Visit of State Secretary Martina Hirayama to Singapore in October 2023

State Secretary Martina Hirayama's first offical visit to Singapore this year emphasized its significance as a crucial research and innovation partner for Switzerland. Namely it is the only country in the world in which four Swiss universities have established branches: EHL Hospitality Business School, ETH Zurich, the University of St.Gallen, and IMD Business School. ETHZ alone has over 300 researchers on site at the Singapore-ETH Centre. This laid the foundation for a rich exchange with the Swiss and Singaporean ERI community and the scientific delegation with representatives from the ETH Board, ETH Zurich, Swissuniversities, and EPFL. Engaging meetings were held with key figures in Singapore, including Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education, Mr Tan Chorh Chuan, Permanent Secretary of the National Research Foundation (NRF), and Mr Frederic Chew, CEO of ASTAR, Singapore's agency for science, technology, and research. The delegation also visited prominent institutions, including the Nanyang Technological University Singapore, the Centre for Quantum Technologies of the National University of Singapore, and Nestlé R&D Centre Singapore. During the Swiss Singaporean ERI-Soiree hosted at Ambassador Grütter's residence, the delegation had the chance to engage in conversations and network in a relaxed setting. Overall, the visit not only reaffirmed existing strong bonds but also paved the way for enhanced discussions on future partnerships in crucial domains.