Schweizerisch-Polnisches Wirtschaftsforum - Rede von Bundespräsident Didier Burkhalter (en)
Bern, 27.01.2014 - Warschau, 27.01.2014 - Rede von Bundespräsident Didier Burkhalter anlässlich des schweizerisch-polnischen Wirtschaftsforums - Es gilt das gesprochene Wort
Mr. President,
Ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Youth – Work – Opening: these are Switzerland’s three main priorities in 2014. And these priorities fit very well with the topics you will discuss today. So it is with great pleasure that I take part in the opening of this Polish – Swiss Economic Forum.
Economic relations are a key component of our overall bilateral relations, and they have developed beyond expectations over the past 20 years. The fact that the three topics chosen for this Forum go beyond trade and investment issues illustrates how diversified and well-targeted cooperation between Poland and Switzerland has become.
Bilateral economic relations
Before touching upon the Forum’s topics, I would like to recall that Switzerland is the second-largest non-EU investor in Poland – as well as the second foreign investor in the EU as a whole.
Swiss companies have created around 40’000 jobs in Poland, including in less dynamic regions, which are particularly in need of such investment. Among Poland’s main assets, Swiss companies often mention its well educated workforce, its favourable geographic location, its large domestic market and its impressive growth performance.
The Swiss Enlargement Contribution
The Swiss Enlargement Contribution is a key element of our bilateral relations. With a commitment of nearly 1.3 billion Swiss francs (more than 1 billion euros) to the 12 member states that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, Switzerland acknowledges the importance of EU enlargement in reducing disparities in Europe and ensuring security, stability and prosperity across the whole continent.
The Swiss contribution to Poland alone amounts to almost 500 million Swiss francs (more than 400 million euros). 58 projects designed to reduce economic and social disparities in Poland are being implemented, with roughly 40% of the funding going to structurally weaker regions in south-eastern Poland.
This is the largest bilateral cooperation programme ever implemented by Switzerland. And it offers a unique opportunity to strengthen bilateral contacts and relations in numerous areas such as research, innovation, environment and health.
Professional and vocational education
Ladies and gentlemen,
I will now briefly turn to the three topics of the Polish-Swiss Economic Forum, starting with education. Switzerland’s education system is a key factor of our prosperity.
It includes both a practice- and market-oriented vocational education and training system and a top-class system of higher education comprising federal institutes of technology, cantonal universities and universities of applied sciences.
Switzerland stands out in Europe, not only for having a low unemployment rate (3.2% in 2013), but also an equally low youth unemployment rate (3.4%, 15-24 years old). Without doubt, our education system is a major factor underpinning this performance. After compulsory school, students can choose to pursue the academic route or to follow the vocational track.
Two thirds of students choose the latter, which is characterised by a combination of public vocational school attendance and apprenticeship at a host company. In this “dual system”, they acquire on-the-job experience and practical skills that meet the needs of the labour market. This dual-track system has a long tradition and its costs are shared equally by the state and by business. It is a perfect example of good public-private partnership.
Obviously, such a system cannot be easily replicated in another country. However, parts of it can be interesting for others. And I trust that our countries will benefit from sharing their experience in this field. This is why Switzerland is organising an international conference on vocational education and training to be held in Winterthur, in the canton of Zurich, in September. The event is aimed at decision-makers and VET actors from around the world.
Polish-Swiss Scientific and Research Cooperation
The second panel of the Economic Forum is devoted to Polish-Swiss scientific and research cooperation.
Research plays a very important role in innovation, which is essential for a country’s economic prosperity. Switzerland looks forward to enhancing its cooperation with Poland in this crucial field.
In 2013, the global innovation index, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization, once again ranked Switzerland first among 142 economies worldwide, underlining Switzerland’s emphasis on research and the strong public-private links in the funding of research. The European Commission’s Innovation Scoreboard also ranked Switzerland as the most innovative country in Europe in recent years.
Scientific and research cooperation between Poland and Switzerland is a reality. The Polish-Swiss Research Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss contribution to Poland, includes 30 research projects carried out jointly by renowned Polish and Swiss research institutes in the areas of “information and communication technology”, “renewable energy”, “nanotechnology”, “healthcare”, and “environment”’.
In addition, a scholarship programme, also funded by the Swiss contribution to Poland, enables 120 academics from Poland to conduct research at a Swiss university. Both research and scholarship programmes promote and intensify cooperation between Swiss and Polish universities and strengthen research in both countries.
In addition, Swiss and Polish researchers cooperate under the EU Framework Programme for Research; I hope that this Forum will contribute to further promoting such cooperation, for a mutual benefit. Technology Transfer from Science to Industry
The third topic of today’s Forum, knowledge and technology transfer between higher education institutions and business partners, is of paramount importance for our economies.
The Swiss government does not pursue an industrial policy per se. However, we make every effort to encourage researchers to transfer and commercialise their inventions and discoveries. The Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) is the Swiss government’s innovation promotion agency, which supports R&D projects relating to scientific innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of start-up companies. We also have a network of technology parks that contribute to technology transfer.
But in Switzerland, the private sector participates more in R&D activities than government: it bears the cost of over two-thirds of Swiss R&D expenditure, which currently amounts to nearly 3% of GDP. I am sure that there is a lot of interest in Poland in how Switzerland effectively promotes science-based innovations. This Forum offers an excellent opportunity to start a fruitful dialogue in that respect.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to conclude by thanking all the panellists that have accepted to participate in this Forum and to share their views and expertise. I am convinced that these kind of initiatives play an important role in developing our bilateral relations.
I wish you an inspiring day and I wish a bright future to the Polish-Swiss economic cooperation. Thank you!
Adresse für Rückfragen
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Herausgeber
Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/de/home.html
