The UK and Switzerland have this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their research and innovation ties, as both remain unable to access the Horizon Europe scheme.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy [BEIS] described Switzerland as a “natural partner for the UK” given its standing as home to two of Europe’s top 10 universities and host of several world leading laboratories and businesses such as Roche and Novartis.
The deal will prioritise co-operation in areas such as “deep science” and “deep tech” according to BEIS, encompassing life science, energy technology, artificial intelligence and space, as well as commercialising innovations into new businesses.
UK science minister George Freeman (pictured) said: “Being a science superpower means deepening our international relationships with leading research and development economies like Switzerland and pursuing multi-lateral collaborations to tackle urgent global challenges like climate change, biosecurity and space sustainability.
“Research is fundamentally collaborative, and this will be another key step in realising the UK’s ambitions to deepen international R&D partnerships with leading laboratories, countries and industries around the world.
“Switzerland is home to world class research in life science – especially neuroscience and vaccines, quantum, space, fintech and cleantech - and with longstanding links with the UK, it is a key strategic partner for us.”
The signing of the Memorandum comes as both countries have been trying to access the EU’s Horizon Europe scheme, which boasts a budget of 95.5 billion (£81.2 billion) over the six years to 2027, without success.
Discussions around the UK’s post-Brexit membership of Horizon have been put on hold amid tensions around the trading situation in Northern Ireland, while the Swiss have seen their participation blocked after it rejected plans to strike an all-encompassing treaty with the bloc.
Switzerland is not an EU member and is currently tied into several bilateral agreements with the trading bloc rather than an overarching treaty.
While no fresh investment is to be provided as part of the deal, Switzerland’s ambassador to the UK Markus Leitner said that it served as a “political signal” that the country was looking to strengthen existing relationships while shut out of Horizon and find new research projects.
However, Leitner said that Switzerland would continue its efforts to access Horizon, citing this as a “priority”.
Within the Brexit deal, the UK does have associate membership of Horizon agreed in principle under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. However, a binding deadline for association was not included in the treaty.
While universities have welcomed the Swiss agreement, there are concerns that without Horizon funding, science and innovation cut be hit by government cutbacks in the upcoming Autumn Statement.
Jamie Arrowsmith, the head of Universities UK International, said that the interests of all would be “best served by all parties agreeing to remove political impediments, and proceeding to ratify UK and Swiss association to Horizon Europe”.
While the UK remains locked out of Horizon, ministers have hinted that they could look to agree more international science and innovation deals as part of the government’s “Plan B”, in a bid to provide some certainty to the sector.
Meanwhile, Freeman has said that he plans to strike more international agreements, suggesting that one with Israel is to “follow next.”
