Summary

The Swiss Science Council (SSC) firmly rejects the abolition requested by the Federal Council. In its statement on the consultation procedure, the council argues that the planned dissolution would weaken independent strategic advice in education, research, and innovation policy without achieving savings. The SSC emphasizes its role as a cost-effective, highly qualified advisor with a long-term perspective and calls on the Federal Council to abandon the abolition.

Persons

Topics

  • Science policy and advisory services
  • Education, research, and innovation policy
  • Extra-parliamentary commissions
  • Administrative reforms

Clarus Lead

The Swiss Science Council is resisting the planned abolition by the Federal Council and submits a detailed rebuttal in the consultation procedure. The council argues that the reasons cited by the Federal Council for abolition are unconvincing and that dissolution would bring strategic disadvantages without financial savings. For decision-makers in education and research policy, this is relevant because independent advisory services are presented as a critical success factor for complex policy-making.

Detailed Summary

The SSC functions as an extra-parliamentary commission with a maximum of 15 internationally renowned experts from various disciplines. Its core tasks include providing independent strategic advice to the Federal Council and evaluating key actors and instruments of the education, research, and innovation system (ERI system). The council emphasizes its volunteer character, which enables highly qualified expertise at comparatively low cost.

In its statement, the SSC argues with several key points: First, in an increasingly complex international environment, independent, interdisciplinary, and long-term oriented policy advice is indispensable. Second, outsourcing such services to private providers would lead to significantly higher costs. Third, the council has many years of experience in evaluation and contributes to methodological diversity and quality assurance. Fourth, its independent perspective enables early identification of relevant developments and timely strategic decisions.

The SSC also points out that the planned abolition contradicts previous positive feedback from politicians and administrators, who have repeatedly confirmed the independence and quality of its work. President Sabine Süsstrunk emphasizes that independent science policy advice is a central element of an effective education, research, and innovation system. The council declares itself ready to further develop its working methods and cooperate constructively with politicians and administrators.

Key Statements

  • The SSC rejects the requested abolition and assesses the Federal Council's reasons as unconvincing
  • Independent strategic advice is presented as indispensable for complex policy-making
  • The volunteer character enables cost-effective operations; privatization would lead to higher costs
  • The council has many years of evaluation experience and methodological expertise
  • Previous feedback from politicians and administrators confirms the quality and independence of the SSC

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: What specific cost comparisons between internal volunteer operations and external private providers does the SSC have, and have these been externally validated?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent could the SSC's self-defense against abolition influence its objectivity in assessing its own necessity?

  3. Data Quality: On which specific feedback from politicians and administrators is the statement based regarding repeated confirmation of independence and quality?

  4. Causality: Is it proven that early identification of developments by the SSC actually leads to better strategic decisions, or is this an assumption?

  5. Alternatives: What alternatives to abolition has the Federal Council considered, and why were these assessed as insufficient?

  6. Feasibility: How would outsourcing of evaluation services work in practice, and what quality risks would arise?

  7. Side Effects: Could maintaining the SSC lead to entrenchment of structures that hinder innovation in science policy?

Sources

Primary Source: Press Release: Swiss Science Council Submits Statement on Its Planned Abolition – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/EYhgan5v3nuSnlnQe3T1u

Verification Status: ✓ 12.03.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-check: 12.03.2026