1 (HB-SIA) flying over the Swiss parliament building ©Solar Impulse I Jean Revillard

The Swiss Confederation and Solar Impulse The Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg aim to become the first humans to fly around the world in a solar-powered aircraft (HB-SIB). They want to use this unique adventure both to show that with clear vision it is possible to go beyond what is currently thought to be possible and at the same time to campaign for the more sustainable use of resources. This project is in line with 's commitment to the promotion of clean energy, which is why the Swiss Confederation has supported the project since it began.

The first round-the-world solar flight Solar Impulse is almost ready for take-off. The first round-the-world solar flight is scheduled to start at the beginning of March 2015 from Abu Dhabi (UAE) and will involve landings in Oman, India, Myanmar and China before crossing the Pacific Ocean - with only one pilot for five consecutive days and nights! It will then stop over in the United States and finally cross the Atlantic Ocean (four consecutive days and nights), heading for southern Europe or North Africa and to its point of departure. Since the cockpit is designed for only one pilot, landings are necessary to change pilots, but they will also be used as public relations events to present the project to governments, scientific institutions and the general public.

Solar Impulse – An idea born in Switzerland The slogan “An idea born in Switzerland”, the Solar Impulse airplane itself and the pilots associate the project with its country of origin, while demonstrating Swiss strengths in the field of education, research and innovation. As a product of Swiss innovation the project also exemplifies the importance Switzerland gives to the sustainable use of natural resources.

Switzerland's spirit of innovation and public-private partnerships This solar-powered aircraft is designed to remain airborne day and night without using a drop of fuel. The plane's exceptional aerodynamic performance and energy efficiency (three times greater than commercial aircraft) make this possible. A team of technicians and scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), led by the aeronautical engineer André Borschberg and the psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard from the canton of , worked together on this ground-breaking project. It should come as no surprise that, in view of the country's long-standing tradition of encouraging investment in research and development, innovative projects like this originate in Switzerland. How many people know, for example, that zip fasteners, Velcro, milk chocolate and the computer mouse were invented in Switzerland? Switzerland's high innovative capability has also been recognised in various international rankings in this area, in particular in the Innovation Union Scoreboard 2014, the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 and the Global Innovation Index 2014, where Switzerland has ranked top several times in recent years. Innovative projects thrive in the fertile environment of Switzerland's education system and its long tradition of cooperation between the public and private sectors. This cooperation is reflected at various levels.

The more sustainable use of resources As a geographically small, landlocked country in Europe without natural resources, Switzerland has always had to use resources economically and efficiently. In addition, as Europe's ‘water tower’, Switzerland is responsible for safeguarding the sources of various large rivers. It therefore manages (water) resources with great care and is very active in research in this field (http://www.eawag.ch/about/index_EN). In this context, it is confronted, in particular with the progressive melting of its glaciers as one of the negative consequences of climate change (http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/glaciologists-fight-climate-change-in-india-and-peru/41145214). Switzerland is constantly aware of such factors, to which it is responding by developing sustainable uses of resources and climate-friendly energy production. Small in size but hugely successful in terms of innovative achievements, Switzerland is continuously working with its partners to make the world a better place to live in – Solar Impulse, a modern example of Switzerland’s pioneering spirit. www.swissworld.org/solarimpulse