State Secretary Martina Hirayama on a science mission in the Gulf States
Bern, 12.05.2025 — From 12 to 16 May, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, will travel to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on a science mission. This trip is intended primarily to strengthen existing partnerships and explore opportunities for further collaboration in research and innovation.
On her trip, Ms Hirayama will be accompanied by representatives of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Switzerland's two federal institutes of technology ETH Zurich and EPFL, the University of Bern and the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland. In Doha (Qatar), meetings have been scheduled with Lolwah Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, as well as with representatives of the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI Council) and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). Education, research and innovation cooperation between Switzerland and Qatar will be among the topics covered in these and other talks. On this occasion, SNSF and the QRDI will sign a memorandum of understanding to facilitate mobility between the two scientific communities.
In Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) Ms Hirayama and the members of the Swiss delegation will meet with Mohammed Alotaibi, Acting Governor at the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) and other ERI stakeholders. They will also visit Saudi Arabia’s national laboratory and innovation park, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
In Dubai (UAE) meetings have been scheduled with Huda AlHashimi, Deputy Minister for Strategic Affairs, and Abdulrahman Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Research. The itinerary also included visits to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi (UAE). These visits, along with discussions with researchers from various universities, help to gain a better understanding of the higher education and research landscape in the UAE and identify potential areas for future cooperation.
Existing cooperation in education, research and innovation
Swiss ERI stakeholders work with partners in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE within the framework of bilateral and multilateral programmes that award project funding on a competitive basis. In 2017, the Swiss Confederation designated the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO) as the Leading House for bilateral research collaboration with partner institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This mandate has been renewed for the 2025–28 ERI funding period. In this context, the HES-SO offers a range of instruments in support of bilateral cooperation in research and innovation.
Additional opportunities for cooperation between researchers from Switzerland and the Gulf States can be found through EU framework programmes for research and innovation and in research projects funded by the SNSF. Young researchers from these countries also have the opportunity to apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to complete a master's or postdoctoral degree in Switzerland.