Switzerland and Germany strengthen their cooperation in research and innovation

The delegations from both countries used the meeting – which usually takes place every two years – to discuss current developments in the fields of research and innovation and the potential for expanding cooperation in these areas. The Swiss delegation was led by Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, while the German delegation was led by Marcus Pleyer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Representatives of institutions from both countries also took part in the discussions.

Discussions focused in particular on promoting innovation and cooperation in key technologies. Switzerland and Germany closed the meeting by signing a letter of intent on enhanced cooperation in research and innovation. The two countries thus reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their already close and diverse ties and to exploring new avenues of cooperation. Particular emphasis will be placed on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and robotics. The letter of intent creates a framework for increased exchange between researchers and institutions and for the development and implementation of joint activities.

Germany is by far Switzerland’s most important partner country in the area of education, research and innovation. As a case in point, nearly 1,300 German-Swiss collaborative projects have been funded to date under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation (2021–2027). This bears testimony to the close cooperation and high level of networking between researchers and R&I institutions in both countries. Moreover, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has funded over 4,600 projects involving partners from Germany since 2020. In addition, over 200 projects involving participants from Switzerland and Germany have also been carried out under the EUREKA research initiative since 1985. An agreement on the mutual recognition of vocational and professional qualifications has also been in place since 1937. An updated and expanded agreement was signed in 2021 to take account of developments in vocational education and training.