(pd/cm) With the up-coming vote on the extension of the free movement of persons treaty, made-to-measure access to the EU as a place of research is at stake as far as Swiss scientists are concerned. This is the view adopted by a newly founded committee that supports Switzerland as a place of research, according to a media communication released last week. The committee is for the bilateral agreement and putting its weight behind a "yes" vote on 25th September (1). Ulrich Suter, Vice-president Research represents ETH Zurich in the committee.

Owing to the bilateral research agreement Switzerland has been able to participate in EU research programmes since January 2004 with same rights and obligations as the member countries. For the current 6th Framework Programme first trends show that Switzerland, with around 3500 participants, has a higher than average participation rate in EU research programmes. Previously already, Switzerland's proportion in EU research programmes had risen since the beginning in 1993 from 3 to 20 per cent..

A "no" vote on 25th September would put this positive research collaboration at risk, according to the committee. This is because the seven sectoral agreements that were signed as part of the first bilateral agreement package with the EU are linked to one another by the so-called cut-off clause. In a worst-case scenario Switzerland could be excluded from future EU research programmes and Swiss scientists could be discriminated against, abroad. This would have serious consequences, not only for Switzerland's ability to compete but also for the image of Switzerland as a place of research. Those scientists who advocate support for the bilateral agreements do not discount negative effects even if the cut-off clause does not come into effect. Switzerland could be at a disadvantage, for example, with regard to the treatment of project contributions.

Patrick Aebischer, President of EPF Lausanne, Hans Weder, Rector of the University of Zurich, and Nobel laureate Rolf Zinkernagel, among others, have joined Ulrich Suter in his campaign for a positive outcome on 25th September.