The federal message on education, research and innovation policy has been published

The BFI-Botschaft / message FRI / messaggio ERI has been defined on 25 February 2016 by the Federal Council. According to the government, in the next four years investments in research and education shall  grow 2%, which is significantly less than in the previous period. This is stated in the federal message on education, research and innovation policy for the years 2017-2010 (BFI-Botschaft), which was passed on 24th February. Back in November 2015, in the course of the stabilisation programm for the national finances 2017-2019 which is currently being negotiated, growth in investments had already been reduced from 3.2 to 2.2 %.  According to a response by swissuniversities, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the ETHs and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences this puts the role of Switzerland in the area of research, education and innovation into jeopardy at a moment in time in which the country threatens to lose its access to European research programmes. The total budget projected for research and education amounts to 26 billion CHF.

Nevertheless, the government continues to promote its key project in the areas higher professional education, support of young researchers, medicine and innovation. On the topic of support for young researchers the government writes:

“Highly qualified yound researchers are of the utmost importance for the international standing of Swiss research and education. Therefore, the institutes of higher education should be supported in their attempts to adapt the specific career paths for young researchers.” (source: News Federal Council)