Swiss researchers can apply for EU grants again

Swiss researchers can once again apply for funding from the European Union (EU). The European Commission has announced that, starting Wednesday, researchers in Switzerland will have access to the European Research Council’s “ERC Proof of Concept Grants”. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This decision comes amid ongoing negotiations between Switzerland and the EU to update bilateral agreements. “The chance to apply for new calls for proposals under the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme presents a unique opportunity to unlock the commercial or social potential of innovative work,” the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) wrote in a post on X. This decision is a “clear sign of goodwill” from the European Commission in the ongoing negotiations. It exceeds their previous commitments, the ERC noted. In July, three calls for proposals had already been opened to Swiss researchers. This was also described as an act of “goodwill” by ...