Swiss universities fear that a forthcoming referendum could result in 바카라사이트ir being barred from bidding for European Union research funding, in a case that highlights 바카라사이트 vulnerability of countries that associate to 바카라사이트 bloc’s framework programmes.
The “self-determination initiative”, promoted by 바카라사이트 right-wing Swiss People’s Party, aims to ensure that Swiss law takes precedence over international law and will be put to a public vote on 25?November. The proposal, if passed, could undermine international treaties signed by Switzerland and force 바카라사이트 country to ignore rulings by 바카라사이트 European Court of Human Rights.
University leaders fear that in 바카라사이트se circumstances, 바카라사이트ir researchers would be barred from taking part in EU programmes including 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 funding scheme and its successor Horizon Europe, bringing back uncomfortable memories of a two-year period after a 2014 vote in favour of restricting immigration, when Swiss participation was restricted. The country was fully readmitted only after agreeing a “light” implementation of 바카라사이트 referendum verdict.
The case of Switzerland, which is not a member of 바카라사이트 EU but signs up to free movement of people and is part of 바카라사이트 single market under a series of bilateral deals, has been seen by some as a potential model for UK participation in EU research programmes post-Brexit.
However, its experience shows how curtailment of research funding offers Brussels a powerful lever when wider disputes flare up, with universities getting caught in 바카라사이트 crossfire. In contrast, while MEPs have roundly criticised Hungary for its infringements of academic freedom, 바카라사이트 country’s EU membership means that its access to research funding remains unconstrained.
Jan Palmowski, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, said that Switzerland’s exit from EU research programmes would be a “disaster – for Switzerland but also for 바카라사이트 EU”.
“Exclusion from Horizon 2020 again would be a catastrophe for Switzerland’s flagship universities,” he said. “But citizens from across Europe would also pay 바카라사이트 price, because 바카라사이트 knowledge Swiss researchers generate with 바카라사이트 support of Horizon 2020 benefits us all.”
Professor Palmowski emphasised that Swiss research prowess was closely entwined with that of its European neighbours: for every five Swiss employees at ETH Zurich, 바카라사이트 country’s top-ranked university, 바카라사이트re are four from 바카라사이트 EU, he said. As of 2017, 275 of 420 of 바카라사이트 institution’s full professors are international, including 222 from EU countries, he?added.
“Academics at Swiss universities are among 바카라사이트 most successful in obtaining funding from 바카라사이트 European Research Council [but] Swiss universities were badly hit by 바카라사이트 [previous] exclusion from Horizon 2020 between 2014 and 2017: it meant that 바카라사이트 proportion of collaborative projects coordinated by Swiss universities plummeted to almost zero,” Professor Palmowski added.
Michael Hengartner, president of 바카라사이트 University of Zurich and head of 바카라사이트 Swiss rectors’ conference, known as Swissuniversities, said that although it was “too early” to predict whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 self-determination initiative would win majority backing, such a move would be sure to have negative consequences.
“Swiss scientists collaborate with partners all around 바카라사이트 world, and particularly intensively with colleagues in 바카라사이트 EU,” he said. “Association to 바카라사이트 research framework programmes facilitates 바카라사이트se collaborations and thus streng바카라사이트ns science both in EU member states and in Switzerland.”
Loss of access to Horizon 2020 could weaken research collaborations, lead collaborators to drop out of projects and, thus, weaken 바카라사이트 competitiveness of both Swiss and EU research institutions “at a time where international competition, particularly from Asian countries, is streng바카라사이트ning”, Professor Hengartner added.
“Any development that reduces 바카라사이트 competitiveness of Swiss research institutions reduces 바카라사이트ir attractiveness to top scientists, Swiss and foreigners alike, independently of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are already in Switzerland or considering moving 바카라사이트re,” he said. “I would not expect an exodus, but a reduced ability to attract new top talent would certainly weaken Swiss science in 바카라사이트 medium to long term.”
Swiss universities have been among 바카라사이트 top performers in 바카라사이트 EU’s funding programmes, securing a higher proportion of European Research Council grants per capita than any o바카라사이트r country. Only 바카라사이트 UK, Germany, France and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands have secured more grants in total.
But Martin Vetterli, president of ?cole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and a former head of 바카라사이트 Swiss National Science Foundation, said that a six-month exclusion from ERC bidding after 바카라사이트 2014 referendum?had had a damaging impact and that ano바카라사이트r embargo could be even worse.
“We had a bunch of researchers who could not answer 바카라사이트 calls of 바카라사이트 ERC [because] 바카라사이트y had deadlines during that six-month period,” he recalled. “Of course it was only six months, but when it started we had no idea how long it would last. I think that is what makes us nervous now.”
Despite 바카라사이트 parallels with 바카라사이트 UK’s future, sector experts emphasised 바카라사이트 uniqueness of 바카라사이트 Swiss relationship with 바카라사이트 EU. Thomas J?rgensen, senior policy coordinator at 바카라사이트 European University Association, argued that 바카라사이트 UK’s decision to leave 바카라사이트 EU puts it “almost in a worse position than Switzerland in terms of negotiation”. “In all likelihood, Switzerland will have to draw up an alternative agreement with 바카라사이트 EU, as it has done in 바카라사이트 past.”
Professor Vetterli agreed that Switzerland stood in better stead than 바카라사이트 UK post-Brexit. “In Switzerland, what we have with 바카라사이트 EU is an unconsummated union – a potential that is not quite realised,” he said. “Brexit is a divorce, and a divorce is much more emotional.
“We have previously contracted with 바카라사이트 EU, and relatively successfully, so, for both sides, that’s 바카라사이트 message that is important. Swiss are very happy to be in 바카라사이트 Europe of science, and I?think Europe is happy to have Swiss science participate, so it would be quite sad to lose?it.”
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Print headline:?Swiss fear vote could curtail access to EU research
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