Commission welcomes Swiss parliament’s decision to pay overdue contributions to cohesion funding, but insists it will not lead to association without broader agreements first

The news has moved the optimism needle in Brussels, but lots of administrative and legal hurdles remain, including where the life sciences court that was due to be based in London will now be located

The UK government trumpets the move as an advantage of Brexit, and plant scientists are supportive. Some researchers believe it could prefigure similar moves to ease rules in the EU

After a year of silence, the European Commission finally sets out objectives for each of five pan-EU missions - a new Horizon Europe instrument marrying research and policy to address ‘Grand Challenges’ like climate change and loss of biodiversity

The debate comes at a time when Horizon Europe association talks are embroiled in broader political battles and no longer purely limited to principles of integrity and performance in research and innovation

With association now linked to the EU’s wider relationship with Switzerland and the UK, the parliament wants a formal position in talks. Research programmes have increasingly become ‘strategic instruments’ tied to the ‘general political agenda’

Negotiations on ten Horizon Europe public private ventures in health, climate and digital technologies are complete. EU Council expected to seal the deals in November

Experts debate what Europe should do to close the growing global data divide

Research cooperation is caught up in rising tensions between London and Brussels regarding Northern Ireland’s status in the EU single market, says research commissioner Mariya Gabriel

It is some months later than expected, but announcement pair are signed up signals end to Brexit, COVID-19 and tech sovereignty-induced delays. But impasse over Swiss association goes on