7 Euresearch Annual Report 2023 The Euresearch Network The year 2023 showed us that circumstances assumed to be exceptional were less transitory than we had thought and hoped for. We became accustomed to Switzerland not being an Associated Country anymore – even if we still hoped and expected it to change soon. We also got used to working together remotely and learned to appreciate the opportunities this offered. The Euresearch Network continued to face the challenges that come with Switzerland’s status with good spirits and a strong sense of community and dedication. The strong sense of collaboration is very much alive in the Euresearch Network with long-standing as well as new members, of which we had 13 in 2023 (Network Office: 3, Regional Offices: 10). We currently have 26 employees at the Network Office (19.1 FTE) and 96 in the 16 Regional Offices (34.6 FTE). The number in the Regional Offices, which had continually risen in the last years, seems to have stabilised. Due to the integration of most of the Euresearch Offices into grants offices, the advisors there often work for Euresearch with lower FTE (average 37%) because they also cover other programmes. This allows us to give our clients a more integrated service, but it also presents the Euresearch Network with many challenges. An increasing number of people must be familiar with diverse information systems and it is becoming a challenge to bring everyone together in one place – even if it is ‘only’ virtually. So far, we have been successful in maintaining and rebuilding the feeling of cooperation, the identification with the Euresearch brand and the knowledge of internal resources. Within its Digitalisation Strategy, the Euresearch Network made further steps towards getting fit for the future. By rolling out the Microsoft Teams application, the whole Network is now constantly connected, has easy access to the latest information and can efficiently share knowledge. This transition was accompanied by an expert group and an array of training sessions, for which we are very grateful. Nevertheless, the transition entailed some time and effort for all employees. In 2021, the pandemic had forced us to hold the Euresearch General Assembly, our 2 Board meetings and our yearly Network Day purely online. From 2022 onwards, we voluntarily held them online or at least in hybrid format, because it allowed more people to join. In addition, most of our clients welcome online consultation. Hence, we analysed our experiences in depth and developed an integrative approach, offering the full range of both onsite and online events, depending on the content and degree of interaction required. In addition, a series of training courses were offered within the Network to support everyone in setting up and moderating online or hybrid events as well as traditional live events on site. Our work in 2023 was again marked by the parallel progression of Horizon Europe, with its calls and programme updates, and the persisting non-association of Switzerland. Together with SERI, the Euresearch Network rose once more to the challenge of finding answers and solutions for our clients that would least affect their work and European collaborations. We are proud that – in contrast to the sudden non-association in 2014 – the participation of Swiss institutions appears to have remained stable on a high level. We have obviously managed to successfully navigate researchers in Switzerland and their European partners through the unfamiliar landscape of national funding, Transitional Measures and being a Third Country. Petra Hertkorn-Betz and Karl Kerschbaum, Regional Network Coordinators and Members of the Management Board
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