Full access for Swiss researchers in the strategic areas of Cluster 4 (Digital) of Horizon Europe in 2025. The Digital Europe Programme has also opened up further for the years 2025-2027 (SO 3 - Cybersecurity and SO 6 - Semiconductors remain closed).

The EU has completed the evaluation process for the participation of Swiss institutions in strategic areas. 

As part of Horizon Europe's 2025 work programmes (e.g. Cluster 4), Switzerland has full access to the calls for proposals in the strategic areas (artificial intelligence, quantum, communication and network technologies and space-related research topics). Switzerland is therefore listed as an associated third country eligible to participate in the corresponding work programmes in the respective call texts. This access applies exclusively for the 2025 programme year.

Researchers from Switzerland also have access to all calls in the programme parts of DEP that are accessible to us, i.e. ‘Specific Objective 1’ (SO1) - High Performance Computing, SO2 - Artificial Intelligence, SO4 - Advanced Digital Skills and SO5 - Deployment, accelerating best use of technologies. This applies to the years 2025 to 2027 (Switzerland is or will be listed as an eligible country in the corresponding tender documents).

The DEP areas SO3 - Cybersecurity and SO6 - Semiconductors are only accessible to EU member states and countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). In addition, access to individual calls for proposals in the space sector of Horizon Europe is currently still being clarified. However, none of these areas were the subject of this validation process. Further information can be found on the SERI website (Horizon Package).

Information from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)