Switzerland fully associated to Horizon 2020 per 1 January 2017
Switzerland became an Associated Country for the full Horizon 2020 programme
as of 1 January 2017. Consequently, Switzerland has regained the possibility to fully participate in the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. Swiss legal entities may participate and receive funding in EDCTP2 actions*. Switzerland may also become a full member of the EDCTP Association, the legal implementation structure for the second EDCTP programme.
“I am delighted by the bold step Switzerland has taken which repositions Swiss scientists and institutions to contribute fully to the mission and objectives of EDCTP. Switzerland is a highly valued EDCTP partner, was part of the first programme and currently an aspirant member of the EDCTP Association. As a highly committed State, I am looking forward to Switzerland assuming full membership governance role and contributing optimally as a Participating State in our second programme.”
Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director
“This is a great step towards strengthening and further developing Swiss partnership with the EU and particularly Horizon 2020 and EDCTP. The re-association of Switzerland is truly motivating. It offers a long-term perspective for our joint goals and increases opportunities to contribute to health and well-being through partnerships across systems and cultures.”
Marcel Tanner, EDCTP High Representative North
Effective from 1 January 2017, Switzerland is associated to the entire Horizon 2020 programme, the Research and Innovation programme of the European Union. This means that for all EDCTP-2 projects for which the grant agreements are signed from 1 January 2017 onwards, Swiss participants are eligible for funding. The status of Swiss legal entities in all on-going projects, i.e. for which the grant agreements have already been signed before 1 January 2017, remains unchanged.
See also the Swiss website EUResearch on Swiss Participation in Horizon 2020
Please note that Swiss entities do not count towards the minimum number of participants required for an EDCTP project as Switzerland is not a member of the EDCTP Association, i.e. an EDCTP Participating State. See also the EDCTP FAQs on calls under the section ‘Rules for Participation and funding’. (Clarification added on 25 January 2017).
* Action is Horizon2020 terminology for the various types of grants / funded projects under Horizon2020 rules. EDCTP’s calls for proposals are mainly supported through several distinct types of Horizon 2020 ‘actions: Research & Innovation actions, Coordination & Support actions, and Training & Mobility actions. See more on the EDCTP website.