Discover the latest news, articles and reports from Swissnex in China.
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, traveled to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong with representatives from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, swissuniversities, ETH Board, EPFL, University of Geneva, Swiss National Science Foundation, Innosuisse, Switzerland Innovation and SFUVET. This was the first such trip in more than 6 years. We compiled some of the highlights and key takeaways from the week.
EPFL has joined the Multi Spectroscopic Telescope (MUST) project, led by Tsinghua University, to deepen our understanding of the universe, dark energy, and dark matter. Martin Vetterli, President of EPFL, and Luming Li, President of Tsinghua University, signed a research collaboration agreement in Beijing, officially establishing EPFL as a member of the project.
We had the great pleasure of launching our Planetary Thinking campaign alongside the official Swiss Science delegation led by Jacques Ducrest, the Head of the International Relations Division at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, as well as Luciana Vaccaro, Michael Hengartner , Martin Vetterli, Sébastien Castelltort, Matthias Egger, Barbara Fontanellaz, Thomas Gfeller, and Régis Nyffeler.
Written by Viola Chen
The VPET (Vocational and Professional Education and Training) Roadshow in Dongguan aimed to connect Swiss companies offering skill-based training with local institutions and manufacturing companies. Swiss companies showcased their ongoing VPET projects, and discussions on common challenges in skill-based training were held.
In the vast expanse of the universe, astronomy delves into the origins, evolution, and composition of celestial objects, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of the cosmos. This discipline has existed for thousands of years, as our civilization has always been fascinated by the stars and has sought to understand the universe and its hidden secrets.
With the support of Swissnex in China, Belimo, a global market leader in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions, recently embarked on a study trip to Shanghai, delving into the thriving local R&D ecosystem. The innovation landscape of China’s HVAC industry has witnessed remarkable dynamism, reflecting the country's rapid technological advancements and commitment to sustainable development.
Swissnex in China has collaborated with EPFL Pavilions from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, and the Shanghai Astronomy Museum to launch Cosmos Archaeology, Exploring the Universe Through Art and Science, a unique exhibition that showcases the wonders of the cosmos.
In March 2024, China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC) introduced new rules to streamline cross-border data transfers and alleviate regulatory burdens for companies in China. Felicia Wang, Startup Manager at Swissnex in China asked Kai Kim and Dr. Michael Tan, Lawyers at Taylor Wessing law firm, to explain how startups can leverage the benefits of these New Provisions.
Discover the practicality of digital twins and their impact on water governance and conservation. Look into China's plans to implement digital twins in water management and explore the potential implications for Switzerland.
As the poetic art-science exhibition, "Mirror of Nature," draws to a close, our Swiss and Chinese curators, Dr. Katharina Weikl and HAN Bo, take a moment to reflect on this journey into wildlife. They shared their experiences, delved into the visionary and interdisciplinary nature of the project, and explored new possibilities for collaboration.
In October 2023, the Cybersecurity Administration of China (CAC) has released a draft document that proposes to ease rules on the export of personal information and “important” data overseas. What is the implication and how should foreign startups deal with it? Swissnex in China has conducted the following interview with Kai Kim from Taylor Wessing law firm in Shanghai to explain its implications to Swiss startups who have this concern.
“Mirror of Nature: Biodiversity through the Lens of Technology and Art” is an art exhibition that delves into the realm of biological and environmental sciences. Hosted by Swissnex in China, and in collaboration with University of Zurich, the exhibition is currently on show from December 15, 2023 until January 15, 2024 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai Pavilion. Complemented by a curated series of dialogues and workshops, the project aims to inspire public engagement and foster an exchange of ideas that resonate beyond the confines of the museum walls.
Opening its door at the Pavilion of the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai on December 15, 2023, the immersive exhibition hosted by Swissnex in China - "Mirror of Nature: Biodiversity Through the Lens of Technology and Art" - unveils a global survey on animal behaviors initiated by the University of Zurich. We interviewed Dr. Katharina Weikl, the Swiss curator from the Art x Science Office at the University of Zurich, to hear her points of view about this collaborative work on wildlife conservation.
From October 12 to 14, six Swiss startups took center stage with their innovative solutions at the Shanghai International Consumer Electronics Show (Tech G) 2023, providing them with a platform to connect with potential clients and partners while demonstrating Switzerland’s innovation prowess.
On October 25, the Embassy of Switzerland in China invited the public to participate in live demonstrations of intelligent assistive technologies and learn about the Cybathlon initiative and its big competition, held in Zurich in 2024. The guests also experienced blind jogging, tasted pastries made by bakers with physical and intellectual disabilities, and took part in discussions on how to improve social inclusion.
From October 9 to 13, an interdisciplinary team of five international university students stepped into a glass cube container at Jiangnan University (Wuxi, China), to collaboratively tackle a major societal challenge over the course of five intensive days. This was the first time for the InCube Challenge, a global innovation competition organized by the ETH Entrepreneur Club, to feature a cube in China.
It has been 15 years since Swissnex in China started connecting Switzerland and China in education, research and innovation, fostering collaboration and partnerships across borders and disciplines. To mark the occasion we would like to share 15 moments from our recent history that have enriched our journey.
