Agreement between Switzerland and the EU on education, research, innovation and health

Post on: 11.05.2025

Federal Council approves the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on education, research, innovation and health

Approved on EUPA: the Agreement on EU

Programmes During its meeting on 9 April 2025, the Federal Council approved the Agreement on EU Programmes (EUPA), which regulates Switzerland's participation in a number of European programmes in the strategic areas of education, research, innovation and health; . The Objective è strengthen cooperation with the European Union in key areas for growth and competitiveness. of the country.

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Agriculture Economics, Education and Research (EAER), has been instructed to sign the agreement.

A step closer to European scientific integration

The signature of the EUPA, scheduled for November 2025, will allowà Switzerland to join with retroactive effect from 1° January 2025 to the main programmes of the EU:

• Horizon Europe (research and innovation)
• Euratom (nuclear research)
• Digital Europe (digital transition and technological innovation)

This association represents a important opportunity for Swiss universities, research centres, technology start-ups and companies, which will be able to benefit from the same conditions of participation as the Member States of the EU.

Which programmes does the EUPA

In addition to the programmes already cited, the EUPA paves the way for Switzerland's participation in other European programmes as well:

• ITER, the major international nuclear fusion project
• Erasmus+, the mobility programme of students and academic staff (as of 2027)
• EU4Health, the European initiative to strengthen health systems (after the entry into force of the Health Agreement)

Provisional application and Swiss contribution

Although the Agreement in force only after ratification by the Swiss Parliament, it will be able to be provisionally applied immediately after signing. This measure will allow; to avoid interruptions in participation in the programs and ensure continuityà operational to researchers, companies and institutions already active in European projects.

In return, Switzerland undertakes to pay a compulsory financial contribution for the programme year 2025, in line with the provisions for the Associated States.

Più Resources & Opportunities for Switzerland

Thanks to this agreement, Swiss researchers, innovators and students will be able to access European funding directly from the EU Commission, without any more having to resort to temporary national solutions.
This is an important achievement, which strengthens the competitiveness of the of Switzerland at the international level and fosters new scientific and technological collaborations.

Validityà Of agreement until 2028

L EUPA will be able to be provisionally applied until 31 December 2028, the cut-off date for participation in the current generation of European programmes (2021– 2027). This allows you to take full advantage of the opportunities. offered by cooperation with the EU, while waiting for parliamentary ratification.

The next steps of the Swiss-EU package

The initialling of the other elements of the Swiss-EU package of agreements è scheduled for May 2025 in Bern, by chief negotiators and representatives of the relevant federal offices.

The Federal Council will startà internal consultation before the summer, and then forward to Parliament the message containing the entire package of agreements, including the EUPA. In addition, the necessary financial credits will be requested to secure Switzerland's participation.