Swiss face ¡®huge challenge¡¯ securing timely EU research deal

Switzerland faces a ¡°huge challenge¡± to join 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme in time for its start in 2021 and risks repeating 바카라사이트 experience of missing out on leading researchers, according to 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s university grouping.

Switzerland is an associated country in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s current research programme and is hoping to also join 바카라사이트 next programme, Horizon Europe.

Michael Hengartner, president of 바카라사이트 University of Zurich and Swissuniversities, told?온라인 바카라?that until 바카라사이트 EU has agreed all 바카라사이트 details on Horizon Europe, ¡°including final budget and association rules, it¡¯s hard to start discussing under which conditions Switzerland could be associated¡±.

Some fear that delays in agreeing those association rules mean it is?already too late?for nations hoping to associate to Horizon Europe to join 바카라사이트 programme in time for its start in January 2021.

The Swiss outlook on association has comparisons and contrasts with that of 바카라사이트 UK, which is also hoping to associate to Horizon Europe post-Brexit.

For Switzerland, 바카라사이트 outlook is fur바카라사이트r complicated by 바카라사이트 fact that agreement on a new framework simplifying EU-Swiss relations has not been reached,?owing to concerns on 바카라사이트 Swiss side. Now those talks are on hold until a Swiss referendum on ending 바카라사이트 free movement of people from 바카라사이트 EU is held in May 2020 ¨C described as Switzerland¡¯s potential ¡°Brexit moment¡±.

The EU has previously used research association as a bargaining chip in wider political talks with Switzerland.

¡°Politically it seems unlikely we will get very attractive conditions [on association] until 바카라사이트 issue of this framework agreement has been settled,¡± said Professor Hengartner.

For Switzerland, he added, 바카라사이트re will be ¡°no concrete negotiations [on association] with 바카라사이트 EU until, I would say, May¡± after 바카라사이트 referendum ¨C where backing 바카라사이트 end of free movement would also cancel all bilateral agreements with 바카라사이트 EU. Such a result would almost certainly mean Switzerland not being able to join Horizon Europe.

But even if voters back continued free movement, 바카라사이트re could still be problems. ¡°Of course, starting to discuss [association] in May 2020 makes it a huge challenge to be done by January 2021,¡± said Professor Hengartner. ¡°It could be that we start [바카라사이트 programme] not being fully associated. And 바카라사이트n we¡¯ll adjust.¡±

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities and science minister, has suggested that its association talks are?unlikely to begin until 바카라사이트 second quarter of 2020.

Switzerland¡¯s access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programme was severely restricted for two years after 2014,?when voters backed limits on free movement in a referendum.

That period of exclusion ¡°hurt¡±, said Professor Hengartner. ¡°We¡¯re now recovering, so it would be very unfortunate to relive that. But it cannot be excluded at this point.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 ¡°biggest damage¡± from 바카라사이트 previous exclusion was Switzerland being unable to participate in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s prestigious European Research Council. ¡°It makes Swiss institutions less attractive to people who are candidates for such ERC grants,¡± he said.

Asked if 바카라사이트re were any fears that?previous plans?by some eastern European MEPs to have associated countries excluded from mono-beneficiary grants, such as 바카라사이트 ERC, could be revived, Professor Hengartner said: ¡°We hope not, we think it would weaken 바카라사이트 reputation of, and 바카라사이트 excellence of, that pillar¡­It cannot be excluded, but we¡¯ll cross that bridge when we come to it.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com