Supported by Pro Helvetia and in collaboration with EPFL and Swissnex, Iris Long embarked on a research trip that allowed her to immerse herself in Switzerland's vibrant art and science scene. Read the interview to learn more about Iris' insightful reflections on the captivating intersection of art, artificial intelligence, and fundamental physics.
Read our interview with Dong Yang Meier, a research associate and lecturer at the Center for Culture & Creativity in International Business (C3IB) at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, who participated in the 2023 ZHAW Mobility Program with Swissnex in China.
The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC 2023) of the World Economic Forum took place from June 27-29 in Tianjin, China. Swiss entrepreneurs and the Swissnex team in China joined discussions and workshops featuring the latest trends and technologies, to connect with the global community of leaders and innovators.
Co-organized by Frontiers, the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Swissnex in China, and hosted by the Embassy of Switzerland in China, a bilateral dialogue was curated to bring together research practitioners and enablers from Switzerland and China to discuss the future of Research Integrity in today’s rapidly changing global circumstances. Our white paper explores the collective practices by national agencies, institutional libraries, publishers and universities, aiming to provide Sino-Swiss ERI collaboration with a stronger and more sustainable contextual framework.
On April 20, Swissnex brought the SARNETZ virtual board game to China for the first time in a workshop attended by students and professors from Tongji University and Shanghai University of Electric Power. This Swiss-initiated project engaged the Chinese students to learn, debate and collaborate on the topics of sustainable development, climate change and energy transition in an interactive real case simulation.
China has the manufacturing capability and an ultra-large-scale domestic market that offers Swiss deeptech startups a very particular set of opportunities. The sheer size of its population and the propensity toward new technologies would make any innovative companies excited just to think about how many changes they could bring about if they made it into China.
Together with Swiss companies in China, the Swiss Embassy in Beijing and Swissnex in China are actively shaping bilateral education cooperation, particularly in vocational education and training. There are plenty of ways to get involved!
By Philippe Roesle, CEO of Swissnex in China; Head of Education, Science and Technology at the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing.
Farewell blog by Yael Steiner - Operations Manager (Feb 2020 - Mar 2023)
The protection of intellectual property (IP) is regularly mentioned as one of the main concerns for Swiss startups looking to enter the Chinese market. In the following discussion between Ms. Simin Yang from Swissnex in China and Ms. Haifeng Wang, IP protection specialist at a local IP law firm, Ms. Wang emphasizes that IP protection is something Swiss startups need to think about when expanding their business into China, but it does not need to be an impediment that prevents market expansion. Learn more about the procedures, options and strategy in the interview below and don’t hesitate to reach out to the respective experts.
On Oct 29, Swissnex in China curated a Swiss Pavilion at China Education Expo (CEE) in Shanghai to showcase the variety and the quality of the curricula as well as the excellence of Swiss higher education and research. The onsite education expo was complemented by a virtual Einstein Day on November 14, which brought high-level representatives from leading Swiss public universities to share first-hand information about study programs and university choices with top Chinese talents.
With technological and social improvements, the boundary of design is blurring; thus, the role of design needs to be re-defined. Nowadays, designs are more of human relations, environment, and social- and cultural developments rather than objects, information, systems, and services. In the 35th Café des Sciences Lecture, we were glad to have speakers from ZHdK and Jiangnan University share their perspectives on the role of social design.
In July 2022, a roundtable took place at HES-SO in Yverdon-les-Bains to learn about resilient responses during the Shanghai lockdown in 2022. It was supported by the HES-SO grant – Promdom 120096 awarded to Prof. Anna Lupina-Wegener and Dr. Güldem Karamustafa and co-organized with Dr. Philippe Roesle.
Discussion on the use of algorithms in content curation and spatial design, the implementation of AI systems in museums, and the curation of generative artworks are new issues curators face today, with Mr. Patrick Keller, Architect & Co-founder of fabric | ch - studio for architecture, interaction & research, and Ms. Xi Li, Curator & Director of Aiiiii Art Center.
On August 18, the webinar ‘’Design And Innovation In The Digital Age” kicked off our 2022 Art x Science Dialogues focusing on new trends and initiatives in the field of art, design, science, and technology both in China and Switzerland. The webinar featured two experts from the art and design institutions who shared their perspectives and practices on integrating new technological tools, such as data analysis, machine learning, and immersive technology, into the teaching curriculums and their own works.
In the 34th edition of the Café des Sciences Lecture series, we were pleased to partner with Impact Hub and invited experts from Switzerland and China to explore the innovative approaches towards Circular Economy and Sustainable Consumption.
The Swissnex in China Fellows are aspiring, up-and-coming individuals in China, who seek to grow their engagement with Switzerland. Our Fellows are key members of our local network and actively shape our interdisciplinary, cross-border discourses on education, research and innovation. Our Fellows bring in-depth knowledge of their fields, notably in our focus areas Smart Nutrition, Energy & Environment, or HealthTech.
Learn morePresented by Shanghai Astronomy Museum and EPFL Pavilions in collaboration with Swissnex in China, Cosmos Archaeology will bring the latest international achievements at the intersection of art and astronomy to domestic audiences.
Melding art and science, Cosmos Archaeology reveals the depths of the Universe through physical, perceptual and sensory interaction.
