Swiss organisations generally pursue their own international cooperation strategy, each to their own degree of autonomy. The Federal Administration supports these efforts to ensure that the activities of these organisations develop under the best possible circumstances.

In the past, corresponding federal policies were strongly geared towards cooperation with Europe (European research organisations, EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development). Research cooperation ties were also established with the United States, Canada and Singapore.

The Federal Administration now intends to focus on a new priority. The Federal Council Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation for 2008-2011 mentions China, India, Russia, South Africa (including research institutes in Côte d'Ivoire and Tanzania), Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Chile as well as eight other non-European countries as potential partners with whom Switzerland would like to establish broader and deeper bilateral research cooperation ties. Corresponding framework agreements have either already been signed with the governments of these countries or are in the pipeline.

Research cooperation programmes between Swiss universities and partner institutions in the various countries mentioned are established in agreement with the Swiss University Rectors Conference (CRUS) and draw from a federal funding allocation of CHF 43 million.

Bilateral research cooperation programmes are designed to provide the best possible scientific quality and are intended to promote long-term partnerships. Project funding is split equally between Switzerland and individual partner countries. In addition, project participants are required to obtain research funding from their home institution as well as from national research promotion agencies or private sponsors.

The SER is responsible for bilateral research cooperation programmes, which are coordinated by a university for each country. For cooperation with China, India, Russia and South Africa, a Swiss university and corresponding institution in the partner country are also assigned to act as Leading Houses. For each Leading House, there are several Associated Leading Houses covering as many fields of expertise as possible. The Background information section below contains detailed information about bilateral research cooperation activities in each country.