SUISSE News Summer 2023
International Affairs
June 2023
Switzerland and Canada expand research partnerships
Switzerland and Canada are expanding their partnerships in the areas of science, technology and innovation. To this end, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and the Canadian science minister François-Philippe Champagne have extended and expanded an existing agreement until 2028.
Switzerland and Canada have committed to deepening what is already a close research cooperation. According to a press release, Guy Parmelin, a member of the Swiss federal government (Federal Councillor), and François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, signed a Joint Statement to this end on April 14. This joint declaration has been in place since 2018 and has now been expanded and extended until 2028.
As before, the collaboration focuses on the promotion of cooperative research in all subject areas. For the period 2023 through 2028, issues such as climate, sustainability, life sciences, health, quantum science and technology, as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) will also all be in the spotlight. Canada is seeking to tackle global challenges by defining these priorities for its international cooperation activities.
Research and development partnerships “that can lead to new discoveries and commercial applications in both countries” are to be supported, according to comments from Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada, in the press release.
After all, alongside university cooperations, Switzerland and Canada also maintain strong economic ties. In this way, the agreement could potentially “create more opportunities for researchers, innovators and businesses to partner on projects that will shape the economy of the future”, comments François-Philippe Champagne.
According to Guy Parmelin, the partnership is a testament “to the strength of our two countries' relationship and shared values”. The Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) adds that this “demonstrates how much can be achieved when two nations work towards a common goal.
Zug destined to become a blockchain research center
Crypto Valley in the canton of Zug is being developed as an international center for blockchain research. The cantonal government of Zug is to contribute a total of 39.35 million Swiss francs to the Blockchain Zug – Joint Research Initiative of the University of Lucerne and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
The government council of Zug wants to make the canton of Zug the world's leading center for blockchain research. It plans to support the Blockchain Zug – Joint Research Initiative of the University of Lucerne and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) with start-up funding totaling 39.35 million Swiss francs, announced a statement.
The payments, spread over a period of five years, will be financed entirely from the revenues of supplementary tax. It is a move the government council has designed to compensate for the location’s losses resulting from the OECD minimum tax.
The government council has proposed to the cantonal council the establishment of a nine-chair Zug Institute at the University of Lucerne, as well as a reinforcement of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts’ existing research activities. There are also plans to create a cooperation and communication platform, or a so-called hub.
The Blockchain Zug – Joint Research Initiative has the goal of anticipating developments in blockchain technology and their impact on business and society. According to a statement from the university, the HSLU is contributing its expertise in technology, computer science and finance, while the University of Lucerne offers a humanities angle, with law, politics and sociology.
“Blockchain technology has the potential to change many areas of our lives, and we want to be at the forefront of that change," commented Finance Director Heinz Tännler. "In this way we are further strengthening Zug as a business location, especially because with this educational project we are investing in areas that are already established in the canton of Zug."
