European research access vital for Swiss universities

Switzerland’s top universities and research institutes have called on the government to intensify efforts to regain access to European Union research collaborations. Switzerland has been relegated to “non-associated third party” status in the EU’s flagship research scheme as a result of deteriorating political relations with the European bloc. Last week, the government announced plans to free up CHF290 million ($313 million) to make up for lost grants from the Horizon Europe program. But a collection of top Swiss learning establishments, known as the ETH Domain, said on Thursday that the money is not enough on its own. Researchers and students are also losing priceless connections with EU counterparts by being frozen out of the most prestigious projects, including space and quantum research. “Switzerland is losing an opportunity to help shape the development of European research and innovation and to set priorities,” ETH Domain stated. “There is a risk that top researchers will...