While it is not new for Framework Programmes to include non-European participants, the first one being Israel in 1996, every new programme means for them the start of new negotiations about their legal status and conditions of admission.
This should not be an issue for some countries which already participate in FP8, such as Israel and Norway, while political disagreements between the European Union and Switzerland may retain the Swiss companies and universities access to the whole programme or part of it.
Europe may have unexpected new partners as well, as Quebec is looking forward a full access to FP9, and some European Union members would like to include Japan.
