Switzerland aims at full association to the Fifth Framework Programme
4 December 1998 - 4 December 1998
The Fifth Framework Programme was discussed by 300 researchers, administrators and policy makers in Bern on 4 December 1998. Speakers from the European Commission and from the Swiss government and research organisations presented the programme and discussed options and possibilities for Swiss participation, which could be substantially stronger than in the past.
The Director-General of DG XII, Jorma Routti, addressed the conference with a presentation on the objectives and content of the Fifth Framework Programme. A more detailed presentation followed giving an overview over the Information Society programme, pointing out the increasing importance of services and applications.
Switzerland participated in the Fourth Framework Programme on a project by project basis. This time around it could potentially double its participation, said the President of the research commission of the Verein Schweizerischer Maschinen-Industrieller, an industrial organisation in the engineering sector. He said Swiss enterprises were increasingly keen to participate in Framework projects and that the Framework programme presented a useful instrument, especially for SMEs.
Charles Kleiber, Secretary of State for Science and Research, emphasised the importance to Switzerland of full association to the Fifth Framework Programme. To continue participation on a project by project basis would lead to disadvantages for Swiss researchers and in the long run could lead to isolation in the European research community. Switzerland has full membership in all European research initiatives and organisations except for the Framework programme. However, negotiations between Switzerland and the EU concerning the nature of its involvement in the Fifth Framework Programme are continuing.
For more information, please contact::
Lino de Faveri
Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft
Tel. +41-31-3229964
Fax +41-31-3227854
Email: Lino.Defaveri@bbw.admin.ch
The Director-General of DG XII, Jorma Routti, addressed the conference with a presentation on the objectives and content of the Fifth Framework Programme. A more detailed presentation followed giving an overview over the Information Society programme, pointing out the increasing importance of services and applications.
Switzerland participated in the Fourth Framework Programme on a project by project basis. This time around it could potentially double its participation, said the President of the research commission of the Verein Schweizerischer Maschinen-Industrieller, an industrial organisation in the engineering sector. He said Swiss enterprises were increasingly keen to participate in Framework projects and that the Framework programme presented a useful instrument, especially for SMEs.
Charles Kleiber, Secretary of State for Science and Research, emphasised the importance to Switzerland of full association to the Fifth Framework Programme. To continue participation on a project by project basis would lead to disadvantages for Swiss researchers and in the long run could lead to isolation in the European research community. Switzerland has full membership in all European research initiatives and organisations except for the Framework programme. However, negotiations between Switzerland and the EU concerning the nature of its involvement in the Fifth Framework Programme are continuing.
For more information, please contact::
Lino de Faveri
Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft
Tel. +41-31-3229964
Fax +41-31-3227854
Email: Lino.Defaveri@bbw.admin.ch