OECD Ministerial Meeting in Daejeon, South Korea: focussed on innovation
Bern, 26.10.2015 - State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio was in South Korea from 20-22 October 2015 to represent Switzerland at the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Daejeon, which was attended by science ministers from 47 different countries. In Seoul, he also opened the Swiss-Korean Life Science Symposium organised by the Swiss Embassy.
From 20 to 21 October 2015, the OECD Ministerial Meeting devoted to the topic “Creating Our Common Future through Science, Technology and Innovation” was held in Daejeon. This was the first OECD meeting of science ministers since 2004. Discussions were centred on two questions: How can the potential of science and innovation be used more effectively than now? How can science and innovation help to solve global challenges? In his speech, State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio spoke about ways to intensify the impact of public expenditure in science and innovation.
The ministers adopted the “Daejeon Declaration”, which will serve as the frame of reference for the international agenda in this area for the next ten years. At the end of the Ministerial Meeting, Switzerland was elected to chair the OECD committee responsible for implementing the decisions reached.
This gathering also offered the opportunity for various bilateral discussions with ministers of different countries. With Vice-Minister Lee Sukjoon of the Korean Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, which hosted the OECD Ministerial Meeting, the State Secretary agreed that more exchanges on the innovation systems in both countries should take place in the future so that both countries can benefit from one other. In addition, the State Secretary held talks with representatives from Australia and Japan on cooperation in the area of education, research and Innovation.
On 22 October 2015 in Seoul, State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio opened the second “Swiss-Korean Life Science Symposium”. This symposium was sponsored by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and was organised by the Swiss Embassy in Korea in cooperation with Korean partners. This symposium served as a platform for the exchange of information on research and development in the fields of science, medicine, industry and entrepreneurship.
Address for enquiries
Fabio Berta, SERI, Scientific Advisor
International Relations Division
T +41 58 462 48 58
Publisher
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
http://www.sbfi.admin.ch
