Partly associated status of Switzerland impedes innovation and collaboration in microtechnology

The partly associated status of Switzerland in the EU funding programme Horizon 2020, in which the EU has put Switzerland after the referendum on the mass immigration initiative in February 2014, impedes innovation and collaboration in the microtechnology industry.
 
A huge majority (83%) of companies and research institutions in Switzerland agree that the status of Switzerland as partly associated EU member state affects their business development or R&D performance respectively.
 
In other European countries almost half of companies and institutes feel affected in their performance by Switzerland’s partly associated status.
 
Organizations in both regions confirm that collaborative research activities are being obstructed and projects are being delayed. Switzerland is seen as an important partner that has a lot to contribute to collaborative research and development especially in the field of microtechnology.
 
Three quarters of Swiss high-tech companies considers the innovation and competitive capacity of the whole microtechnology industry in Switzerland to be endangered.
 
Source: IVAM Survey 2016