Scientific & Technological Cooperation Program Switzerland-Russia

The Federal Council approved the Message Education, Research and Innovation ERI 2008-2011 on January 24th, 2007. Bilateral science and technology cooperation program with priority countries has received for this time period a total budget of CHF 43 million dedicated to R&D. Of this amount, CHF 6.850 million were dedicated to bilateral scientific and technological cooperation with Russia. This budget was subsequently topped up with 450'000 CHF to support additional Joint Research Projects.

In February 2007, the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER), designated the University of Geneva as the Leading House (LH) and the EPFL as the Associated Leading House (ALH) for the implementation of the bilateral science and technology cooperation program with Russia.

The State Secretariat, acting on behalf of the Federal Council, is currently conducting negotiations with the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation to finalise a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the fields of science and technology. To date, several consultations have taken place between the Contracting Parties. The last draft defines the objectives and instruments of cooperation as well as priority cooperation fields. It foresees the creation of a Russian-Swiss Joint Working Group responsible for the implementation of the cooperation strategy at the governmental level. The bilateral Agreement is expected to be signed in the coming months.

In 2011, due to the political calendar, the funding of the bilateral program was extended to the year 2012 without change in the structure or function mode. The structure and contents of the bilateral program for the years 2013-2016 will be defined in 2012 .

The following funding instruments are made available even before the signature of the bilateral agreement:

Open calls: