EU Framework Programmes

Participation of Switzerland in Horizon Europe

Status 10 November 2025

On 10 November 2025, Switzerland and the EU signed the agreement on Swiss participation in EU Programmes. This means that Switzerland is associated to Horizon Europe retroactively from 1 January 2025.

Please note the following:

  • Projects already running
    Projects for which the Grant Agreement has already been signed are not affected. Funding is provided by the original funder – either the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) or the European Commission – for the entire duration of the project.
     
  • Proposals already submitted
    Researchers in Switzerland submitted to the 2025 calls as if Switzerland were associated. Positively evaluated proposals will therefore receive funding from the EU. No funding from SERI is available for these projects. Proposals already positively evaluated can now continue with the grant preparation.
     
  • Proposals not yet submitted
    Researchers in Switzerland submit proposals as Beneficiaries and request funding from the EU. This also affects the eligibility criteria for collaborative projects, where the minimum requirement of 3 partners from 3 different Member States or Associated Countries now includes Switzerland.
     
  • Joining an existing project or transferring a project to Switzerland
    Please contact the Grants Office for information on these special cases.

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Horizon Europe, the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, began on 1 January 2021 and will run for 7 years with a budget of approx. €95.5 billion. The programme’s main aims are to tackle climate change, to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and to boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The structure is centered around 3 pillars:

1. Excellent Science – "Bottom-up" basic research in all fields; researcher training and mobility; research infrastructures

2. Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness – "Top-down" collaborations in health, culture, security, digital, space, climate, energy, mobility, food, agriculture, environment

3. Innovative Europe – Market-creating breakthrough innovation; future and emerging technologies; SME finance

Horizon Europe also includes cross-cutting activities to widen participation and strengthen the European Research Area, as well as Missions a portfolio of interdisciplinary actions in 5 areas: Adaptation to climate change (Mission Climate), Healthy oceans and waterways (Mission Ocean), Climate-neutral smart cities (Mission Cities), Cancer (Mission Cancer), Soil health and food (Mission Soil).

There are also a large range of European Partnership initiatives in a variety of thematic areas.

Further information can be found on the website of Euresearch, the Swiss information network. Euresearch provides information on Horizon Europe calls for proposals and regularly organizes events throughout Switzerland.

The Digital Europe Programme complements Horizon Europe with over €8.1 billion in funding for high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, digital skills, and the use of digital technologies. Information for Swiss applicants can be found on the SERI website.

Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)

Horizon 2020, the 8th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, ran for 7 years and had a budget of around €75 billion. It was structured around 3 priorities:

1. Excellent Science – "Bottom-up" basic research in all fields; future and emerging technologies; researcher training and mobility
2. Industrial Leadership – Breakthrough technologies in ICT, nano- and biotechnology, space, advanced materials, manufacturing and processing; SME support; risk financing
3. Societal Challenges – "Top-down" collaborations in health, food, agriculture and aquatic resources, energy, transport, environment, inclusive societies, security

It also included cross-cutting activities (Science with and for Society, Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation), EURATOM and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Further information can be found on the website of Euresearch, the Swiss information network.