Following the inauguration of the new consulate in Osaka / Swissnex in Japan, State Secretary Hirayama attended the “Science and Technology Ministers’ Roundtable” organized by the Japanese government on the occasion of the Science and Technology for Society (STS) forum in Kyoto. The STS forum is an invitation-only high-level event for the world leaders to gather and discuss various issues related to science and technology. This year, the forum celebrated its 20^th anniversary. In addition to the Roundtable meeting on the subject of “open science” and “international brain circulation”, the State Secretary held bilateral meetings with other important counterparts from outside Japan.

At the venue of STS forum, she also met Mr. Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on cooperation in science, technology and innovation. In the discussion after the signing, she was joined by her delegation members, Prof. Dr. Michael O. Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, Dr. André Kudelski, President of the Innosuisse Board and Prof. Dr. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, President of the Specialised Committee for International Cooperation, Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF.

The following day, the delegation travelled to Tokyo and met Mr. Nobuhiro Yoshida, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). In the meeting, State Secretary Hirayama and Mr. Yoshida shared the importance of international cooperation in the creation of innovation and confirmed the establishment of a policy dialogue regarding the industrial technology and innovation. Mr. Yoshida explained Japan’s Green Transformation promotion measures, and it was confirmed that both sides would cooperate toward the common goal of realizing a net-zero society.

Furthermore, on 3 October, Dr. Hirayama and the delegation members visited Cabinet Office and met Ms. Sanae Takaichi, Minister for Science and Technology Policy, Space Policy to exchange views. During the meeting, Dr. Hirayama elaborated on the Swiss innovation ecosystem, space innovation and quantum, and stated that Japan is one of the most important partners in Asia for research and innovation. Minister Takaichi also mentioned the importance of further cooperation in areas such as space debris countermeasures.

During her visit, State Secretary Hirayama also gave the keynote speech at the “Switzerland-Japan Economic Forum” organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (SCCIJ) and IMD. The main theme of the annual event in its seventh edition focused on the key role of cooperation between governments, universities and the private sector in accelerating innovation in Japan and Switzerland. The integrative summary was successfully extended by one of the delegation members, Prof. Dr. Michael O. Hengartner.

Since the signing of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in 2007, Switzerland and Japan have steadily fostered cooperation through governmental initiatives and direct cooperation projects initiated by research and innovation players and the private sector. It is hoped that this visit will further strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen relations in science, technology and innovation.

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