Overview of international cooperation

Most Swiss ERI stakeholders collaborate internationally in various ways – through international organisations and their research infrastructures, bilateral agreements, partnerships among funding agencies, universities and researchers, and joint projects in strategic areas such as space. Cooperation also extends to vocational education and training, exchange programmes as well as to key areas such as recognition of higher education and professional qualifications, continuing education and support for early-career academics.

International cooperation between ERI stakeholders is based on the principle of autonomy, which underpins Switzerland’s international strategy in education, research and innovation (PDF). This strategy outlines the federal government’s efforts to create conditions that meet the needs of ERI stakeholders. In particular, Switzerland has signed numerous multilateral agreements to join international research organisations and programmes as well as bilateral agreements with partner countries worldwide. It also engages in science diplomacy.

International cooperation by Swiss ERI stakeholders is enabled primarily through regular funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the innovation agency Innosuisse, and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. In some cases, funding comes from the general budget allocated to the Swiss higher education sector. Where needed – such as for membership fees to international research organisations or participation in EU framework programmes – the federal government provides separate funding, which currently accounts for roughly 20% of all federal expenditure on education, research and innovation.