Swiss govt seeking to iron out research funding shortfalls over EU ties

Negotiations are not possible at the present time." With a 95 billion euro budget, Horizon Europe is the world's largest research and innovation funding programme.

The Swiss government said on Friday it is seeking to implement transitional measures to make up for research funding shortfalls, as souring ties with the European Union put billions of euros of funding at stake for Swiss scientists. Researchers at Swiss universities have been on tenterhooks about their ability to join the EU's Horizon programme, after Switzerland's decision to pull the plug on a draft treaty binding it more tightly to the European Union, its biggest trading partner, hampered access.

"The Federal Council's goal remains full association to Horizon Europe at the earliest opportunity," the Swiss government said in a statement. "However, the EU views the question of Switzerland's association to Horizon Europe in the context of overall relations between Switzerland and the EU. Negotiations are not possible at the present time."

With a 95 billion euro budget, Horizon Europe is the world's largest research and innovation funding programme.