State Secretary Martina Hirayama attended the informal meeting of ministers responsible for research and innovation from the EU member states in Prague (Czech Republic) on 21 and 22 July. The event, which takes place twice a year, focused on two different policy debates, namely synergies in the funding of research and innovation in Europe, and possible measures in the area of research and innovation in response to Russia's military aggression in Ukraine. State Secretary Hirayama also held bilateral talks with the representatives from Romania, Finland, Norway and Lithuania.

On 28 June, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, opened the SwissCore Annual Event in Brussels. During her visit, the State Secretary also held talks with Flemish Minister Jo Brouns and representatives of the Faroe Islands.

Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, attended the Eureka Ministerial Conference in Lisbon (Portugal) on 22 June. Eureka is an initiative of 47 countries aimed at fostering cross-border cooperation projects in market-oriented research and development independent of the EU-s framework programmes. State Secretary Hirayama also took the opportunity to talk with German education minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, UK science minister George Freeman and South Korean deputy trade minister Soosung Hwang.

Greater support for knowledge and technology transfer for start-ups can be achieved by improving the regulatory framework. This conclusion was drawn in an assessment report of test mandates, which was submitted to the Federal Council on 22 June 22. Proposed measures include clear policy guidelines on the handling of intellectual property at universities, providing start-up financing to cover patent-related costs, and including entrepreneurship training in university study programmes.

Neuchâtel, 24.05.2022 - In 2021, 45% of the population took part in continuing education. This share is relatively high, but compared with the last survey in 2016, it corresponds to a decrease of around 17 percentage points. This is largely explained by the COVID-19 pandemic. As in 2016, people attended one or more continuing education courses primarily for professional reasons. Participation depends on labour market status and education attainment level, among other factors. This is shown by the first results of the 2021 Swiss Adult Education Survey from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Switzerland is currently considered a non-associated third country in Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. On 4 May 2022, the Federal Council adopted extensive measures to bridge the gap arising from this situation.

President Cassis rounded off his visit to Japan on Thursday, 21 April, by delivering an address on the link between science and diplomacy to students at Kyoto University. The focus of the visit was on the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations in the areas of political, economic and scientific affairs. A cooperation agreement on joint research projects was signed and a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new Swissnex location.

On Monday, 18 April, President Ignazio Cassis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo. On the agenda were the war in Ukraine and the related security challenges in Europe and Asia. Other topics included the tasks of both countries in international organisations and cooperation in trade and science.

On 19 July, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, held official talks in Athens with the Minister for Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis, and with the Minister for Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameus. She also visited the an excavation site of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG), which has received federal support since 2008.

The deputy director of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Rémy Hübschi, spoke at the International Technical and Professional Education and Training (TPET) Conference on 28 June at the invitation of the Institute of Technical Education in Singapore. During his visit he also held official talks, accompanied by Barbara Fontanellaz, director of the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET). The itinerary included visits to local and Swiss institutions involved in Singapore's VET efforts under the broad-based Skills Future programme.

On 23 June, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, travelled to The Hague for talks with Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director General for Higher and Vocational Education, Science and Emancipation, Feite Hofman, and Deputy Director General for Enterprise and Innovation, Michiel Sweers. The trip also included a visit to the Quantum Delta NL Foundation. Talks focused on cooperation between Switzerland and the Netherlands in the areas of higher education, research, innovation and quantum science and technology.

State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Martina Hirayama is visiting Morocco from 30 May to 1 June 2022. During her visit, the State Secretary will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) to strengthen cooperation in the fields of research and innovation.

On 17 May 2022, State Secretary Martina Hirayama and Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between Switzerland and the ESA establishing a joint Centre of Excellence at the Paul-Scherrer Institute (PSI).

Swissnex is the global network connecting Switzerland and the world in education, research and innovation. Its mission is to support the outreach and active engagement of its partners in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent. In 2021, Swissnex organized over 190 events and activities in collaboration with Swiss and international partners. It also supported 58 of Switzerland's most promising start-ups in their internationalization journeys. The Swissnex 2021 annual report is available on annualreport.swissnex.org with many more insights into the work of the global network.

On 19 and 20 April, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, will hold talks on cooperation in the areas of research, innovation and vocational education and training in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. He will then travel on to Washington, where he will attend the World Bank's 2022 Spring Meetings in his capacity as Swiss Governor on 21 and 22 April.

President Ignazio Cassis will travel to Japan next week. He will be accompanied by a business and scientific delegation. The visit includes stops in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Political discussions with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo will take place on Monday, 18 April. In Osaka, the focus will be on the new Swissnex site and the Expo 2025. The stop in Kyoto will be devoted mainly to science cooperation.