The Grand Chamber voted to allocate 35.6 million Swiss francs for the Sweeter funding instrument for the years 2025 to 2028. A decision on the continuation of the program will then be made as part of the message on the promotion of education, research and innovation (ERI).
With its decision, the Council followed the majority of the preparatory committee. The committee pointed out that the four-year cycle is also the rule in other areas of science funding. The average annual funding would not be reduced by the proposal.
The Federal Council had asked Parliament for an additional CHF 106.8 million for the years 2025 to 2036. The Council of States narrowly followed this proposal in May.
The National Council also had to decide on several minority motions that proposed other periods or amounts. These did not find a majority.
Martin Bäumle, a member of the GLP National Council from Zurich, complained that these were long-term projects that required investment security. Gabriela Suter (SP/AG) also called for a longer program duration.
A minority of the commission headed by Lars Guggisberg (SVP/BE), however, wanted to allocate 53.4 million francs for the period up to 2032, which would have corresponded to a reduction in funding. He referred to the strained state of federal finances.
The Federal Council wrote in its message to Parliament that the funding instrument Sweeter (Swiss research for the energy transition and emissions reduction) was intended to provide rapid and targeted answers to new, urgent questions about securing supplies and transforming the energy system to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The funds earmarked for this purpose were to be offset in the coming ERI emergencies. The implementation would therefore be budget-neutral.
The matter goes back to the Council of States.
