Swiss Entities to Claim H2020 Funding

On 16 December 2016, the Swiss Parliament adopted the application law for Art.121a of the Constitution, respecting the Bilateral Agreements with the EU in all aspects. On the same day, the Swiss Federal Council ratified the protocol extending the free movement of persons to Croatia, thus fulfilling the necessary condition for Switzerland’s full association to Horizon 2020 as of 2017.

Even though the ongoing projects are not affected by these developments, from now on the respective EU funding for the Swiss partners, as participants from associated countries, has to be claimed in all proposals. In order to receive grants, the Swiss entities have to request relevant funding through the European Commission.

According to Dr. Peter Erni, Swiss National NCP Coordinator, “In the unlikely event that Switzerland should not be associated to Horizon 2020 from 2017 onward, i.e. would have the status of an industrialised Third Country, the Federal Administration will provide national funding for the Swiss share of successful proposals. A precaution measure that is recommended is to have a least three project partners from an EU Member State or an Associated Country excluding the Swiss partner for collaborative projects.”

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