Spanish-Swiss Meeting on Innovation 2024
Diplomacy and Quantum.
The Embassy of Switzerland to Spain and Andorra in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities organized the sixth edition of the Spanish-Swiss Meeting on Innovation on November 13th 2024. This annual event fosters collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors of the two countries in the fields of innovation and technology. This year’s edition focused on establishing bridges between the diplomatic and the quantum communities, aiming at maximizing the potential benefits that the development of quantum science could entail and anticipating its potential risks.
The event was opened by State Secretary Alexandre Fasel, Ambassador Hanspeter Mock and Spanish General Secretary for Research Eva Ortega-Paíno. Two round table discussions brought together experts from both Spain and Switzerland to discuss synergies between science diplomacy and quantum, as well as present successful cases of quantum investigation. On the Swiss side, representatives of GESDA (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator), SERI, ETH Zurich, and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland participated.
The speakers underscored the vital role of diplomats in anticipating the challenges and opportunities presented by advancements in quantum technology, ensuring its development benefits all. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue between the scientific, economic, and diplomatic communities to formulate effective and forward-looking policies.
Finally, the event discussed the global dimension of some of the challenges posed by technological progress, particularly in the field of quantum, and participants called for an internationally-coordinated response.
The collaboration between Spain and Switzerland was cited as an example of how two countries can work hand in hand to face these challenges and opportunities and build bridges between their diplomatic, economic and scientific communities.
The event reinforced existing collaborations, such as the partnership between ETH Zurich and the Donostia International Physics Center. The cooperation between Switzerland and Spain in science diplomacy will continue to grow, with the next edition of the Spanish-Swiss Meeting on Innovation scheduled for autumn 2025. Meanwhile, other initiatives are gaining momentum.
Notably, Madrid’s IE University has been selected to host one of the five Anticipatory Leadership Weeks in 2025, part of GESDA’s Global Curriculum for Anticipatory Leadership program.
Further information on the event
