Swiss-Korean meeting on the implementation of the government programme to encourage bilateral research cooperation
Bern, 16.06.2009 - State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio and the South Korean Vice Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sang Mok Lee today signed a joint plan of action in Bern to promote scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting took place within the framework of the Joint Committee established as a result of the research cooperation agreement concluded between the two countries in 2008. South Korea is one of the eight non-European countries with which the Swiss Confederation is particularly keen to encourage bilateral research cooperation. Institutional cooperation has been in place for some 15 years. The bilateral scientific research programme forms part of the science foreign policy approved by the Federal Assembly for the period 2008 to 2011.
In order to encourage mobility and exchanges between researchers an action plan was signed setting out seven fields chosen from among the many fields of common or complementary interest. The fields selected for cooperation are physics, materials science, energy, environment, life sciences, IT and Design. The aim is to establish lasting partnerships. The ETH Zurich has the task of coordinating the programme and ensuring it is well-anchored in the Swiss higher education and research landscape.
The financing of joint research projects is based on the principle of reciprocity. The first joint call for bids is planned for August 2009. To that end the SER has set aside funds of CHF 1.2 million over three years.
State Secretary Mauro Dell'Ambrogio underlined the similarities of both countries, particularly the commonly held belief that investment in education and research is decisive for the future. Switzerland and South Korea are among the countries with the highest per capita spending on research and development.
Address for enquiries
State Secretariat for Education and Research SER
Mauro Moruzzi
Head, Bilateral Research Cooperation
Tel. +41 79 659 99 10
Hallwylstrasse 4
3003 Berne
Publisher
State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) - as of 1.1.2013 SERI
http://www.sbf.admin.ch
