EU Framework Programmes

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

The European Commission has fully activated the transitional arrangement as of 1 January 2025. This enables researchers in Switzerland to participate as a Beneficiary in almost all Horizon Europe calls from the 2025 program year. They may also coordinate projects.

For all calls from program year 2025 onwards, participants from Switzerland must prepare their applications as Beneficiaries and thus apply directly to the EU for funding. The budget of Swiss partners must be included in the total amount of funding requested by the consortium from the EU.

Please note: This has no impact on running projects.

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.

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.