singapore
2013 Initiative of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation Platform of the Embassy of Switzerland swissnex Network with outposts in Bangalore, Boston, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore
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greetings from the Ambassador foreword at a glance highlights visits media & communication finances sponsors & partners team outlook
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greetings from the Ambassador
Singapore and Switzerland are both open and export oriented economies, relying on a highly developed research sector and putting strong emphasis on education and innovation. Overall, our two countries have successful and strong knowledge based economies. For Swiss scientists and businessmen, Singapore has become a real focal point in South East Asia. Approximately 4000 Swiss nationals live and work in Singapore today and more than 300 companies from Switzerland have established their offices in the city-state, many of them with a regional function, as well as a research and development focus. Similarly, prestigious Swiss Universities such as the ETH Zurich with its Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) and the University of St.Gallen with its Institute of Management in Asia (SGI), have established a presence in Singapore. swissnex Singapore, a platform of the Embassy for science, education and innovation, plays an important role as a bridge builder in all those areas and as a dynamic voice of Swiss thinking. In June 2014, swissnex Singapore will celebrate its 10th anniversary, a perfect moment to commemorate the past and prepare the future. My very best congratulations to the whole swissnex team for its great commitment and achievements over the past years!  Thomas Kupfer Ambassador of Switzerland in Singapore
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swissnex singapore 2013
foreword
Dear Reader, 2013 has been a year for the entrepreneurs at swissnex Singapore. We saw increasing interests from Swiss start-ups who have searched for opportunities to develop their innovations and ideas on the shores of Singapore. More than just connecting individual startups, conferences such as Capital on Stage and Seedstars World were supported, contributing to the visibility of Switzerland as an entrepreneurial nation in Singapore. Digital Art Weeks was a highlight for the art scene. The two-week event took place throughout the island, blending technology with art while networks were expanded widely with Singaporean and international partners. Existing collaborations continued to thrive between Switzerland and Singapore, exemplified by a mirror event of the Swiss-Singapore Workshop on Microfluidics taking place in Basel, a live-streamed Swiss Re life sciences event and a Debiopharm panel discussion. Persistent knowledge exchange on topics of shared interest between stakeholders from Switzerland and Singapore planted promising seeds for future strategic partnerships, that swissnex looks forward to nurture in a conducive environment. Dr. Suzanne Hraba-Renevey CEO swissnex Singapore
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M i c r o f l u i d i c s
The multidisciplinary field cuts across chemistry, physics, engineering, biotechnology and microtechnology towards developing new applications and technologies. The Swiss-Singapore Microfluidics Workshop held its mirror event for the first time in Basel.
P a r t n e r s h i p s
Innovation transcends creation of products. Debiopharm is exemplary of this as it shares its innovative business-model based on networks and partnerships.
Apprenticeship There is growing interest in Singapore to mirror the dual-education model of Switzerland. Educational trips were made by the Ministry of Education and the Institute of Technical Education.
Summer University Nadine
An active collaboration led by the Board of Higher of Education of the State of Vaud (DGES) between institutions in Switzerland and international counterparts enriches the learning experience of students and highlights the vocational education model in Switzerland. The highly realistic humanoid was presented at the End of Year Event in a digital format and a live-video streaming. Modelled after Prof. Nadia Thalmann, Nadine is able to reproduce facial and body expressions, as well as respond to questions and situations.
Nutrigenomics It is the study of how molecular relationships in a nutrition programme affect the human genome. Actigenomics SA focuses its activities on the application of the science of genomics to nutrition. Moreover, it aims to create a more cost-effective solution for developing countries.
Business Model Generation The book and the accompanying canvas, as presented by the co-author Yves Pigneur, are strategic management and entrepreneurial tools for doers ready to embrace new innovative models for their businesses.
Visualization
A video accompanied the newsletter every quarter, covering the highlights such as the Swiss Education Fair, the Fribourg delegation visit to Singapore, Capital on Stage and our End of Year Event. 4
swissnex singapore 2013
Among the start-ups entering the Singaporean market, two of them, SwissLitho and Attolight, are spinoffs from the internationally renowned Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and Lausanne (ETH Zurich and EPFL, respectively).
Born-Global
Creating connections is integral to swissnex activities so as to encourage crosspollination of ideas. This element is present at all events to nurture exchange and new collaborations.
Spin-offs
Networking
at a glance
As mentioned by School of Management Fribourg (HEG-Fr) Director Prof. Rico Baldegger, born-global start-ups shape themselves to the global consumers from the beginning. In 2013, a growing number of Swiss start-ups look to develop presence in Singapore.
