The mission of the Joint Research Centre is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of European Union policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Community. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.

The JRC employs around 2.750 people and has 7 scientific institutes spread over 5 sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain. The

JRC works with a large number of public and private organisations such as research centres, universities, regulatory bodies, local authorities, industrial associations and companies within networks underpinning its institutional

work (that is, work funded directly from the Commission’s budget). This includes many organisations from new Member States, Candidate Countries

and Associated Countries. Furthermore, the JRC has partnerships funded through successful proposals under the EU Research Framework Programme

(so called indirect actions).Collaboration between the JRC and the Swiss research community is intense and growing steadily, due in particular to the high quality of Swiss science

and the proximity of Ispra, the largest JRC research site, to the Swiss border. At present, the JRC and more than 40 prominent Swiss research organisations are partners within many different projects and networks. In 2006, 26 Swiss experts participated in specialised JRC workshops and training courses on

various scientific and technical aspects of EU policies.

The European Commission’sJoint Research Centre

and Switzerland

Working for the JRC Roland SchenkelDirector General of the Joint Research Centre

The JRC needs strong partnerships with public and private organisations in Member States, Candidate Countries and countries associated to the Framework Programme, like Switzerland, in order to implement its mission, realise its work programme and to contribute fully to the European Research Area. This collabora-

tion is called for by the very nature of the JRC’s work – harmonisa-tion and validation of methods and measurements, establishment of common standards, and the provision of scientific and technical support in the implementation of European legislation.

The JRC’s research programme, in accordance with the Commission’s seventh framework programme (2007-2013), falls into the following areas:• Food chain, biotechnology, safety of chemicals and

contributions to health• Environment, climate change, natural disasters and energy and

transport• Nuclear energy, safety and security• Lisbon agenda, information society, rural development,

internal/external security, antifraud and development aid

The JRC attracts top level scientists from throughout the EU and from countries which are associated to the Framework Programmes, bringing their skills and talents to provide sound scientific services to the EU institutions and Member States.

For further information contact: JRC-recruitment@ec.europa.eu

European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)Communications Unit SDME 10/75B-1049 Brussels

Brussels:Tel.: +32 2 295 76 24Fax: +32 2 299 63 22Ispra:Tel.: + 39 0332 78 98 93Fax: + 39 0332 78 54 09

Web: http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ E-mail: jrc-info@ec.europa.eu

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JRC Contact National Contact Sasha HugentoblerEuresearch Head Office, P.O. Box 7924CH - 3001 BernTel: +41 (31) 380 60 06Fax: +41 (31) 380 60 03 E-mail: sasha.hugentobler@euresearch.ch

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The JRC Institutes and their locations

Switzerland and the JRC in FP7

The European Research Area is wider than the European Union: Following the success of its participation in the previous programme, Switzerland is in the process of becoming associated to the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development, which runs from 2007 to 2013, and the EURATOM Programme (2007-2011). This association agreement entitles Swiss entities to participate in all specific programmes, as well as in the activities of the JRC, and to be financed by FP7 on a same footing as Member States. The JRC is a strong partner for developing common proposals for EU-funded projects.Through specialised Institutes in five countries, the largest research site being Ispra near the Swiss border with Ticino, the JRC develops its specific expertise in policy areas such as environment, food, chemicals, energy and security, which are of central interest also for Switzerland. Possible initiatives for future collaboration will be considered on the basis of mutual interest and added value to the JRC work programmes (http://projects.jrc.ec.europa.eu/). Moreover, the JRC publishes calls for researchers who wish to work at its Institutes for up to two years, which are also open to Switzerland (http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu).

Linear Synthetic Aperture high-resolution radar – LISA Monitoring Landslides and Avalanches in the Alpine Region

There are three monitored sites in Swiss Alps: Airolo – Landslide, St. Gotthard Motorway – Rock Fall and SLF Davos Test Site at Valais/Sion – Avalanches. LISA, the Linear Synthetic Aperture high-resolution radar, measures ground movements in areas extending from few meters to few kilometres, thus providing also close-in view of portions of particular interest. Attainable spatial resolutions are in the range from tenths of centimetres to few meters while the accuracy in the measurement of displacements is in the millimetrie range. LISA is a flexible tool suitable for emergencies as well as medium to long term monitoring, and is applicable under adverse environmental conditions (http://ipsc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/facility.php?id=lisa ).

E x a m p l e s o f t h e J R C C o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h S w i s s R e s e a r c h O r g a n i s a t i o n sRESEARCH FUNDED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMME RESEARCH FUNDED BY INDIRECT ACTIONS

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich – Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, ETHZlCo-Existence and Traceability of GMO ingredients along the food chain (CO-EXTRA), ENSEMBLE-Based Predictions of Climate Changes and their Impacts (ENSEMBLES), Sustainable

Introduction of GMOs into European Agriculture (SIGMEA), Open Architecture and Spatial Data Infrastructure for Risk Management (ORCHESTRA).Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFLlA network for bringing Nanotechnologies to life (Nano2Life),New Energy Externalities Development for Sustainability (NEEDS), Prediction of Irradiation Damage Effects on Reactor

Components (PERFECT), Networked audiovisual media technologies (VISNET II), European Robotics Network (EURON), New Materials for Extreme Environments (EXTREMAT), Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Europe (NOMIRACLE), Policies for Research and Innovation in the Move towards the European Research Area (PRIME), Visual and Audio Networked Technologies (VISNET).

