Three of the ERC’s upcoming grant competitions to be launched in 2024 will be open to researchers based in Swiss entities. 

The European Commission’s decision on eligibility for ERC calls has been taken in the context of the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Switzerland on a broad package of measures, which includes Switzerland’s association to Union Programmes such as Horizon Europe. The decision goes beyond what the Commission committed to in the Common Understanding and is a clear sign of a goodwill in the negotiation process.

These transitional arrangements will allow for Swiss legal entities to be treated as being “entities established in Associated Countries” for the Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant and Synergy Grant calls for proposals in the forthcoming ERC work programme 2025. 

As previously announced, the transitional arrangements apply to the Advanced Grant call under the ERC work programme 2024, which is currently open for the submission of proposals (deadline 29 August 2024). However, grant agreements for all of the above calls may only be signed with successful applicants if the association agreement with Switzerland applies at that time.

FAQs on Swiss access to ERC 2025 calls:

• Can host institutions established in Switzerland be involved as beneficiaries in proposals submitted by Principal Investigator(s) in the ERC 2024 Advanced Grant and 2025 Starting Grant, Synergy Grant and Consolidator Grant calls under Horizon Europe?
  
  
• When will Switzerland associate to Horizon Europe?
  
  
• Can Swiss entities apply to become beneficiaries in calls for proposals other than those of the European Research Council of Horizon Europe?

• Can Swiss entities participate in Euratom R&T Programme, the nuclear research component of Horizon Europe?