Press releases
The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI regularly publishes media information about its activities, projects, and programs.
State Secretary Martina Hirayama uses 2026 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting to foster international dialogue on education, research and innovation
On the sidelines of the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on 28 and 29 June, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, held talks with several of her counterparts, including Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space.
Four in five graduates change jobs after completing professional education
Of those who obtained a professional qualification in 2020, 58% changed companies or started their own business and 20% changed roles within their company in the four years following their examination. These are the results of the second Survey on Professional Education by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
First meeting of the international coalition for science, research and innovation in Ukraine
On 26 June, the first high-level meeting of the international coalition for science, research and innovation in Ukraine took place in Gdańsk on the fringes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC). A joint declaration is intended to send a message of international solidarity in support of the reconstruction of Ukraine’s research and innovation system.
President Guy Parmelin leads economic and scientific mission to North America
From 29 June to 9 July, President Guy Parmelin will visit the US and Canada on an economic and scientific mission. He will then continue to Mexico, where he will meet President Claudia Sheinbaum. The purpose of the trip is to strengthen and extend Switzerland’s economic and scientific ties with North America. On 2 July, Mr Parmelin will attend the Swiss national team’s round of 32 match in the football World Cup in Vancouver.
Günther Dissertori to become the new president of ETH Zurich
On 24 June, the Federal Council appointed Günther Dissertori as the new president of ETH Zurich, following a proposal by the ETH Board. The 56-year-old is currently the rector of ETH Zurich and a professor of particle physics. He will take up his post on 1 January 2027, succeeding Joël Mesot.
State Secretary Martina Hirayama on a science mission to Canada
Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, will travel to Canada on a science mission from 15 to 19 June. While there, she will attend ministerial-level meetings and visit science and technology institutions in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Discussions will focus on key areas including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, life sciences and polar research.
Marked variation in upper-secondary qualification rates in different neighbourhoods
91.7% of young people who turned 15 between 2010 and 2014 had obtained an upper-secondary level qualification 10 years later. This proportion varies considerably between regions and from canton to canton. It is lower in large urban communes such as Zurich (88%), Basel (86%) and Geneva (82%), but also varies markedly between neighbourhoods. In the Langstrasse district of Zurich, the upper-secondary qualification rate was 80% and in the Fluntern district 96%. These are the main findings of a new publication by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which provides a detailed picture of the geographical distribution of the upper-secondary and Swiss baccalaureate qualification rate.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki pays state visit to Switzerland
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, accompanied by his wife Marta Nawrocka, began a two-day state visit to Switzerland on Wednesday, 27 May. He was received by the Federal Council with military honours in Parliament Square to mark the start of his visit. The delegations then discussed how to further strengthen the already excellent bilateral relations. They also addressed issues relating to economic development and security in Europe.
Federal Council reappoints Martin Ackermann as Eawag director
On 27 May, the Federal Council appointed Professor Martin Ackermann to a second term as director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The four-year term will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030.
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki to pay a state visit to Switzerland next week
President Karol Nawrocki of Poland is expected to arrive in Switzerland on Wednesday, 27 May, for a two-day state visit. This invitation from the Federal Council, headed by President Guy Parmelin, highlights the importance of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Poland. Since the turning point in 1989, a Polish head of state has visited Switzerland every decade.
Professional education: An asset for independents
A year after completing their studies, 13% of people who obtain an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education are self-employed. Agriculture and healthcare are among the most common fields of study for those who go on to be self-employed. Most of these professionals were already self-employed before obtaining their qualification and continue to work in the company or practice that they founded. These are the findings of the Survey on Professional Education conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
State Secretary Martina Hirayama attends OECD Skills Summit in Istanbul
On 27 and 28 April, delegations from over 30 countries gathered in Istanbul for the OECD Skills Summit, held under the theme ‘Unlocking Talent Across Generations’. The summit focused in particular on the policy measures needed to adapt education systems to the skills required in the age of artificial intelligence, while promoting lifelong learning and inclusion.
Swissnex Annual Report 2025: Strengthening Switzerland's Global Position in Education, Research, and Innovation
Swissnex, Switzerland's global network for education, research, and innovation, continued its mission in 2025 with far-reaching initiatives across the world. The year was defined by an intensified focus on artificial intelligence, planetary diplomacy, climate resilience, and quantum technologies. The Swissnex Annual Report 2025 highlights the network's key contributions to international collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing Switzerland's role as a global leader in innovation.
State Secretary Hirayama attends informal EU ministerial meeting on competition in research and innovation
On 31 March, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, attended the informal meeting of EU research ministers. The meeting was held online under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Participants exchanged views on how Europe can leverage its scientific excellence to bring economic added value and achieve global competitiveness.
President Guy Parmelin meets with Chinese Minister of Education
President Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, met with Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng in Bern on 23 March. Following the meeting, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, chaired the sixth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training.
ESA Council meeting at delegate level takes place in Switzerland
On 18–19 March 2026, the 345th Council meeting at delegate level of the European Space Agency (ESA) took place in Interlaken. Renato Krpoun, head of the Swiss Space Office at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), currently holds the chair of the ESA Council at delegate level. The Council is meeting in Switzerland as Renato Krpoun's three-year term of office is soon coming to an end.
Understanding and dialogue between the scientific and political communities and society as a whole needs to be further strengthened
During the first Swiss Research and Innovation Summit held on 17 March 2026 in Bern, experts from the scientific community, politics, administration, the business community and civil society discussed the role scientific expertise plays in politics and society. The purpose of this event was to promote and strengthen an understanding of the need for scientific consultation and mutual dialogue between the scientific community and society as a whole.
Switzerland and Brazil deepen their cooperation in education, research and innovation
On 16 March, the seventh meeting of the Switzerland–Brazil Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation took place in Bern. The aim was to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in these areas and to set future priorities.
Switzerland–EU package agreement signed in Brussels
On 2 March, President Guy Parmelin and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the agreements comprising the Switzerland–EU package in Brussels. The agreements were initialled by the chief negotiators on 21 May 2025 and approved by the Federal Council on 13 June 2025. The dispatch on the Switzerland–EU package is expected to be approved for submission to Parliament in the course of this month.
Federal Council submits act on space operations: future-oriented framework conditions for Swiss players
On 25 February 2026, the Federal Council has adopted the dispatch and draft of a federal act on space operations for submission to Parliament. The proposed legislation is intended to enable players in Switzerland to exploit technological and economic opportunities in space. It also sends a signal that Switzerland is a forward-looking and responsible space nation.
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