State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
Bern, March 22, 2024 – From March 23 to 28, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, is traveling to India on a science mission. She visits Bangalore and Delhi accompanied by a scientific delegation. Switzerland and India have been cooperation partners in education, research and innovation (BFI) for many years. The visit will further strengthen bilateral relations in these areas.
Official discussions with representatives from relevant ministries are on the agenda of State Secretary Martina Hirayama and the science delegation. These discussions offer the opportunity to discuss bilateral scientific relations and their possible perspectives. The State Secretary and the delegation will also visit leading research institutes and companies to get to know the developments in the Indian ERI landscape better and to identify the potential for future cooperation.
Switzerland and India maintain good bilateral relations in the ERI area, which are supported by various instruments. A bilateral agreement has existed between the two countries since 2003 to strengthen cooperation in science and innovation. This agreement provides for a joint committee meeting every two years; The next meeting is expected to take place in Bern in 2024.
Swissnex has had a location in Bangalore since 2010. The global Swiss network for education, research and innovation supports the networking of Swiss and Indian ERI actors. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and its partner agencies in India have funded almost 240 joint bilateral research projects since 2016. Furthermore, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) is mandated by the SERI as the leading house for South Asia and Iran to expand scientific cooperation between these regions. In addition, the federal government has awarded almost 340 of its excellence scholarships to Indian researchers since 1961.
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State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
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State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation