Newsletter January - February 2022
Let us guide you through!
Horizon Europe, the new edition of Europe’s successful Framework Programme, started in 2021. A massive research and innovation motor started to turn and everyone tried to get in pole position. For Switzerland, this momentum was stalled last June when our status was reverted from “To Be Associated” to “Third Country”. Then a journey of back and forth began, with lots of changes and adaptations in the way to apply and participate. One year after the start of Horizon Europe, the situation is still under discussion.
The Swiss R&I landscape – researchers as well as the Euresearch network – is well established and well connected within the European research community. This helps us to stay in the game now, and to explain the Swiss situation and how to include our participants in project consortia as "Associated Partners". Of course, it is also key that the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has guaranteed to directly fund our researchers where they are eligible to participate, and has introduced transitional measures to cover schemes where our participation is currently excluded.
We – Euresearch, our clients and their European partners – are all in an ongoing process of joint learning and understanding that requires considerable flexibility. It is great to see the commitment and patience of applicants from Switzerland when it comes to submitting proposals in Horizon Europe. We have already seen these efforts rewarded in the first projects that have been selected for funding.
In the present situation, researchers are somewhat like Alice in "Alice in Wonderland" – it seems that there is something new to discover around every corner but things turn up and disappear, and it is difficult to understand which paths can be taken. We at Euresearch are at hand to explain this world and to consult about the best options.
Switzerland's full association to Horizon Europe remains the Swiss Federal Council's declared goal. This silver lining keeps our spirits up and helps us walk together through this partly unknown wonderland of opportunities. This joint journey is at times challenging but also very motivating. We thank all of you for your trust and for walking this road together! All the best for 2022!
Karl Kerschbaum & Petra Hertkorn-Betz, Network Coordinators
Alexandra Rosakis, Illustrator
