The Swiss government on Wednesday approved accords allowing Swiss researchers and businesses to participate in two projects co-funded by Horizon 2020, marking the resumption of the country’s full participation in this landmark EU research programme. Switzerland’s participation in the project forms part of an initiative aiming to combat the shortage of qualified workers, said the government. Significantly, Wednesday’s accords allow Switzerland to regain full membership of the EU’s Horizon 2020, a seven-year 80 billion euro research and innovation programme. Switzerland’s participation in the programme has been limited since 2014 when the country voted in favour of anti-immigration measures that would have contravened its free movement agreement with the EU. In retaliation, Brussels froze funds to Swiss scientists , and although the Swiss government subsequently plugged some of the gap, the country’s participation in Horizon 2020 projects has been greatly reduced.

Source: The Local August 23, 2017 09:53 UTC