The European Union will begin ¡°exploratory talks¡± with Switzerland regarding the country¡¯s hopes of?rejoining the Horizon Europe research programme.

The European commissioner for research and innovation, Iliana Ivanova, (formerly Twitter) that she was ¡°happy to?confirm¡± that discussion with Switzerland could begin, adding: ¡°[The]?EU is?open to?cooperation in?research and innovation with partners who share our values.¡±

Ms Ivanova was responding to a post by Maro? ?ef?ovi?, the European Commission¡¯s vice-president, who said a common understanding had been reached between the EU and Switzerland following 18 months of discussion. ¡°This is a welcome and important step in our bilateral relationship,¡± .

The ETH Board, which manages Switzerland¡¯s federal institutes of technology alongside a series of research institutes, that?it ¡°warmly welcome[d] this positive development¡±, calling for ¡°Switzerland¡¯s full association to Horizon Europe as soon as possible¡±.

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¡°Switzerland¡¯s association to Horizon Europe must be kept separate from the other negotiations between Switzerland and the EU,¡± the board continued, citing the goals of the , which campaigns for ¡°open and barrier-free collaboration among Europe¡¯s research and innovation (R&I) actors¡±.

The rectors¡¯ conference, swissuniversities, said:?¡°The Swiss universities welcome any indication that paves the way for an early full association with Horizon Europe. With a swift association, further damage to Switzerland¡¯s position as a centre of research and education can be avoided and Europe can once again fully benefit from the excellence of Swiss universities.¡±

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Switzerland was locked out of the €95?billion (?82?billion) Horizon scheme in 2021 after negotiations concerning its wider relationship with the EU broke down. Previously, the country¡¯s association to Horizon?2020, the predecessor to Horizon Europe, was temporarily suspended in 2014 after the Swiss population voted in favour of a referendum ¡°against mass immigration¡±.

The UK¡¯s return to the Horizon programme in September raised hopes that Switzerland could follow suit. Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a ¡°bespoke deal¡± that enabled the UK to become a fully associated member, after dispute over the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol saw it frozen out for two years.

The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities also , saying, ¡°The UK¡¯s association makes the omission of Switzerland from Horizon Europe as an associated country all the more glaring. The agreement made on UK association should incentivise us to push for a similar outcome with Switzerland.¡±

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com