Science policy for good framework conditions for research

The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences advocate stable framework conditions for Swiss science and innovation. Together with the other national players, they are therefore doing everything they can to ensure Switzerland's full association with Horizon Europe, the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. In 2019, the Academies therefore called for the conclusion of the institutional framework agreement between Switzerland and the EU, in 2020 they recommended the rejection of the popular initiative «For moderate immigration» (Limitation Initiative) and in 2022 they supported the «Stick to Science»online campaign. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) provides information on its website about the opportunities for researchers from Switzerland to participate in Horizon Europe.

The objectives of ALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, are to ensure good working conditions for research, strengthen the role of science in society and to provide the best independent and interdisciplinary scientific advice. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences are strongly involved through their participation in strategic committees and thematic working groups, and in 2019, they hosted the ALLEA General Assembly in Bern.

DARIAH  is the European network of digital research infrastructure for humanities scholars working with computer-based methods. The Swiss cooperation partner is the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS).

The GSF serves as a platform for OECD member states to draw up recommendations for action to shape their science policy on priority topics. On behalf of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, Lukas Baumgartner (University of Lausanne) takes part in the Swiss delegation to the GSF led by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Two recent GSF reports were drafted with researchers from Switzerland in the lead: Willy Benz (University of Bern) on very large research infrastructures and Verity Elston (University of Lausanne) on career paths of doctoral and postdoc researchers.

With locations in 20 of the most innovative countries, Swissnex supports the international networking of Swiss players in the fields of education, research and innovation. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences cooperate with Swissnex. Among other things, and together with national partner organisations, they twice organised a meeting between diplomatic personnel accredited in Switzerland and responsible for science and technology and their Swiss counterparts.

This umbrella organisation with more than 260 science organisations and international professional societies, works at the global level to catalyse and convene scientific expertise, advice and influence on issues of major concern to both science and society. The interests of the Swiss scientific community in the ISC are represented by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS).

This Round Tables serves the scientific community to ensure links to international organisations and research infrastructures, and as a platform for exchange with research funding organisations. The Round Table is coordinated by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).