Switzerland loses associated country status in Horizon Europe programme

Switzerland will be treated as a non-associated third country in the EU’s major research funding programmes, including Horizon Europe. The European commission’s decision comes during a period of rocky relations between the EU and Switzerland and could have damaging consequences for Swiss research.

Although not an EU member, Switzerland has previously participated in European research funding programmes as an associated country. But political tensions between the commission and the Swiss government have led to the country’s status being downgraded for the €95.5 billion (£82.3 billion) Horizon Europe programme.