Photo credit: Swissnex in Boston and New York

Governance

Our recipe for success includes strategic positioning, innovative partnerships, lean structures and a creative working environment.

Organization and structure

The Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation and the Federal Act on International Cooperation in Education, Professional Education and Training, Youth Affairs and Mobility provide the legal basis for Swissnex activities. Swissnex also follows organizational ordinances decreed by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) in the EAER is responsible for providing the network's strategic and operational management. SERI’s International Relations Division works with the FDFA to coordinate and manage the network. Swissnex and the Science Offices and Counselors are administratively incorporated into the FDFA’s network abroad.

Photo credit: Swissnex in Boston and New York

The Swissnex Committee

The Swissnex Committee advises the State Secretary on strategic issues relevant to Swissnex. It comprises ten high-ranking representatives from the most important ERI institutions (Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF, Innosuisse, swissuniversities), the foundations sector, and the public and private sectors. The FDFA’s Directorate for Resources and SERI (International Relations) are also ex officio members of the Swissnex Committee. The Swissnex Committee members are:

  1. 0 1

    Christine Bulliard-Marbach, National Council, Swiss Parliament

  2. 0 2

    Tania Cavassini, Head of Directorate for Resources, FDFA (ex officio)

  3. 0 3

    Matthias Egger, President of the National Research Council, SNSF (ex officio)

  4. 0 4

    Beatrice Fasana, Managing Director Sandro Vanini SA and member of the ETH Board

  5. 0 5

    Luciana Vaccaro, President swissuniversities (ex officio)

  6. 0 6

    Michael Hengartner, President ETH Board

  7. 0 7

    Pascal Marmier, Secretary General, The Economy of Trust Foundation

  8. 0 8

    Jacques Ducrest, Head of International Relations, SERI

  9. 0 9

    André Kudelski, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Kudelski SA, and President of the Innosuisse Board (ex officio)

  10. 10

    Pascale Vonmont, CEO Gebert Rüf Stiftung and member of the Swiss Foundations Board

The Swissnex model

The organizational and business models of Swissnex sites has evolved gradually since the network's foundation. The Swissnex model itself is based on the following four principles.

  • Strategic locations

    Swissnex offices are located in leading regional and global innovation hubs and in emerging markets with significant economic and scientific potential. The science counselors, on the other hand, are located in the political capitals of important ERI partner countries to conduct bilateral cooperation.

  • Partnership funding model

    Partners of Swissnex locations include public and private stakeholders in the Swiss and local education, research and innovation landscape. These partners cover at least two-thirds of the costs of Swissnex activities.

  • Autonomy and decentralized governance

    Swissnex has lean management structures and decentralized governance. The headquarters at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) is responsible for implementing the overall strategy, defining the objectives of the four-year mandate and the annual Lettre de Mission. The Swissnex CEOs also report to HQ at SERI.

  • Entrepreneurial organizational culture

    Swissnex is driven by creative, open-minded, entrepreneurial employees who strongly identify with its mission and organizational culture. Swissnex CEOs and their teams see themselves as connectors, scouts, and knowledge brokers.

Photo credit: Swissnex in San Francisco

Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (ERI) for 2021-2024

The Swiss parliament has allocated over CHF 28 billion for education, research and innovation (ERI) for the period 2021 to 2024. One of the aims is to maintain Switzerland’s leading position in the international ERI sector. Among the most significant challenges is digital transformation.

In the dispatch, the Federal Council formulates its policies in the areas of education, research and innovation (ERI) in the years 2021-2024. The Federal Council also takes stock of the previous period (2017-2020) and defines goals and measures for the new funding period. At the same time, it requests the funds and legislative amendments it deems necessary to implement the measures it proposes.

The ERI policy for 2021-2024 is aligned with the Federal Council’s goals for the 2019-2023 legislative period. The starting point and primary purpose is for Switzerland to remain a leader in education, research and innovation and exploit the opportunities presented by digitization.

The dispatch on the promotion of education, research and innovation between 2021 and 2024 was discussed by the Council of States in the summer of 2020 and by the National Council during the fall session. After a revision of discrepancies, all financial bills were passed in December 2020 with a total of CHF 28.1 billion.

Read more (German)

Switzerland's ERI policy

What are the goals of the Federal Council’s education, research and innovation policy in the years 2021 to 2024? Which areas is it funding? What are the major topics in these four years? This short film provides some answers.
Photo credit: SERI, Béatrice Devènes
Photo credit: SERI, Béatrice Devènes