annualreport.swissnex.orgBest of swissnex 2018 – The Annual Report - swissnex Annual Report 2018

LOADING... Skip to content swissnex Annual Report 2018 Home Highlights Facts & Figures Teams Partners Contact Home Highlights Facts & Figures Teams Partners Contact Best of swissnex 2018 – The Annual Report Dear reader, Switzerland may be a small country, but in terms of per capita income and economic output Switzerland is one of the world’s leaders. One of the reasons for this is Switzerland’s outstanding performance and competitiveness in education, research and innovation. Education, research and innovation (ERI), however, are, by their very nature, international. The Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein succinctly summed up the need to pass on and share knowledge when he said “If only one person knows, no one knows”. Knowledge – whether basic knowledge, applied knowledge or practical expertise – usually develops and increases through interaction, which can now cross all the borders of a globalized world. Swiss ERI stakeholders and their partners abroad have the autonomy and ability to pursue approaches towards cooperation according to their own needs. Nevertheless, the role of the Confederation is to adopt ERI policy measures that encourage and promote the international engagement of stakeholders in the long term. “Switzerland’s International Strategy on Education, Research and Innovation”, published by the Swiss Federal Council in July 2018, provides a summary of the updated objectives, measures and responsibilities. This is where swissnex, the Swiss global network for education, research and innovation, an initiative of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and a part of the Confederation’s network abroad managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, plays an important role. Its activities are based on a cooperative approach, and on public-private partnerships and financing. The swissnex Network supports the active engagement of Swiss ERI stakeholders in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent. This report provides readers with information about the network’s achievements and special highlights in 2018. Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, Switzerland Read More Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Switzerland Highlights Choose a filter from the list below to explore our 2018 Highlights Download Summary (PDF) -- View All Content Select Location swissnex Boston swissnex Brazil swissnex China swissnex India swissnex San Francisco Science Counselors / Offices Seoul Switzerland Team swissnex India swissnex India Loïc Krähenbühl, Conny Camenzind, Solomon George, Dinesh Shereshtha, Cassius Castellino, Sébastien Hug, Suraj Chawla, Gaganjot Kaur, Palek Sharma, Sarita Prakash, Maitree Dasgupta, Anju Edgar, Prateek Khare, Alexandra Allet, Yashaswini Kumar, Lisa Susan Abraham, Swetha Suresh, Yelamma Narayanappa, Vidya Kamalesh (left to right, from top row to last row) Share: Team Switzerland Switzerland Beatrice Ferrari, Martin Strickler, Mauro Moruzzi, Cecilia Neyroud, Roman Kern, Malin Borg, Anouk de Bast, Flavio Frei, Philippe Roesle, Corinne Gottier, Raphael Kofmel. Share: Team swissnex Brazil swissnex Brazil Pedro Capra, Leila Girschweiler, Maria Conti, Amanda Akemi, Leonardo Machado, Fabienne Zumbühl, Sylvia Romanelli Share: Team swissnex San Francisco swissnex San Francisco Eryk Salvaggio, Caitlin Miller, Benjamin Bollmann, Emina Reissinger, Perrine Huber, Gioia Deucher, Nicola Ruffo, Linda Aerne, Laura Erickson, Margaux Mégevand, Sheila Fakurnejad, Sarah Chapatte, Anne Amis, Franziska Steiner, Julien Vergély Share: Team swissnex China swissnex China Rahel Gruber, Sherry Jingting Hu, Gabriel Bishop, Luca Mondada, Danli Zhou, Miriam Haab, Christy Yingzhen Chen, Lan Yao, Libing Gu, Frans-E Bengtsson, Simin Yang, Dr. Felix Moesner, Cissy Yiwen Sun, Jasmine Yi Qin Share: Boston & New York swissnex Boston Jonas Brunschwig, Estelle Geneux, Phillipe Labouchere, Lionel Bertschy, Jake Link, Gary Weckx, Oliver Haugen, Sophie Sithamma, Alana Murphy, Laura Stalder, Daniela Chiani, Christian Simm, Francesco Bortoluzzi Share: From São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro: Academia-Industry Training 2018 swissnex Brazil -- For the first time, the 2018 edition of the Academia-Industry Training (AIT) program included the two largest Brazilian cities where swissnex Brazil is present: Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Combining these complementary ecosystems, the training program, the workshops and technical visits were even richer and created cross-country networking opportunities. The AIT featured startups from different areas, such as AgriTech, Big Data, Construction, Education, FinTech, Foodtech, MedTech and SaaS, among others. Share: swissnexDay’18: Connecting the Blocks, Unchaining the Blockchain Switzerland The swissnex Network © Fabio Blaser Fotographie The panel dicusses blockchain technologies © Fabio Blaser Fotografie -- In December 2018, 350 representatives from the field of education, research and innovation gathered in Zurich for swissnexDay’18, the swissnex Network’s annual signature event. Dedicated to blockchain technologies in Switzerland and beyond, the event brought together international experts seeking to expand their understanding of the opportunities and challenges of this increasingly prominent technology. The topics addressed in the panel discussions moderated by CNNMoney showed just how wide-ranging blockchain applications can be, from financial transfers to education, and from climate change to legal affairs. Switzerland is a center of excellence for blockchain and therefore setting new regulation standards and examples for the technology. The event – organized by swissnex China and SERI – was held in partnership with ETH Zurich, the Crypto Valley Association based in Zug and the University of Zurich (UZH), which also runs its own Blockchain Center. The swissnexDay is part of swissnex’ annual meeting, bringing together the whole swissnex Network as well as its numerous partners. In addition to the insights offered by the conference itself, it represents a unique opportunity to meet most members of the swissnex network, exchange ideas and discuss potential collaboration. Share: Advancing Apprenticeships in the US – Swiss Style Washington Signing Ceremony of the MoU on apprenticeships © U.S. Department of Education -- In this past year, the topic of apprenticeships was of a high priority at the Office of Science, Technology and Higher Education (OSTHE) at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. In December, the office supported and celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on apprenticeships. Following a strong interest from U.S. government officials as well as from various business and education stakeholders in the Swiss apprenticeship system, Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann participated in multiple high-level meetings to explore a possible collaboration in this area. In 2018, he had several follow-up meetings on the topic. In June, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos visited Switzerland and gave a keynote address at the International Congress on Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Winterthur. Her visit in particular turned out to be very fruitful for the Swiss-U.S. dialogue on apprenticeships. Only a few months later, the two countries officially reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate in this field – it was the culmination of many successful prior apprenticeship activities. On December 3 rd , Switzerland and the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation on Advancing Apprenticeship, Career and Technical Education, and Vocational and Professional Education and Training . The Memorandum was signed by Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann and by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. The Embassy of Switzerland hosted a reception that followed the cere...