Swiss Experts Lead Innovation Discussions at International S&T Clusters Conference 2025 in New Delhi
Switzerland made a strategically significant contribution at the International Science and Technology Clusters Conference 2025 in New Delhi, a flagship initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. With participation from 35 countries, the conference provided Switzerland with a high-level platform to advance international cooperation and position its research and innovation ecosystem as a partner of choice for addressing global sustainability and technology challenges.
The Swiss delegation highlighted Switzerland’s strengths in sustainability-oriented innovation, demonstrating how scientific excellence, applied research, and entrepreneurship are translated into scalable and impact-driven solutions. Swiss contributions focused on renewable energy systems, resource-efficient technologies, and green healthcare innovation, areas in which Switzerland combines global competitiveness with environmental responsibility.
Key outcomes for Switzerland included:
- Enhanced visibility of Swiss research and innovation expertise within one of the world’s fastest-growing science and technology ecosystems.
- Identification of priority areas for collaboration with India’s Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters, particularly in health technologies, sustainable industrial processes, and environmental innovation.
- Promotion of Swiss best practices in cluster governance, startup support, and research-to-market mechanisms.
Switzerland was represented by four experts:
- Prof. Manfred Max Bergman, University of Basel
- Prof. Annie Hartley, EPFL
- Prof. Amritbir Riar, FiBL
- Dr. Angela Honegger, Swissnex in India
The Swiss participation was further strengthened by the presence of the Embassy of Switzerland in India, represented by Ambassador Maya Tissafi, Mr. Giorgio Pompilio, Deputy Head of Mission, and Ms. Leena Kukreja, Science Counsellor. Their engagement underscored Switzerland’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
While several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden, were represented in large numbers, the Swiss delegation stood out for the depth, relevance, and applicability of its expertise. The conference resulted in clearer collaboration pathways, reinforced Switzerland’s standing as a trusted innovation partner, and contributed to positioning Swiss science and technology as key enablers of global sustainability transitions.
