Chapter 2.8 of the dispatch (pp. 562-619) covers Switzerland's association to the EU programmes Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe and ITER. Participation in these programmes is of strategic importance for Switzerland as a centre of education, research and innovation (ERI).
The European Union Programmes Agreement (EUPA) is a transversal agreement governing Swiss participation in the EU's key funding programmes. It covers the 2021-2027 programme generation and provides for retroactive application from 1 January 2025. Switzerland commits to annual mandatory contributions and receives in return full access to the funding pools and networks.
Full association offers five central advantages over the current Swiss solution (transitional measures): competitiveness, reputational gain, brain-gain, leverage effect and international networking.
| Programme | Budget (EU) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Europe | EUR 95.5 bn | Framework programme for research and innovation, the world's largest civilian research programme |
| Erasmus+ | EUR 26.3 bn | Educational mobility, partnerships, policy support |
| Digital Europe | EUR 8.1 bn | Digital skills, supercomputing, AI, cybersecurity |
| ITER | - | International nuclear fusion project |
Switzerland is among the most innovative countries in the world. This level can only be maintained if Swiss researchers, students and companies can participate in EU programmes on an equal footing.
Five effects of full association:
Horizon Europe (2021-2027), with EUR 95.5 billion, is the world's largest civilian research funding programme. It is structured in three pillars:
During the non-association phase (since 2021), Swiss researchers could only participate to a limited extent. The Confederation's transitional measures partially bridged the gap, but international networking and access to ERC Grants were severely restricted.
Erasmus+ promotes educational mobility at all levels - from vocational training through higher education to adult education. The programme comprises:
Movetia will serve as the national agency for implementing the Erasmus+ programme in Switzerland. Switzerland has been excluded from the programme since 2014 and operated a national alternative with the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP).
Digital Europe (EUR 8.1 bn) promotes Europe's digital transformation in five areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital skills and interoperability.
ITER is the international nuclear fusion project in Cadarache (France), in which Switzerland participates via Euratom.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual mandatory contributions (all programmes) | approx. CHF 1.95 bn/year |
| Of which Horizon Europe | approx. CHF 1.6 bn/year |
| Of which Erasmus+ | approx. CHF 250 m/year |
| Of which Digital Europe | approx. CHF 60 m/year |
| Historical return rate Horizon | >100% (net recipient) |
Contributions are calculated according to the GDP key. Historically, Switzerland has received more Horizon funds than it has paid in - it was a net recipient.
A distinctive feature of the EUPA is its retroactive application from 1 January 2025. This means:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agreement type | Transversal agreement (EUPA) |
| Programme period | 2021-2027 (7 years) |
| Retroactive from | 1 January 2025 |
| Total EU programme budget | approx. EUR 130 bn |
| Swiss contribution | approx. CHF 1.95 bn/year |
| National agency Erasmus+ | Movetia |
| Historical net effect | Switzerland was net recipient |