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About us
Swissnex
The Swiss global network for education, research and innovation
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Discover
Swissnex
The Swiss global network for education, research and innovation
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Our work
Swissnex
The Swiss global network for education, research and innovation
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Our impact
Swissnex
The Swiss global network for education, research and innovation
- Global Reach
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Swissnex
The Swiss global network for education, research and innovation
News
Latest Blog Posts
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Special Presentation on Japan’s S&T Diplomacy by MOFA Advisors attracts high interest
23 March 2022Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan gave a special presentation for members of the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle at the Swiss Residence.
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Keio University President Itoh Underscores Collaboration with Switzerland
9 March 2022Ambassador of Switzerland Dr. Andreas Baum visited Keio University President Kohei Itoh to discuss potential future collaboration between the university and Switzerland.
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Wolf Prize 2022 awarded to ETH Zurich Professor Momoyo Kaijima and partner
25 February 2022Great honor for Japanese architecture duo: Prof. Momoyo Kaijima of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Prof. Yoshiharu Tsukamoto of the Tokyo Institute of Technology received this year’s Wolf Prize in Architecture for their outstanding work earlier this month. The ETH Zurich professor is only the third woman winning the prize.
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Switzerland-led research forum on Olympic Games’ impact on transformation of Tokyo
13 December 2021Researchers and officials from Japan gathered at the second forum of the Switzerland-led Project “TOT City – Tokyo Olympics 2020” held in a hybrid setting at the Embassy of Switzerland in late November.
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High interest in Swiss solutions towards decarbonization at SWISSTECH in Japan 2021
2 November 2021Swisstech in Japan 2021 aroused great interest among Japanese industries: nearly 300 participants attended the online event titled Targeting BEYOND-ZERO societies on October 25. The webinar presented Prof. Andreas Zuttel of EPFL who gave an overview of Swiss efforts and highlighted two cleantech startups Synhelion and Climeworks.
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Swiss workshop on sustainability sparks enthusiasm among Japanese students
13 October 2021The “Sarnetz – Simulation-Game Energia 2020” introduced by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) was unveiled in Japan for the first time as an online experience where students could learn about Swiss efforts and commitment towards sustainability. The workshop attended by professors and students from six universities throughout Japan created positive resonance and may lead to the Swiss case study being taught at Japanese universities.
Past Blog Posts
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State Secretary Martina Hirayama emphasizes the importance of research at the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial
25 May 2021State Secretary Martina Hirayama virtually attended the third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) on May 8-9, 2021. At ASM3, science ministers and representatives of Arctic indigenous peoples' organizations came together to strengthen international cooperation in science and research to advance understanding of the Arctic region, and to support the role of science in policy and decision-making in the Arctic. In her speech, State Secretary Hirayama emphasized the importance of research in response to the challenges of climate change in the vulnerable Polar regions and the urgent need for international cooperation in this area.
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“Digital medicines” heal patients – VR for depression, world-class big data for hearing loss
12 February 2021More and more start-ups are using digital technologies to develop "digital medicines" to help treat diseases. Virtual reality (VR) to treat depression or apps to improve hearing loss are some examples listed. These digital therapeutics have the advantage of low development costs and low risk of side effects, compared to conventional medication. A smoking cessation app was approved for the first time in Japan in summer 2020, paving the way for digital medicine to increasingly become a part of our daily lives.
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NEC acquires Avaloq for Digital Finance Platform and Data Analytics Solutions
14 October 2020On October 5, Japan’s NEC Corp. announced that it will purchase Swiss financial solutions provider Avaloq Group AG for CHF 2.05 billion (USD 2.25 billion), making it the biggest acquisition ever for NEC.
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Prime Minister Stresses Importance of Young Researcher Cultivation to Revive Japan as S&T Leader
27 January 2021In his policy speech on January 18, Japan’s Prime Minister raised concern over the continued stagnation of research power for nearly 20 years and committed the country to improve the situation of young researchers.
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swisstech.Pitchinar @ CEATEC Japan 2020 Puts Spotlight on Swiss Innovation Ecosystem
1 December 2020On the occasion of the CEATEC Japan 2020 virtual exhibition, Switzerland put the spotlight on the exceptional performance of the Swiss innovation ecosystem with the swisstech.Pitchinar 2020 organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan.
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Japan Excels at CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition
28 November 2020Three out of five Japanese teams were particularly highlighted in the CYBATHLON 2020, a unique championship in which people with disabilities tackle everyday tasks using advanced technologies. Congratulations to Fortississimo from Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology, RT-Movers from Wakayama University and BionicM Inc., a spin-off of the University of Tokyo for making the top 4! Viewership from Japan of the Swiss-made global online competition seemed to be quite high, especially for the powered wheelchair and leg races where the above teams participated, with the country ranking being second only after Switzerland.
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Takeda to supply next-generation stem cell drug for intractable disease in Japan
15 November 2020Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is reportedly preparing to offer “stem cell therapy” in Japan as early as fiscal 2021.
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Japan advances iPSC-based transplantations in heart disease treatments
10 October 2020Japan is advancing research to apply induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) to treat heart diseases. After the world’s first-of-its-kind iPSC-based heart cell transplant in January, a second clinical trial has been approved this summer and the third is in the pipeline. Currently, cardiac insufficiency can only be cured by transplants but the waiting list for a donor is long. There are hopes that the new treatment will provide new alternatives in the future.
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University of Tokyo to Issue Bonds to Fund Research Facilities
3 October 2020The University of Tokyo plans to raise 20 billion yen bonds with a maturity of 40 years in early October this year. It will be the first of its kind after conditions of such issuances have been relaxed. Japan’s top rated university will use the funds to develop advanced research facilities and online education systems, according to news reports.
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University of Lausanne Enters Into New Partnership with Keio University in Japan
3 September 2020The University of Lausanne UNIL is expanding its partnerships in Japan. On August 13, 2020, a new university-wide agreement with Keio University was announced, promoting both the mobility of exchange students as well as visits of lecturers between the two institutions.
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Test and Research Reactor to be Built at Monju Site
18 September 2020The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has formulated a plan to build a small-scale test and research reactor at the site of the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, where decommissioning work is currently underway, according to news sources.
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Swiss “Handshake” Attracts Japan, Becomes Top Hit
17 June 2020Building on the innovative, partly physical, partly web-based project “Handshake” initiated by design duo AATB and swissnex Boston, a Switzerland-Japan-US online panel discussion was organized in collaboration with the Science & Technology Office Tokyo, Embassy of Switzerland in Japan. The tricontinental program resulted in “Japan” and “Tokyo” becoming the top two hits by far among destinations engaging with the Swiss demonstration which connected the world with real hand-shaped robots that could be accessed online for interaction with others.
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University of Zurich and NII Sign MoU IT Research Cooperation at the Embassy
17 January 2020A new framework for cooperation in the area of information technology has been established between the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland and Japan’s National Institute of Informatics (NII).
nextrends Asia
Our office regularly contributes to nexrtends Asia. nextrends Asia is a platform showcasing upcoming education, research, innovation and policy trends from Asia, and how Switzerland’s innovation players engage with them.
Recent articles from Japan:
• Electrons on liquid helium: Riding the new wave towards ideal quantum computing
• Deepfakes: Synthetic media in the age of deep learning
• The future small satellites open up with development of propulsion systems
Media coverage
Selected articles and blog posts that covered our activities
