Press information
EAER Press releases
Savings Measures: Agroscope Sharpens the Focus of its Research Portfolio
Because of various savings measures passed by the Swiss Parliament and the Federal Council, Agroscope’s ordinary budget shows a structural deficit of around CHF 10 million. This makes a narrowing of the thematic focus of the research portfolio essential, and leads to a loss of 58 full-time positions. Even with this narrowed focus, Agroscope will remain a competent and competitive research institution for the Swiss agriculture and food sector over the long term. The site strategy for Agroscope passed by the Federal Council in May 2020 will continue to be implemented.
SECO: Ordinance on Measures Relating to the Situation in Ukraine
On 15.06.2026 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended annex 8 to the ordinance. In this process, 16 individuals and 7 organizations were added to the annex. The measures come into force at 11 pm on 16.06.2026.
SECO: Ordinance imposing measures against Syria
On 15 June 2026 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended annex 7 to the ordinance. The entries concerning 18 individuals and 4 entities have been modified. In addition, 7 entries have been removed. The measures come into force at 11 pm on 16 June 2026.
Sanctions: Ordinance on measures against individuals and entities who support Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
On 15 June 2026 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended the annex of the ordinance on measures against individuals and entities who support Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Ten individuals have been added to the annex. The measures come into force on 16 June 2026 at 11 p.m.
ERC Grant for Empa researcher Dorina Opris: Developing fluorine-free transducers for the market
Storing energy, moving robots, detecting vibrations: The innovative silicon materials developed by Empa researcher Dorina Opris can do all this – and much more. She has now received a Proof of Concept Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to bring the materials from the laboratory to market.
State Secretary Martina Hirayama on a science mission to Canada
Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, will travel to Canada on a science mission from 15 to 19 June. While there, she will attend ministerial-level meetings and visit science and technology institutions in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Discussions will focus on key areas including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, life sciences and polar research.
President Guy Parmelin greets participants of the Évian G7 Summit
Ahead of the G7 summit in Évian, President Guy Parmelin greeted arriving heads of state and government at Geneva Airport on Monday, 15 June. In addition to the G7 countries, numerous other countries are taking part in the summit. Over the course of the day, Mr Parmelin held lengthy talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, President of the European Council, as well as with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Further bilateral talks are also planned.
Consumer sentiment slightly lower than a year ago
In May 2026 the consumer sentiment index stood at –38 points. This is 2 points lower than in May 2025. The following sub-indices are lower than in May 2025: economic outlook and financial outlook. The following sub-indices have barely changed compared to May 2025: past financial situation and moment to make major purchases.
Investment Screening Ordinance: Federal Council opens consultation
On 12 June, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Investment Screening Ordinance, which sets out the implementing provisions for the Investment Screening Act passed by Parliament on 19 December 2025.
On the trail of the missing hydrogen atoms
To simulate the properties of materials, researchers use crystal structures of materials stored in databases. Often, however, these lack the positions of the hydrogen atoms. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now trained an artificial intelligence system to reconstruct these positions very quickly and efficiently. Their new method, called XtalPaint, will make it possible to simulate materials more accurately for a variety of applications: from efficient hydrogen storage to new batteries.
G7 summit in Évian: Switzerland commits to ensuring security
With just a few days to go before the G7 summit starts in Évian, representatives from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the Swiss Armed Forces and the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) joined cantonal authorities in Geneva to present the measures being taken to ensure the event's security and support the cantons involved: Geneva, Vaud and Valais. Organised by France, the summit will take place from 15 to 17 June 2026. On this occasion, President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin will welcome the heads of state and government of the participating countries to Geneva.
Thin layers, high performance: Empa spin-off Swiss Cluster wins the Swiss Economic Award
The Empa spin-off Swiss Cluster has received the Swiss Economic Award 2026 in the “Industry/Production” category. The young company develops equipment for vacuum-based thin-film processes. This technology can be used to protect complex components or create functional thin films with unparalleled mechanical and thermal resistance. The young company supplies research institutions around the world, but its customers also include the watch industry, electronics manufacturers, and the optics sector.
Nathalie Casas comments on the Axpo report: “You can't say no to everything”
Switzerland is faced with an urgent question: where will the electricity come from in winter if nuclear power plants are taken off the grid and consumption increases due to heat pumps and electromobility? A recent report by Axpo paints a serious picture and outlines two possible scenarios. Wind and gas or new nuclear power plants. In an interview with SATW, Nathalie Casas, Head of the Department of Energy, Mobility and Environment at Empa and new member of SATW, analyses the findings. She concludes: "All technologies have their challenges. If you decide against one technology, you have to decide in favour of another.
Marked variation in upper-secondary qualification rates in different neighbourhoods
91.7% of young people who turned 15 between 2010 and 2014 had obtained an upper-secondary level qualification 10 years later. This proportion varies considerably between regions and from canton to canton. It is lower in large urban communes such as Zurich (88%), Basel (86%) and Geneva (82%), but also varies markedly between neighbourhoods. In the Langstrasse district of Zurich, the upper-secondary qualification rate was 80% and in the Fluntern district 96%. These are the main findings of a new publication by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which provides a detailed picture of the geographical distribution of the upper-secondary and Swiss baccalaureate qualification rate.
Sanctions: Ordinance on measures against Sudan
On 4 June 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has amended annex 2 of the ordinance on measures against Sudan. Seven individuals have been added to the annex. The measures come into force on 5 June 2026 at 11 p.m.
Federal government to step up support for sustainable infrastructure in developing countries
Switzerland is to provide USD 70 million in support of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 5 June. PIDG mobilises private sector capital to develop sustainable basic infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia.
US additional tariffs: Switzerland continuing negotiations
On 5 June, the Federal Council discussed the next steps regarding the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 investigations. The Federal Council strongly rejects the allegations raised in the investigation into imports of goods produced with forced labour and will set out its arguments in writing once again. At the same time, trade negotiations are continuing.
The Swiss Science Council SSC publishes its evaluation of Innosuisse
Today, the Swiss Science Council SSC published its evaluation report on Innosuisse’s funding portfolio. The evaluation concludes that Innosuisse fulfils its statutory mandate and has a coherent funding portfolio. At the same time, the SSC identifies potential for targeted further development – amongst others in the involvement of implementation partners and in access to risk and equity capital.
Safe and Sustainable by Design: graphene as a showcase
Safe and sustainable from the outset – how exactly would you ensure that? Empa researchers are applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to the 2D material graphene. This is not just a matter of understanding the risks that graphene poses to humans and the environment. The focus is also on the SSbD framework itself and its applicability in practice.
OECD Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Policy
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, will lead the Swiss delegation at the next Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to be held in Paris on 3 and 4 June 2026. This meeting, themed “Getting industrial policies right for open markets, growth and prosperity”, will offer ministers the opportunity, at a time of geopolitical tensions, to discuss industrial policy, its implications and risks, as well as the OECD’s strategic directions.