Switzerland’s participation in European research infrastructure networks

Switzerland is a member of several European research infrastructure networks known as European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs). Enjoying special legal status, ERICs enable national research infrastructures to work together, thus facilitating research cooperation across Europe.

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National nodes and international networking

European research infrastructure networks are comprised of national research infrastructures and networks spread over various countries in Europe. Most networks have a central hub and national nodes, which are housed at universities and research institutes. Research infrastructure networks standardise and coordinate services, resources (e.g. research data) and the use of instruments. International networking allows synergies to be exploited and national resources to be used more effectively.

ERIC legal form

The European Union introduced a new legal form ‘European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)’ in 2009 to simplify the creation and operation of such research infrastructure networks. Under the ERIC legal personality, different categories of participation are recognised: EU member states, associated third countries, non-associated third countries and intergovernmental organisations.

Swiss membership in ERICs

Switzerland is a member of a number of ERICs. Research communities based in Switzerland can therefore make active and long-term use of these networks and develop their scientific activities in a coordinated fashion. The decision on whether Switzerland should become a member of a given European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) rests with the Federal Council.

SERI provides guidance to national research infrastructures in preparation for membership and represents Switzerland in ERIC bodies. During its deliberations on the ERI Dispatch, parliament may take a stance on the planned memberships.

Swiss memberships

Switzerland is a member of the following nine ERICs:

• ACTRIS ERIC (Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure)
  Swiss node: ACTRIS Switzerland
• BBMRI ERIC (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure)
  Swiss node: Swiss Biobanking Platform SBP
• CESSDA ERIC (Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives)
  Swiss node: Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences FORS
• CLARIN ERIC (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure)
  Swiss node: LiRI @ UZH / CLARIN-CH
• DARIAH ERIC (Digital Research infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities)
  Swiss node: Swiss National Data and Service Center for the Humanities DaSCH
• ECRIN ERIC (European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network)
  Swiss node: Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation SCTO
• EPOS ERIC (European Plate Observing System)
  Swiss node: ETH Zürich / Swiss Seismological Service SED
• ESSurvey ERIC (European Social Survey)
  Swiss node: Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences FORS
• ICOS ERIC (Integrated Carbon Observation System)
  Swiss node: ETH Zürich / ICOS-CH

Swiss observer status

Switzerland participates in this ERIC as an observer:

• SHARE ERIC (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe)
  Swiss node: University of Lausanne / FORS

Swiss procedure to join an ERIC

The procedure to join such a legal entity can be broken down into four steps:

• 1. Inclusion in Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures

  Every four years, SERI updates the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. During this process, the universities and research institutes hosting a national node of an existing or emerging ERIC submit an application for Swiss participation. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) examines the scientific merits of these applications. Inclusion in the Roadmap is a prerequisite for Swiss participation in an ERIC.

• 2. SERI review and prioritisation

  When reviewing and setting priorities, SERI applies the following mandatory criteria, which are specified in the Annex of the ERIC Dispatch:

  • The international research infrastructure network must be established and legally structured as an ERIC, or the pre-existing consortium of the given research infrastructure network intends to become an ERIC.
  • A national node has been designated and the interested Swiss research community is sufficiently well organised.
  • The participating research institutes have already allocated medium-term funding for the Swiss node and the infrastructure in Switzerland.
  • Switzerland's interests must be sufficiently safeguarded if it joins the ERIC.

  Other criteria relating to prioritisation:

  • The ERIC's activities require international cooperation and cannot be managed effectively through nationally organised cooperation.
  • The ERIC's activities relate to a field in which Switzerland has a clear interest.
  • The ERIC is a good addition to other international research infrastructure networks that Switzerland takes part in.
  • The activities of the research infrastructure network justify a state-level commitment.

• 3. Request in ERI Dispatch for funding to cover membership costs

  The Federal Council submits a corresponding funding request to the Federal Assembly in its Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (ERI Dispatch). The Federal Assembly then discusses the ERI Dispatch and may comment on the Swiss membership proposal(s).

• 4. Federal Council decision and implementation

  The Federal Council applies for Swiss membership to the corresponding ERIC. The General Assembly of this ERIC must approve Switzerland's membership. SERI (ERIC team) acts as Switzerland's ministerial representative in the General Assembly.

Documentation

• Federal Council Dispatch on Switzerland joining six international research infrastructure networks with the ERIC legal form and on Amendment of the Federal Research and Innovation Promotion Act (ERIC Dispatch) (German)
• Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures

• E2-news: Annual symposium of Swiss ERIC community
• E2-news: Biobanks: key resources for research