Newsletter "Euresearch Info" June 2026
A Quarter Century of Euresearch
If a week is a long time in politics, then 25 years is an eternity in the life of Euresearch! Our 25th anniversary in 2026 is an opportunity to celebrate Euresearch’s achievements and successes, and to reflect on the ups and downs of the sometimes turbulent relationship between Switzerland and the European Union.
To begin at the beginning. In 2000, an assessment of Switzerland’s participation in the EU’s Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) by the Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft (BBW), as it was then known, led to the establishment of a dedicated “EUresearCH” office in Bern. It officially commenced operations as the National Contact Point for FP5 in 2001 under its first Director, Olivier Küttel, with a Head Office staffed by 6 people, 9 Regional Offices across Switzerland at the cantonal universities and the federal institutions, ETH and EPFL. This marked the beginning of strategic and operational support for Swiss engagement in European research and innovation programmes. In 2002, the contracts to run a Regional Office were no longer awarded by BBW but directly by Euresearch.
During the FP5 and FP6 years, Euresearch defined its core activities, combining information events with individual consultations and building strong links with researchers, institutions and SMEs. At the same time, its governance and structure were consolidated, notably with the establishment of the Euresearch Association and Board in 2004. Switzerland’s full association to FP6 marked a significant milestone, leading to high levels of participation and notable success, facilitated by Euresearch support.
For FP7 (2007-2013), both the Euresearch services and internal structures evolved. The Head Office was reorganised to respond to new programme priorities, such as the “European Research Council” and increased demand for the then “Marie Curie Actions”, while a strategic shift towards more targeted consulting was introduced. External evaluation in 2009 confirmed Euresearch’s effectiveness and led to renewed national mandates, with stronger emphasis on SME support and service integration. This period also saw leadership changes, including the handover from Olivier Küttel to Peter Erni in 2012, and changes in the Board presidency.
The start of Horizon 2020 in 2014 saw Switzerland return to “Third Country” status, placing additional operational demands on Euresearch to ensure that researchers and innovators received correct and timely information. Following the return to full association in 2017, the organisation undertook significant internal streamlining: the Head Office was rebranded as the Network Office, services were reorganised into the categories Inform, Advise and Connect, and client segmentation was introduced to enhance service delivery.
Preparation for Horizon Europe, which began in 2021, was again marked by uncertainty, requiring both strategic and operational adaptability. Throughout the period of non-association, Euresearch maintained continuous support for researchers while simultaneously addressing internal matters, including financial stability, relocation to new premises, upgrades to IT systems, and the introduction of a new corporate identity. The Directorship evolved further, with Regina Schneider as Director followed by a transition to co-directorship (Cornelia Spycher and Francesco Kienzle) and subsequently to Francesco Kienzle as sole Director.
Across 25 years of activity, Euresearch has continuously adapted both its services and its organisation, thereby building resilience in the face of political and programmatic uncertainty and demonstrating its sustained commitment to supporting Swiss research and innovation. It has become a robust national network, firmly embedded in the Swiss R&I landscape.
That was the first 25 years. We look forward to the challenges and successes of the next 25 years!
I would like to close with a few reflections. Firstly, the success of Euresearch is due to the commitment, enthusiasm and engagement of the Regional Offices, the Network Office, the Management and Board and, of course, the researchers and innovators themselves. Equally important are the close, supportive and congenial relationships with SwissCore and our mandate giver, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. My heartfelt thanks to all involved with Euresearch for the part they played. To finish, I would like to wish Euresearch the very best for the next quarter century.
Author: Edwin Constable, Euresearch President
Illustration: Katja Stähli
Euresearch Annual Report 2025
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