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highlights
Education & Research Students from Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP), University of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences La Source, and School of Business and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD) were in Singapore as part of the Summer Universities of the Board of Higher Education of the State of Vaud (DGES), interacting with students and faculties from partner institutions. As part of the joint program between University of Music Lausanne (HEMU) and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, three concerts and one masterclass were jointly organized on the occasion of the delegation’s visit from the Board of Higher Education of the State of Vaud (DGES). In collaboration with the University of St.Gallen, students from Swiss institutions, as well as potential students and alumni of Switzerland-Singapore exchange programs, were hosted during the Welcome Event for Exchange Students from Switzerland. Students from the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland and participants of Singapore-Switzerland Bilateral Youth Exchange Programme 2013 were also present. The swissnex Award was presented to Martin Rüst upon his graduation from the Executive Master of Science in Communications Management (EMScom) at the University of Lugano. He was awarded for the best positioning paper written within the framework of the session held at the Singapore Management University. Dr. Thomas Klink, Head of the Advanced Training Program in Leadership & Excellence at the Institute of Applied Psychology in ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, discovered the local landscape in preparation for an Executive Education study trip in 2014. He also presented on Change Management – Tools for Leaders and HR Professional where he shared his insights on initiating and supporting change projects efficiently.
“On behalf of all IMD, I wanted to thank you very warmly for hosting our recent alumni event in the swissnex premises. It is always a pleasure to count on and work with such a great partner as yours. Again, a very big THANK YOU!” Dominique Turpin President, IMD Business School
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“Thanks and congratulations to a rich harvest in 2013!� Alex Matter CEO, E xperimental Therapeutics Centre, A*STAR, swissnex Singapore Board Member
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highlights
In response to continued interest in Swiss education, the annual Swiss Education Fair was organized in collaboration with the Swiss Business Hub. A record number of institutions of higher learning was hosted, showcasing their undergraduate, Masters and PhD programs. 8
swissnex singapore 2013
The Swiss education promotion continued throughout the year with the annual Study in Europe Fair and at various events in international schools, junior colleges and polytechnics. Regionally, swissnex Singapore supported the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangkok with their knowledge on Swiss Universities and study programs at the OCSC International Education Expo. The swissnex-EPFL Asian Day was held at the EPFL Rolex Learning Center in Lausanne where strategy and ongoing projects of swissnex Singapore in the fields of education, research and entrepreneurship were presented. The touring exhibition The Swiss Touch in Landscape Architecture curated by Swiss Landscape Architect Michael Jakob was showcased at the National University of Singapore. A cultural perspective on China’s environmental issues was provided by Prof. Andrea Riemenschnitter, Chair Professor of Modern Chinese Studies at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies in the University of Zurich, during the talk on ‘Nation remains, mountains and rivers destroyed?’ at the Swiss Club during an UZH Alumni evening. Numerous get-togethers of the Alumni Club of HEC Lausanne were held to welcome new members and strengthen the network. The informal networking sessions were also opportunities to brainstorm on future activities. The second Swiss Alumni Event was organized on the occasion of the visit of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) President Prof. Patrick Aebischer, who was in Singapore to strengthen relations with local academic and research institutes, as well as provide insights into the strategic developments of EPFL.
“Merci pour tout ce que vous avez fait pour nous durant notre récent séjour à Singapour. Je suis enthousiaste à l’idée de significativement augmenter la présence de l’EPFL à Singapour.” Patrick Aebischer President, EPFL
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highlights
Science & Technology The Asia Pacific Neurorehabilitation Symposium and Swiss MedTech Night were coorganized by Hocoma, a major rehabilitation player, within the context of Rehab Tech Asia. Prof. Soldati-Favre, from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva, provided insights on Access to an Intracellular Niche: The Apicomplexan Way within the context of the Human Genome Meeting and International Congress of Genetics 2013. Following previous successful Swiss-Singapore Workshops on Microfludics, the stakeholders joined forces to organize a mirror event in Basel, which hosted prominent industry leaders. Attendees had the opportunity to share critical insights and latest updates in the global microfluidics industry. For the second consecutive year, a live-streamed Swiss Re event was held at the Value Lab Asia of the Singapore-ETH Centre. Experts shared their findings and perspectives on translational medicine with a focus on selected diseases. Swiss cleantech activities and related Swiss institutes were highlighted during the CleanTech Marketplace Forum and Singapore-Swiss Cleantech Networking Evening 2013 organized by the Global Cleantech Clusters Association (GCCA) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), presented a two-day workshop conference on The Future of Asian Airports engaging researchers and aviation stakeholders studying the contemporary developments in civil aviation that are changing the operations of Asian airports. Prof. Burkhard Becher, Director of the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich, presented his research during an UZH Alumni Evening on the complex topic of the immune system, The Immune System: Friend or Foe?
