s status in the next iteration of the Horizon programme remains unclear.
Europe wants to create a new category of participating countries for “Horizon Europe” 2021-2027. Switzerland could be downgraded to category 4 of non-EU states along with Great Britain. Until now, Switzerland has been in the first category with other countries in the European economic area including Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
Swiss university representatives recently expressed fear that researchers could lose out on Horizon funding if Switzerland fails to reach an agreement with the EU on a political framework for future relations. about the consequences a potential downgrading could have on Swiss research and innovation.
The European Parliament and member states are expected to make a decision this fall. State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Martina Hirayama told Keystone-SDA that Switzerland is a strong partner. However, it may come down to politics.
More
More
Swiss universities fear EU science funding snub
This content was published on
Horizon EuropeExternal link is the €100 billion research and innovation programme that will succeed Horizon 2020. Switzerland was temporarily demoted to third country status of Horizon 2020 after voters backed migration quotas in 2014. The heads of Switzerland’s two Federal Institutes of Technology, ETHZ and EPFL, on Tuesday voiced concerns that funding restrictions could apply…
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
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.
Read more
More
Brexit’s ‘toxic uncertainty’ impacts Swiss and UK scientists
This content was published on
Scientific progress in Switzerland, and for Swiss citizens, could be at risk if research and innovation are caught up in the politics of Brexit.
Swiss foreign minister foresees tweaks to EU treaty, no overhaul
This content was published on
Ignazio Cassis has rejected calls for re-negotiations on an accord with the EU, but he sees room for manoevure in talks about bilateral ties.
This content was published on
The prize was handed over at an international congress of mathematicians in Brazil on Wednesday, according to a press release by the Federal Institute of TechnologyExternal link. The International Mathematical Union (IMUExternal link) said the award was in recognition for Figalli’s contributions to the theory of optimal transport and its applications in partial differential equations,…
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.