Swiss researchers and organisations will now be able to fully participate in Horizon 2020, the European Union's research and innovation funding programme, on equal terms with entities from EU Member States and other associated countries. This is because on 1 January 2017, Switzerland will become fully associated to Horizon 2020. Until now, Switzerland has only been associated to parts of the programme.
The change is due to Swiss ratification, on Friday 16 December 2016, of the Protocol extending the EU-Switzerland Free Movement of Persons agreement to Croatia, which was the condition for Swiss association to all areas of Horizon 2020.
Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "Switzerland has now fulfilled the EU's condition on free movement of people and can be fully associated to Horizon 2020. This is good news for Switzerland, and good news for the EU. It will further strengthen our scientific communities and our very substantial cooperation in research and innovation."
Source: European Commission