2010 Science & Technology Office
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2010 science & technology office Embassy of Switzerland in Japan State Secretariat for Education and Research SER tokyo Swiss Knowledge Network contents 3 Foreword 5 At A Glance 7 Highlights 2010 1 Communication & Media 4 Sponsors & Partners 5 Team Cover design : Filip Krnja Images courtesy : ETH Zurich, EPFL Lausanne, Paul Scherrer Institute and Alain Herzog Foreword Dear Reader, The Science & Technology Office Tokyo, related events, workshops, conferences, as a member of the Swiss Knowledge exhibitions as well as study tours and Network, is most pleased to present visits by official delegations, executive you the annual report of the year 2010 programs, and offering advice in the filled with a wide range of activities to high-tech field. promote Swiss science, technology, in- novation, education and art in Japan. Key events in 010 include the Swiss Solar Pavilion at the world’s leading Located in the Embassy of Switzerland, photovoltaic exhibition, the Swiss our work focuses on two of the most in- Innovation Booth at the leading novative countries with the highest R&D innovation event in Japan and receiving expenditure ratios in the world: Swit- the biggest delegations of Swiss high- zerland and Japan. Offering a dynamic level participants at the STS forum as interactive platform to our users, the well as EPFL Life Sciences students in Science & Technology Office Tokyo has Tokyo. We continued to build academic organized and actively participated in networks with universities in Japan; an numerous academic, art and high-tech impressive 60 collaboration agreements 3 Science & Technology Office Tokyo 2010 FOREWORD with Swiss counterparts have been signed. The “A³-EPFL Chapter in Tokyo” and the “University of Lausanne and Japan Network” – the first overseas chapter – were officially launched. The Science & Technology Office Tokyo is proud to announce the setup of a new medium to further promote the Swiss ” I didn’t have any idea of excellence in science, education, art Switzerland before I listened to the and innovation; the bi-monthly Science- presentation at the [Study Abroad] fair. Switzerland newsletter, enabling us to But now I’m interested in Switzerland reach out to the key actors of tomorrow’s and I’m trying to find a university for collaboration on a global scale. my master’s degree. It was also a good Our work would not be possible experience for me to talk with you and without the vital support from the Swiss ask you questions about Switzerland. government along with our stakeholders, I hope I will be able to visit and study sponsors, partners, event participants, there in the near future. Once again, colleagues, and friends. We are grateful thank you for your kind help. “ for their continuing commitment to MS. SAKI KURODA, UNIVERSITY STUDENT strengthen the collaboration between Switzerland and Japan. A warm thank you to all! Science & Technology Office Tokyo team 4 At A Glance Science & Technology Office Tokyo The Science & Technology Office Tokyo is Japan is a special target for the Swiss an integral part of the Swiss Knowledge knowledge network; the country has Network, which is a key component of been named in the Federal Council Swiss foreign policy to promote science, Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, technology, innovation and higher Research and Innovation for 008-011 education. The global network, run by a potential partner with which Switzer- the Swiss State Secretariat for Education land would like to establish broader and and Research (SER) in close cooperation deeper ties in bilateral research coopera- with the Federal Department of Foreign tion. Only 8 countries outside Europe and Affairs (FDFA), currently consists of 3 the U.S. have been highlighted as such. science and technology counselors at A corresponding bilateral agreement selected embassies, including Tokyo, as has been signed between Switzerland well as swissnex Boston (000), swissnex and Japan in 007 to secure the best San Francisco (003), swissnex Singa- possible scientific quality and promote pore (004), swissnex China (Shanghai long-term partnership. 007) and swissnex India, newly set up in Bangalore in 2010. To ensure the smooth implementation of these objectives, the Science & Technol- Science and technology counselors are ogy Office Tokyo receives delegations responsible for creating optimal condi- from Switzerland and offers support to tions for international cooperation make their trips even more meaningful. between researchers, public and private Swiss officials, scientists, architects, de- research institutes and universities. signers, engineers and specialists from high-tech start-ups and companies can In each host country, science and tech- receive help based on our global per- nology counselors are also responsible spective and local expertise. for facilitating the exchange of students and professors and promoting Switzer- The Science & Technology Office Tokyo land as a location for higher education provides platforms for Swiss universities, and scientific research. The counselors university spin-offs, associations and also help build and maintain personal research institutions, including the ETH and institutional networks that can be Domain, so they can be well represented of use to Swiss scientists, universities at large exhibitions under the Swiss and businesses. umbrella. 