New Delhi, October 13, 2026: As the dust begins to settle after a whirlwind few days in New Delhi, I am only just beginning to take in the energy of it all. Packed schedules, back-to-back meetings, last-minute coordination and conversations that could shape the years ahead. The State Visit of Swiss President Guy Parmelin and the programme of State Secretary Martina Hirayama made for an intense week, but also an incredibly rewarding one. And now, as the pace slows, the more interesting question is what we build from here.

Switzerland has earmarked an additional CHF 45 million for bilateral science and technology cooperation with India. Together with the Indo-Swiss Research Framework and Joint Scientific Board, this creates an opportunity to move beyond individual exchanges towards a more structured, long-term research agenda. The challenge now is to translate these commitments into meaningful opportunities for researchers in both countries.

The agreements exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin gave research cooperation a clear endorsement at the highest political level. The Implementation Agreement between the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST), alongside the Letter of Intent between the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the DST, strengthen the institutional foundations of our partnership.

One of the highlights of last week was the inaugural Indo-Swiss Research Flagship Event, marking 20 years of bilateral research cooperation and looking ahead to the next two decades. Bringing India’s research funding agencies together under one roof was particularly significant. These institutions play a central role in shaping research priorities and supporting collaboration, yet opportunities for them to engage collectively are rare. Creating that space for dialogue was an important step towards a more coordinated approach to Indo-Swiss research. Seeing the right people in the room, exchanging perspectives and exploring common ground, made the effort worthwhile.

I am particularly looking forward to the ‘Explore’ initiative, expected to launch in November 2026. Co-funded by the SNSF and the DST, it will support researchers in building international networks through travel, networking and small equipment support over nine to twelve months. Not every promising collaboration begins with a major joint project. Sometimes, it starts with a conversation, a visit or the chance to test an idea with someone working in a different research environment. Giving these early connections room to develop can make all the difference.

Emerging technologies were another important part of the discussions during the visit. With India hosting the AI Impact Summit in 2026 and Geneva set to take the baton in 2027, there is fresh momentum for international cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and other emerging fields. The roundtable discussions reinforced the value of connecting expertise across our two countries. Science and technology are increasingly part of foreign policy, not only because of their economic and technological potential, but also because research creates opportunities to build trust and work together on shared challenges.

A state visit brings visibility and political momentum. But behind every successful programme lies a great deal of coordination, persistence and relationship-building. My work is to bring partners together, identify opportunities and keep conversations moving towards outcomes. The past few days have been intense, but it has been rewarding to see years of engagement reflected in concrete announcements and a renewed commitment to working together.

Twenty years of Indo-Swiss research cooperation is a milestone worth celebrating. What matters now is what we do with it. The focus shifts to following through: strengthening the connections, helping new collaborations take shape and ensuring that the momentum of the visit reaches the researchers and innovators who will carry this partnership forward.