The exchange session hosted by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, Roger Dubach, at his residence provided a platform for dialogue among representatives from academia, government, and industry from the three countries including EPFL, the Laboratory for Integrated Micro-Mechatronic Systems (LIMMS), a joint laboratory of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Tokyo, and NTT Basic Research Laboratories (BRL).

EPFL was represented by professors Adrian Ionescu, Dean of the School of Engineering, Nako Nakatsuka from the Laboratory of Chemical Nanotechnology (CHEMINA) as well as Edoardo Charbon, Full Professor who is on a sabbatical at the University of Tokyo. Discussions focused on nano- and micro-electromechanical systems, a field at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and materials science, with applications ranging from advanced sensing technologies to biomedical devices. 

In his welcome address, Ambassador Roger Dubach highlighted Switzerland’s long-standing commitment to international cooperation in research and innovation. He noted that more than two-thirds of Swiss scientific output result from international collaboration and emphasized the importance of maintaining open and interconnected research ecosystems. He also recalled key milestones in bilateral relations with Japan, including the agreements between the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2023 and the Cabinet Office (CAO) in 2025, as well as the recent joint roadmap towards closer partnership on innovation co-signed by SERI and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). 

The event took place in a broader context of evolving international research frameworks. Switzerland’s reassociation to Horizon Europe as of 2025, alongside Japan’s recent association with retroactive effect from 1 January 2026, creates new conditions for collaboration. With both countries now participating in the same framework, institutions are better positioned to develop joint projects and expand existing contacts within the European Union research landscape. 

The programme featured presentations by Professor Masahiro Nomura and Dr. Nicolas Clément, Co-Directors of LIMMS; Professor Adrian Ionescu; Professor Nako Nakatsuka; and Dr. Akira Fujiwara, Senior Distinguished Scientist at NTT Basic Research Laboratories. Speakers outlined their respective research areas, fields of interest, and initial concepts for collaboration, highlighting complementary expertise and revealing areas of alignment for potential future cooperation. 

The session concluded with an interactive discussion including feedback and questions on the collaboration ideas. Opening the discussion, Dr. Teruo Fujii, President of the University of Tokyo, Dr. Katsuya Oguri, Vice President of NTT BRL, and Prof. Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Director General of the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex scientific challenges and sustaining long-term innovation. Participants also underlined the need for continued dialogue on frameworks such as intellectual property, with the aim of supporting collaboration while enabling scientific creativity while researchers Dr. Aya Tanaka (NTT BRL) and Prof. Yoshiho Ikeuchi (University of Tokyo), identified overlaps with the work of Prof. Nako Nakatsuka (EPFL).

Overall, the exchange provided a platform to connect stakeholders, align strategic interests, and identify areas of mutual interest, laying the groundwork for future joint initiatives building on existing exchanges between individual researchers.  

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