ERC Advanced Grants go to Switzerland for first time in years

For the first time in over three years, Swiss researchers have been awarded ERC Advanced Grants. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The European Research Council (ERC) awarded its coveted research funds to 281 research projects on Tuesday. Twenty went to Swiss researchers. This was made possible by a transitional arrangement between the European Union and Switzerland. Since spring 2021, researchers in Switzerland have been denied access to these grants. At that time, the government broke off negotiations on a framework agreement with the EU and the EU classified Switzerland as a non-associated third country for its programmes. + The rocky relationship between Switzerland and the European Union With the resumption of negotiations between the government and the EU Commission in March 2024, Switzerland was once again treated as an associated third country for ERC Advanced Grants. However, the government is funding the participation of researchers in Switzerland.