Closer contacts in science between Switzerland and the USA
Bern, 17.09.2013 - State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio will be in the USA from 18 - 21 September. The aim of this working visit in Washington DC is to strengthen contacts between Switzerland the United States in tertiary-level education and research.
In Washington DC Mr Dell’Ambrogio will hold talks with representatives from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the US President’s science and technology advisory body. The schedule also includes a meeting with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a visit to a start-up company which is working closely with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute on research into malaria.
Mr Dell’Ambrogio will also be attending the Soirée Suisse at the Swiss embassy. Over 1000 guests are expected at this year’s gala event, at which current Swiss innovative projects will be presented. Mr Dell’Ambrogio will also be meeting members of Georgetown University School of Medicine to discuss medical training in Switzerland and the USA. The four-day trip will be rounded off with a visit to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, which sends about 150 students to Switzerland each year and has a campus at Riva San Vitale in Ticino.
In 2010 Switzerland and the United States signed a bilateral agreement to strengthen their ties in the field of science and technology in tertiary-level education and research. Swiss researchers publish most frequently in conjunction with their US colleagues, which demonstrates how important the country is to Switzerland as a research partner. The Swiss National Research Foundation also maintains a close relationship with the American NSF and contributes a significant amount in funding to research partnerships between Swiss and US colleagues. Between 2008 and August 2013, for example, it contributed about CHF 760 million in funding to a good 2 100 Swiss-American joint research projects. Furthermore, under the Fulbright Programme, more than 400 young Swiss and US researchers have had the opportunity to conduct research at an academic institution in the partner country since the 1980s.
In January of this year, State Secretary Dell’Ambrogio and the director of the American NSF, Dr Subra Suresh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which Switzerland declares its intention to take part in the NSF’s Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) programme. Under this programme the NSF’s best PhD students will be able to spend six to twelve months carrying out research at a Swiss higher education institution. The NSF, in turn, is willing to welcome Swiss research scientists and provide them with financial support.
Address for enquiries
Fabio Berta, International Relations
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
Tel. +41 31 322 86 17, fabio.berta@sbfi.admin.ch
Publisher
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
http://www.sbfi.admin.ch
