In analogy to its task to promote scientific policy advice in Switzerland, the SCNAT supports corresponding endeavours in Europe
On behalf of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the SCNAT participates in the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), whose main task is to provide scientific advice to the political entities of the EU. A key contribution is the delegation of scientists from Switzerland to EASAC Working Groups that draft scientific reports with policy recommendations. At strategy level, the SCNAT represents Switzerland in the EASAC Council through Thierry Courvoisier (SCNAT President, 2012-15) as President (2017-19).
The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, through their memberships in ALLEA (All European Academies) and EASAC, are part of the consortium Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA). Funded by Horizon 2020, the European academies deliver timely, independent and trans-disciplinary scientific evidence to EU policy making via the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM). The SAPEA consortium brings together more than 100 academies in over 40 European countries and across all scientific disciplines. The SCNAT supports SAPEA/SAM by way of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences by providing scientific expertise.