Swissnex Shanghai Opened Its Doors in August 2008
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2008 Initiative of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Swiss Knowledge Network with outposts in Bangalore, Boston, San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore shanghai 1 contents 3 foreword 4 mission 5 events & highlights 2008 8 official delegations & visits 11 programs 14 media coverage 21 finances 22 sponsors & partners 23 staff & interns 26 outlook 2009 2 foreword swissnex Shanghai opened its doors in August 2008. The collaboration and started the Sino Swiss Science and State Secretary for Education and Research, Mr Mauro Technology Cooperation Program (SSSTC). Dell’Ambrogio, officially inaugurated our Swiss outpost for Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture in China on 2008 was the year of staff and general structure August 7, 2008. We are the fourth of its kind after Boston implementation, and office organisation. (2000), San Francisco (2003) and Singapore (2004). I would like to take the opportunity to thank our friends, To improve the awareness of Swiss science and technology partners and sponsors for supporting us and allowing us know-how we investigate new ways to promote Swiss to create a scientific networking platform to promote Swiss excellence in China by organizing workshops, networking science, technology, innovation and culture in China. events and presentations on selected research and innovation themes. We are still improving and developing our communication means to inform our relevant partners Flavia Schlegel, MD, MAS about our key activities and services. Executive Director / Vice Consul General swissnex Shanghai Event highlights in 2008 include PlayTime by ETH Zurich, our official inauguration and Solar Impulse a lecture given by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. Furthermore swissnex Shanghai welcomed and assisted several official delegations and visitors, paid visits to numerous Chinese universities and science institutions exploring possible 3 swissnex shanghai 2008 FOREWORD mission science, technology, innovation and culture Bridging knowledge andin competencies Promote Connect Facilitate “Please accept my sincere thanks in advance for your kind help to set up connection between Sun Yat-sen University and Swiss universities. We are very grateful for your help and support.” MS CELINE HUANG COORDINATOR FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS/SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND EXchANGE SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY swissnex Shanghai is a coordination and networking institution supported by the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER). Fostering partnerships in the fields of science, technology, innovation and culture is one of the main tasks. swissnex’ mission is to promote Swiss educational, scientific and technological excellence and support international activities of Swiss higher education institutions and research institutes. 4 swissnex shanghai 2008 MISSION events & highlights 2008 Art meets Technology swissnex Shanghai’s official in Cultural Context inauguration May 16 – 20, 2008 August 7, 2008 The PlayTime project by ETH Zurich was presented during swissnex Shanghai was honored to have Swiss State the Science and Art Exhibition in Shanghai. The exhibition Secretary for Education and Research Mr Mauro provided a great platform to show Switzerland’s outstanding Dell’Ambrogio assume the inaugural duties and to celebrate and exceptional know-how of science and technology. with us and our guests at a colorful and festive party. It was a diverse group indeed that honored swissnex Shanghai with The individual presentations in the PlayTime project originated their presence. In attendance were Ms Wu Qidi, former vice from the ETH Zurich Computer Science Department. They president for education in China and alumna of ETH Zurich; celebrated various novel methods of proactive participation. Mr Jiang Mianheng, vice president of CAS; and Mr Shao The project concerned themselves with such diverse themes Huixiang, vice director of as information retrieval using cross media solutions, creating the Office of Foreign Affairs interactive art using wearable technology, electronic training of the Shanghai municipal systems for proactive health, and realtime panoramics for government, along with presentations related to culture. Although diverse in theme, many Chinese and Swiss the projects found a common denominator in the way they university presidents. Also present information. Visitors had the opportunity to enjoy joining the celebration were VIP guests from private industry interactivity for purposes of arts, edutainment, and of course as well as from various ministries. good health. 5 swissnex shanghai 2008 EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS Gathering with Swiss students in Swissnex Shanghai @ Shanghai Guangdong University September 18, 2008 of Foreign Studies October 20 to 24, 2008 swissnex brought together Swiss students from SUPSI (Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, October 20th through 24th was Italian week at Guangdong one of the seven universities for applied sciences in University of Foreign Studies. swissnex applied sciences Switzerland) with Swiss entrepreneurs in Shanghai. and R&D expert Claudio Boer was invited by the Swiss Consulate in Guangzhou. Mr Boer gave a talk, the topic Claudio Boër, our expert on cooperation in applied R&D of which was “la piazza”, that was attended by more than who joined swissnex Shanghai in July, organized a full day 60 students and several professors of the Guangdong of lectures, meetings, and factory visits for the group which University of Foreign Studies Italian program. was comprised of students from the Master of Science in Precision Manufacturing Engineering program. The students showed great interest in the Swiss educational system and some of the questions they raised concerned The aim of the gathering was to reinforce student interest how to apply for study in Switzerland, what scholarships in the Chinese market and to provide greater insight into are available and how the Swiss educational system works. China-based companies while also giving participants an Swiss Consul General of Guangzhou Mr Werner Nievergelt impression of the Chinese job market and its infrastructure. and Mr Boer held discussions with the students and provided To get a broad overview during their stay, the students also more information about the Swiss educational system. had the opportunity to tour around China. The organizer of Italian week was the Italian Consulate but, as a country whose official language is also Italian, Switzerland Open Doors was of course invited to actively participate. October 18, 2008 The Open Doors event held on October 18 with the theme of “Swiss Culture for Our Children” was co-organized by Solar Impulse swissnex Shanghai, the Consulate General of Switzerland November 19, 2008 and the Swiss Club. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce swissnex Shanghai’s mission to the Swiss Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg presented the community living in Shanghai. The half day affair was Solar Impulse project to a selected crowd of people attended by many kids and parents. working in high level positions in private industry (Solar technique) and R&D. The 70 participants heard about the planning and development of the first solar powered prototype plane, HB-SIA, and its goal to start the test flights in 2009. The Solar Impulse team took the chance to get in touch with the invited guests, to build up relationships and meet potential partners who are willing to share the pioneering spirit in order to save our planet’s energy resources for future generations. 6 swissnex shanghai 2008 EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS Beijing Forum December 21, 2008 The Beijing Forum with its theme “Education and Research Cooperation between China and Europe” was organized by different associations related to overseas courses of study. “Please accept my thanks and pass them along to the The event was hosted by: others who put this event together, it was really nice. Dr. Piccard’s words and ideas were very inspiring to me. - Western Returned Scholars Association (Swiss Branch) I will try to always remember them and strive to be a real pioneer in my work.” - Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association (Swiss Branch) JOE PRATT PH.D. ENGINEERING JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY, SHANGHAI - Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in Zurich (ACSSZ) - Chinese Life Science Forum Zurich (CLSFZ) An interesting and colorful program was leading through the afternoon. The participants heard on swissnex Shanghai and its Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation Program. The talk was given by the Executive Director of swissnex Shanghai, Ms Flavia Schlegel. Dr. Jiao Renjie, Technology in China), Mr Zhou Longchao, on “Science and professor and representative of CAS (Chinese Academy Technology Cooperation between China and Europe”. This of Science), gave a lecture on “Life Science Research informative afternoon offered various opportunities for new Today in China and International Cooperation” followed acquaintances and a better knowledge of science and by a lecture given by MOST (Ministry of Science and technology transfer. 7 swissnex shanghai 2008 EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS official delegations & visits EPFL Reception Swiss Association March 28, 2008 for Science Journalism April 24, 2008 swissnex Shanghai welcomed a delegation of EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne). The reception A delegation of the Swiss Association for Science Journalism was marked by two lectures. Mr Hanspeter Hertig, Director visited swissnex Shanghai for an insight on Switzerland’s