5 Science & Technology Office Tokyo 2010 AT A GLANCE We provide reports on Japan’s science mental, university and industry institu- policies in the form of newsletters, sum- tions, helps promote Switzerland to the mary reports and correspondences. local and global specialists stationed in Japan. In addition, the Head of the Science & Technology Office Tokyo shares the In short, the Science & Technology chair of the Science & Technology Office Tokyo acts as a liaison and an Diplomatic Circle (S&TDC), a network of information hub in the important field science councellors from more than 80 of science, technology, innovation and diplomatic missions including the Brit- higher education. We are here to support ish Council, CAST, CNRS, DFG, NASA and the successful bilateral and multilateral NSF. The very visible Swiss presence in relationship between Switzerland and the active S&TDC, which makes around Japan. 12 visits annualy to Japanese govern- Bern, State Secretariat for Education and Research swissnex Locations Bangalore Boston San Fransicso Shanghai Singapore Science Counselor Locations Beijing Paris Berlin Pretoria Brasiia Rome Brussels Santiago Canberra Seoul New Delhi Tokyo London Vienna Madrid Washington, D.C. Moscow Ottawa 6 Highlights 2010 Prominent Swiss Delegation At The STS forum The 7th Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology for Society (STS) forum was held in Kyoto from October 3-5 under the overall theme of “The Lights and Shadows of Science and Technology”. Over 800 scientists, policymakers, business executives and media leaders gathered from 104 countries, regions and international organizations. The 1-headed Swiss delegation included Dr. Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, State Secretary for Education and Research, Prof. Dieter Imboden, President of the Research Council SNSF, Prof. Joël Mesot, Director PSI, Prof. Konrad Osterwalder, President UNU, Nobel Laureate Dr. Richard Ernst, Dr. Bertrand Piccard and Mr. André Borschberg, Solar Impulse and Prof. Alexander Zehnder, President Emeritus ETH Board. 7 Science & Technology Office Tokyo 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Highlights 2010 State Secretary For Education And Research Visits Tokyo State Secretary Dell’Ambrogio visited the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), National Institute for Materials Sciences (NIMS) and the Finnish innovation network FinNode during his trip to Tokyo on October 5 after STS forum. Dr. Dell’Ambrogio, accompanied by Ambassador Urs Bucher, PSI Director Joël Mesot, and IBM Research Zurich Director Matthias Kaiserswerth, was greeted by AIST president Dr. T. Nomakuchi, NIMS president Dr. S. Ushioda and Finnish Ambassador J. Gustafsson at the respective institutions. AIST presented their Humanoid Robot Research and NIMS introduced the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) as well as the Innovative Center of Nanomaterials Science (ICNSEE), where Dr. Louis Schlapbach, former Empa director, serves as Deputy Director-General. A Swiss PR Coup: Solar Impulse On Stage In Kyoto Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg from the Solar Impulse project, have been invited by STS forum at the recommendation of the Science & Technology Office Tokyo. The two leaders presented their project in Kyoto to an international audience of 800 high-level opinion leaders from government, academia and industry, including S&T Ministers, Nobel Laureates, university presidents, CEOs, CTOs, funding agencies’ heads, journalists and diplomats. The presentation – described as Swiss PR Coup – showed the history and objective behind Solar Impulse. Many bilateral meetings with private and public decision makers followed the presentation. In the framework of their visit, further presentations have been made at the Omega center in Ginza and before the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. This was the second time the first-in-the-world project made a promotional/media tour in Japan in 2010. The organization of the first tour was a collaborative effort between the Economic and Press sections of the Embassy of Switzerland. 8 Highlights 2010 cont. Science & Technology Swiss Solar Pavilion At Leading International Photovoltaic Expo The Swiss Solar Pavilion was