ZWITSERNet – a Swiss education, research and innovation network in the Netherlands
On November 29, 2024, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and the then Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Eppo Bruins, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Swiss residence in The Hague. It aims to enhance bilateral collaboration between education institutions, researchers, innovation stakeholders and funding bodies from both countries. This was the founding hour of Swissnex NL.
Dutch universities appeared to host a significant number of Swiss scientists and students as well as professionals and researchers who have spent parts of their academic career in Swiss scientific institutions, but there was no dedicated platform to connect these individuals across disciplines, careers and institutions. Therefore ZWITSERnet - a Swiss Education Research and Innovation network at Dutch universities, research and education institutions throughout the country – was set up to fill this gap by building a vibrant, cross-sectoral and cross-generational community of Swiss and Switzerland-related researchers, scientist and professionals— including Swiss students pursuing medium- to long-term academic paths in Dutch institutions to drive scientific progress and exchange.
ZWITSERnet stands for:
Z-witsers 🫕
W-etenschap 🎓
I-nnovatie 💡
T-echnologie 🔬
S-cience, Students and Skills 🧑🔬 🧠 🦾
E-ducation 👩🏫
R-esearch 🔭
Net-work 🤝
The concept is open and not related to the passport as long as there is an interest and connection to the Swiss Education, Research and Innovation ecosystem.
Fast forward one year later, in December 2025, what has been set up to concretize and give life to the MoU and the Swiss ERI community in NL?
- A national ZWITSERNet board composed of 5 scholars from various universities with strong CH-NL background, providing strategic direction and governance for the network.
- Three local chapters at the universities of Groningen, Maastricht and Utrecht headed by focal points connecting Swiss researchers and students with activities and networking events.
- Launch of a Swiss short-term scientific travel fellowship enabling three young researchers to travel from their NL university to Switzerland in 2026.
- A first national Swiss ERI community gathering in December 2025, bringing together and connecting Swiss and Swiss-related members from academia as well as students from all of the Netherlands for the first time.
Follow ZWITSERNet activities on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/109470353/admin/page-posts/published/