Paul Scherrer Institute, PSIlNetwork for Actinides Sciences (ACTINET-6) with ITU, Case Study Comparisons and Development of Energy Models for Integrated Technology Systems (CASCADE MINTS), A Proposal of

Network of Excellence for a Sustainable Integration of European Research on Severe Accident Phenomenology and Management (EC – SARNET), Next Generation for Photovoltaic High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilisation of the Solar Spectrum (FULLSPECTRUM), European Hot Laboratories Research Capacities, Needs Networking and Nuclear Reactor Materials Research (HOTLAB), Understanding and Physical and Numerical Modelling of the Key Processes in the Near-Field and their Coupling for Different Host Rocks and Repository Strategies (NF-PRO), Integrated Project on European Transmutation (EUROTRANS), Atmospheric Composition Change: A European Network (ACCENT), Integration of European simulation chambers for investigating atmospheric processes (EUROCHAMP), Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GCFR), Nuclear Life Plant Prediction (NULIFE), ReActor for Process heat, Hydrogen And Electricity generation (RAPHAEL).

Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research – Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt, EMPAlImproved Methods for the Assessment of the Generic Impact of Noise in the Environment (IMAGINE), International SAMCO (Structural Assessment, Monitoring and Control) (I-SAMCO),

Traceable and Accurate Labelling of Food Commodities in Europe (TRACE).Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research – Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft, WSLlSustainability Impact Assessment: Tools for Environment, Social and Economic Effects of Multifunctional Landuse in European Regions (SENSOR).University of Basel/University Hospital lAdvanced Sensor Development for Attention, Stress, Vigilance And Sleep/Wakefulness Monitoring (SENSATION).University of BernlAssessment of the European Terrestrial Carbon Balance (CARBOEUROPE).University of NeuchatellHealth Care by Biosensor Measurement and Networking (Careman).University of ZurichlPrevention, Control and Management of Prion Diseases (NEUROPRION).Eidgenoessische Forschungsanstalt für Agrarwirtschaft und Landtechnik (Swiss federal research institute for rural economy and agricultural engineering)lCommon Agricultural Policy Regional Impact Assessment - The Dynamic and Spatial Dimension (CAPRI-DynaSpat).Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau (Research institute for biological agriculture)lHarmonised environmental Indicators for pesticide Risk (HAIR).Météo SwisslBased Predictions of Climate Changes and their Impacts (ENSEMBLES).Nationale AlarmzentralelEuropean approach to nuclear and radiological emergency management and rehabilitation strategies (EURANOS).Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology SA:lPlasma technologies for textile, food, health and environment.Swiss Sustainable Systems AG:lImproved Building Integration of PV by using Thin Film Modules in CIS Technology (BIPV-CIS).Telscom Consulting GmbH:lBroadband in Europe for All: a Multi-Disciplinary Approach.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the food chain

The JRC is operating the Community reference laboratory for GM food and feed, which is assisted by a network of more than 100 national GMO enforcement control laboratories from all EU Member States. In Switzerland, the JRC collaborates with two institutions to meet EU requirements for the authorisation, supervision and labelling of genetically modified food and feed: the Federal Office of Public Health and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Its principal task is the technical evaluation and validation of detection methods for GM food and feed as part of the Commission authorisation procedure. Equally important is that operators world-wide are in a position to carry out the tests validated and published by the JRC. In addition, the ETH Zürich is cooperating with the JRC to study the co-existence and traceability of genetically modified organisms (Co-Extra). This project will develop tools regarding the co-existence between GM and conventional as well as organic crops and to trace GMO materials and derived products along the food and feed chains.

Making solar energy more efficient

FULLSPECTRUM is an integrated project for the exploitation of the full solar spectrum in the photovoltaic conversion of solar energy. Conventional solar cells effectively convert only a narrow spectrum of the sunlight. To overcome this fundamental drawback, this project has selected four scientific-technological paths with prospects for accomplishing better exploitation of the solar spectrum and with the potential of eventually becoming commercially viable, large diffusion products with the overall aim of providing superior alternatives to today’s energy technologies. The JRC, the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen and 17 other European research institutions and companies work together to achieve this objective.

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich – Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, ETHZl Research Group Market Dynamics and Competition within the ERAWATCH network.l The ETH Zürich is a key partner in the Institutional Network Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) through its Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry (IGP).l Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) (Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry).Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFLl The Fuel Cell Testing and Standardization Network (FCTESTNET).lInstitutional Network European Renewable Energy Centres Agency (EUREC).Paul Scherrer Institute, PSIl Ageing Materials Evaluation and Studies (AMES).l Transuranus.Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research – Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt, EMPAl Air Quality Laboratories Association (AQUILA).l Joint European Programme of Primary Isotopic Measurements (JPPIM).Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research – Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft, WSLl Landscape Europe. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology – Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz, EAWAGl European Network of Freshwater Research Organisations (Euraqua) - EAWAG is collaborating closely with Rural, Water and Ecosystem Resources Unit on freshwater research.University of Basel/University Hospitall Alpha-immunotherapy for stomach cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, brain tumorsBundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft (Federal Office for environment, forest and landscape)l European Soil Bureau Network.lCombustion and Industry Expert Panel.lSAVESCO.Federal Office of Civil AviationlEuropean Co-ordination Centre for Aviation Incident Reporting Systems (ECCAIRS).Federal Office of Public HealthlRadioactivity Environmental Monitoring REMdm.lEuropean Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL).Météo SwisslWorld Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre.Nationale AlarmzentralelRadioactivity Environmental Monitoring EURDEP.lRadioactivity Environmental Monitoring ECURIE.NestlélThe European IPPC Bureau.Basler & Hofmann• NESC, Network for Evaluating Structural Components.Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt AG• ENIQ, European Network for Inspection Qualification.

A complete list of the JRC projects and collaboration partners is accessible via its website: http://projects.jrc.ec.europa.eu