Switzerland and Russia sign an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation
Bern, 13.12.2012 - Federal Councillor Alain Berset will travel to Moscow between 16 and 18 December 2012. The head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs will sign an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the Russian Federation and Switzerland with the Russian Minister for Education and Science and hold a number of bilateral discussions.
Federal Councillor Alain Berset and the Russian Minister for Education and Science, Dmitri Livanov, will sign an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between Switzerland and Russia. The main areas of cooperation include engineering sciences, nanosystems and nanomaterials, life sciences, natural resources, energy and energy economics, transport, economic and social sciences, and humanities. The signing of this agreement marks a decisive step in the development of scientific relations between the two countries which wish to intensify cooperation between their institutions and researchers.
Federal Councillor Berset will be accompanied by a delegation consisting of Patrick Aebischer, President of the EPFL, Jean-Dominique Vassali, Rector of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), as well as Dieter Imboden, the President of the National Research Council at SNSF. Following the signing of the agreement, the Swiss delegation will visit the Kurtschatow Institute and hold discussions with its Director, Professor Michail Kowaltschuk.
Federal Councillor Berset will also meet the Deputy Minister for Culture, Alla Manilova. The main topic of discussion will be joint projects by Pro Helvetia and Russian museums and festivals. At the end of November Pro Helvetia launched its ‘Swiss Made in Russia' exchange programme. Between 2013 and 2015, the foundation would like to improve access for Swiss artists to the contemporary cultural scene in Russia and strengthen networks between cultural institutions in both countries.
Address for enquiries
Nicole Lamon, Head of FDHA Communications, Tel. 078 756 44 49
Publisher
Federal Department of Home Affairs
http://www.edi.admin.ch
General Secretariat FDHA
http://www.edi.admin.ch
State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) - as of 1.1.2013 SERI
http://www.sbf.admin.ch
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
http://www.bak.admin.ch
