Abstract
Switzerland has a long tradition of expertise in the fields of science, research and education, with ‘science diplomacy’ (SD) now assuming an important role for innovation economies. Past experience shows that international scientific cooperation can have valuable outcomes for the involved countries and complements traditional foreign policy and diplomacy. In Switzerland, a worldwide network of science and technology (S&T) outposts under the auspices of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research in cooperation with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs was established in 2000. The very swissnex network around the world defines one of those established SD instruments. In this article, we discuss the swissnex office in China, which acts both as a physical and virtual environment to foster closer ties between Switzerland and China in S&T, innovation and culture. This case study examines the history and mission of swissnex China, its role and organizational structure, and reviews other nations’ comparable branding initiatives. The article analyzes clients and partners, as well as the main challenges for swissnex China during its 3 years of operation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Harmonization System Codes (HS) Group 85.
Harmonization System Codes (HS) Group 84.
Harmonization System Codes (HS) Group 90.
Additional information also under www.casted.org.cn/en/ and www.chinadaily.com.cn/cn-dy/2011-03/02/content_12098963.htm.
‘Connecting the dots’ means: Bridging the domains of Research and Education, and interdisciplinary cooperation and establishment of networks among public and private-sector actors in the areas of Research, Education, Innovation, Business and the Arts.
References
Berg, L.P. (2010) Science Diplomacy Networks. Politorbis – Swiss Science Diplomacy No. 49 02/10, p. 73.
CASTED. (2010) National innovation index, http://www.casted.org.cn/web/index.php?NewsID=44-49&Action=PrintArticle.
European Union. (2010) EU union scoreboard, http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/iu-scoreboard-2010_en.pdf.
Fedoroff, N.V. (2009) Science diplomacy in the 21st century. Cell Journal 136: 9–11.
Fetscherin, M. and Marmier, P. (2010) Switzerland's nation branding initiative to foster science and technology, higher education, and innovation. Journal of Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 6: 58–67.
Fetscherin, M. and Marmier, P. (2011) Public private partnership to foster science, higher education and innovation: The case of Switzerland with swissnex Boston. In: R. Groves and F. Go (eds.) International Place Branding Yearbook. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 97–109.
Flink, T. and Schreiterer, U. (2010) Science diplomacy at the intersection of S&T policies and foreign affairs: Toward a typology of national approaches. Science and Public Policy 37 (9): 665–677.
Grueber, M. and Studt, T. (2009) 2010 global R&D funding forecast: An overview. R&D Magazine, 22 December, http://www.rdmag.com/Featured-Articles/2009/12/Policy-and-Industry-2010-Global-R-D-Funding-Forecast-An-Overview/.
Hernandez, H., Tuebke, A., Hervás, F. and Cincera, M. (2010) The 2010 EU industrial R&D investment scoreboard. European Commission, Joint Research Center, Sevilla, Spain, http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/research/do-cs/2010/SB2010_final_report.pdf.
Hofstede, G. (2001) Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations across Nations. London: Sage.
Liu, X. (2011) The 12th Five-Year Plan: China's scientific and peaceful development, http://www.fm-prc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/zwbd/t807552.htm.
Nestle. (2011) Nestle Research Center, http://www.research.nestle.com/NR/rdon-lyres/CC4E141B33C4-4412-BB2EFEA73FE2E030/0/2011BeijingJiaotongCollaborationFINAL.pdf.
Novartis. (2011) Research & Development, http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2009/1352116.shtml.
Porter, M.E. (1990) The Competitive Advantage of Nations. New York: Free Press.
Roche. (2011) Roche Research &Development, http://www.roche.com/r_d_si-tes.htm?id=6.
Schwab, K. (2009) The Competitiveness Report 2009–2010. World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland.
Schwab, K. (2010) The Competitiveness Report 2010/2011. World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/-WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf.
SER. (2011a) State Secretariat for Education and Research. Scientific Policy 2008–2011, http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/dokumentation/publikationen/international/bilateral/ factsheets/bilateralewissenschaftszusammenarbeit_de.pdf.
SER. (2011b) State Secretariat for Education and Research. Service Level Agreement of the SER for swissnex China concerning goals and activities in the period 2008–2011, http://www.sbf.ad-min.ch/htm/themen/international/bi-lateral_swissnex_de.html.
Soltmann, C., Amez-Droz, F. and Cosandey, A.-C. (2010) Swiss Cleantech Report 2011. Swisscleantec, Bern, Switzer-land, http://swisscanadianchamber.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/swisscleantech-report.pdf.
swissnex China. (2011) Annual Report 2010, http://www.swissnexchina.org.
United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database. (2010). http://comtrade.un.org/.
Wen, J. (2011) National People's Congress China 2011 – Report of the Government's Work. Beijing, China, http://online.w-sj.com/public/resources/documents/2011NPCWorkReportEng.pdf.
Zhu, S. (2011) High-tech park earns national recognition. Shanghai Daily, 31 March, http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Metro/2011/03/31/Hightech%2Bpark%2Bearns%2Bnational%2Brecognition/.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
2graduated from the University of St Gallen HSG in International Affairs and Governance and was working for swissnex China until June 2011. Primarily he was assigned to deliver a report on the current intellectual property rights situation in China. Previously, he worked at the Swiss Embassy in Beijing and as a Research Assistant at the law and economics department of the University of St Gallen.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schlegel, F., Jacot, O. & Fetscherin, M. Science diplomacy with swissnex China: A Swiss nation brand initiative. Place Brand Public Dipl 7, 289–298 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/pb.2011.14
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/pb.2011.14