Research and Education (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+)

Summary: The Bilateral Agreements III secure Switzerland's full association with Horizon Europe (EUR 95.5 billion budget), Erasmus+ and Digital Europe. The EU Programmes Agreement (EUPA) was signed on 10 November 2025, with association applying retroactively from 1 January 2025. The ETH Board describes the package as "indispensable" for Switzerland's scientific excellence. Critics consider the programme costs of around 5.4 billion francs to be excessive.

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¶ The Advantage

¶ Horizon Europe -- The World's Largest Research Programme

Horizon Europe, with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion (2021-2027), is the world's largest civilian research funding programme [4][12]. Switzerland was fully participating as an associated state until 2021. After the abandonment of the InstA negotiations, the EU downgraded Switzerland to a non-associated third country [1].

Consequences of non-association (2021-2024) [1][12]:

• No access to ERC Grants (European Research Council) and Marie Curie Actions [15]
• Swiss researchers could not participate as coordinators in EU projects
• Exclusion from strategic research networks (AI, quantum, space)
• The federal government funded transitional measures amounting to 2.6 billion francs [12]

¶ EUPA -- Restoration of Full Association

The EU Programmes Agreement (EUPA) was signed on 10 November 2025 [12]:

Swiss researchers can once again participate as coordinators in EU projects and receive direct funding from the European Commission [12][15].

¶ ETH Board: "Indispensable"

The ETH Board fully supports the package and describes it as indispensable [14]:

"Stable and regulated relations with the EU [are] essential to preserve scientific excellence, stimulate innovation and strengthen Switzerland's international competitiveness." [14]

Critical condition: Association with future EU programmes from 2028 onwards is only possible if the Bilateral Agreements III are accepted by parliament and the people [14].

¶ Erasmus+ -- Educational Mobility

Switzerland has not been associated with Erasmus+ since 2014 and uses the national replacement programme SEMP (Swiss-European Mobility Programme). With the planned association from 2027, Swiss students and vocational trainees will once again have full access [13]:

• Movetia will be accredited as the national agency [13]
• Broader range of exchange opportunities with European partner universities [13]
• Vocational trainees gain access to Europe-wide training programmes [13]

swissuniversities emphasises that examination-free university admission for Swiss Matura holders remains unaffected [16].

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¶ The Objections

¶ Cost Argument

Critics argue [2]:

• The participation framework of 5.4 billion francs is a high price [2]
• Switzerland created functioning alternatives with the transitional measures (CHF 2.6 bn) [2]
• Programme participation creates a dependency on EU structures [2]

¶ Uncertain Returns

The exact return rates for the new association period have not yet been published, as full association has only been in effect since January 2025. Historically, Switzerland has received more in funding than it paid in [1][4].

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¶ Sources

[1] EDA (2026). Paket Schweiz-EU (Bilaterale III). Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. [Open Access]

[2] UNSER RECHT (2026). Bilaterale III -- um was geht es? Information platform. [Open Access]

[4] economiesuisse (2026). Bilaterale III: Den Schweizer Weg weitergehen. Dossier Politik. [Open Access] Note: Business umbrella organisation.

[12] SBFI (2026). Horizon-Paket 2021-2027. State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. [Open Access]

[13] Movetia (2026). Erasmus+ in der Schweiz. National Agency for Exchange and Mobility. [Open Access]

[14] ETH-Rat (2026). Stellungnahme zur Vernehmlassung Schweiz-EU. ETH Board. [Open Access]

[15] ETH Zürich (2025). "Horizon Europe": Switzerland fully associated again. ETH Zurich. [Open Access]

[16] swissuniversities (2025). Willkommen zum Verhandlungsabschluss. swissuniversities. [Open Access]

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Last updated: March 2026