“Nous avons vraiment été impressionnés par le succès et la qualité des gens présents. Nous vous remercions très chaleureusement d’avoir rendu possible ce succès.” David Deperthes Vice President BD & L, Debiopharm International S.A., CEO, Debiopharm Diagnostics S.A. 10
swissnex singapore 2013
Debiopharm Group S.A. is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with activities primarily focused on research and drug development in oncology, immunology, metabolism, and infectious diseases. During a lunch presentation on Partnerships in Drug Discovery and Development as Key Success Driver for Pharma Industry, executives at Debiopharm SA presented their innovative business model based on partnerships among stakeholders. This formed the basis of exchange among participants, including CEOs from various institutes of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
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highlights
Entrepreneurship & Innovation The Business Model Canvas was presented by Yves Pigneur, co-author of the book and professor at HEC Lausanne, providing a networking opportunity for the HEC Alumni community. Director of the School of Management Fribourg, Prof. Rico Baldegger shared his extensive expertise in entrepreneurship, internationalization of SMEs and reorganization of family businesses during his presentation on Entrepreneurship, the Swiss Way. Co-founder of Actigenomics and Visiting Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine of the Nanyang Technological University, Prof. Walter Wahli gave a talk on Nutrigenomics – Customized nutrition to prevent diseases? Attolight, a spin-off from EPFL, introduced the cathodoluminescence tool during a workshop on Semiconductor Characterization and Failure Analysis jointly organized with the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technologies (SIMTech). Entrepreneur’s Lunches were organized in collaboration with IMD, where Switzerlandbased entrepreneurs, including Thierry Weber from breew and Michel Huguenin from Planitswiss, together with Singapore-based businessmen, shared their experience on doing business in Singapore. The sessions engaged the theme “Starting, Managing & Investing in New Businesses in Singapore” and allowed the newcomers from Switzerland to connect to the well-established IMD networks in Singapore. A conducive networking environment boosted the entrepreneurial spirit at the Seedstars World: the Worldwide Startup Competition, a Swiss-based initiative, where promising startups pitched their ideas in front of a jury for a chance to compete internationally. Swisslitho, a Swiss-based spin-off from ETH Zurich presented the Nanofrazor, a new lithography tool for nanofabrication, during a workshop held within the framework of the Nanotoday conference at Biopolis.
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swissnex singapore 2013
Photos courtesy of Capital on Stage. Copyright Š2013
Capital on Stage: The Funding Conference, the unconventional invitation-only conference originating from Switzerland, came to Singapore in September. Previously held in four other major cities, the event gave the opportunity to investors to pitch themselves to the finest tech startup founders who were seeking funding. The pitching sessions were followed by founder-investor meetings. This was an opportunity to increase visibility of Swiss-made entrepreneurship in Singapore.
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highlights
Art Driven by interdisciplinary initiatives, the ETH Zurich-based Digital Art Weeks International (DAW) Festival 2013 bridged arts, science and technology with a focus on “a culture of sustainability” applied to the context of Singapore. The two weeks programme fostered the exchange between Europe and Asia, Singapore-based cultural communities, stakeholders from the swissnex network, as well as Swiss and international communities in Singapore. The diversified program included, among others, a symposium on sustainability with international experts from different disciplines, a forum on innovation, a public exhibition on augmented reality in the city centre, an open exhibition at the prestigious ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, including workshops and performances with Swiss and international artists, as well as various smaller exhibitions at Singaporean galleries.
“I would like to thank everybody for the commitment, passion and above all for the work done to make today’s press conference a success. It was thought provoking and a certain touch of elegance was brought in by teamwork. We believe it will bring visibility to all our partners and more importantly to the Festival which we are already very proud of. Thank you!” Monica Rut Communication & Social Media, DAW International 14
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highlights
End of Year Event The annual swissnex End of Year Event was held to thank partners and supporters for the past and ongoing collaborations. The evening’s activities were an opportunity for key Swiss players and their local partners to showcase their activities. This included the MIRALab of University of Geneva-Institute for Media Innovation of Nanyang Technological University, the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia (SGI) and Creaholic. Various swissnex activities were highlighted and a glimpse of the future undertakings was hinted. The major highlight of the evening was Prof. Nadia Thalmann’s introduction of her humanoid robot, which interacted with guests via live video streaming. Drama performances by students of Lasalle College of the Arts infused the evening with festive cheer during impromptu intervals.
“Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening yesterday. I really enjoyed meeting interesting people and of course had a fantastic time! Thank you for bringing the best of Switzerland under one roof here in Singapore!” Aparna Dogra Senior Vice President, Temasek Management services
“Your events are always fantastic and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities to hear excellent speakers and meet/network with a wide variety of fascinating people.” Andrew Glass Trader, ANZ
“Belated thanks and congratulations for a wonderful event! I wanted to let you know that the
evening was most enjoyable, with its creatively planned programme and excellent speakers.”
Aileen Bong Deputy Director of International Relations Office, National University of Singapore
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visits
Visits to Singapore A delegation led by State Councillor Anne-Catherine Lyon, Head of Department of Education and Youth Development of the State of Vaud, and formed by the Director of the Board of Higher Education (DGES), the Rector of the University of Lausanne and Directors of the Universities of Applied Sciences of the State of Vaud visited Singapore for one week. Their program included meetings with institutions of higher learning and government agencies, and aimed to develop strategic alliances between the Swiss stakeholders and their Singaporean partners. State Councillor Beat Vonlanthen, Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Fribourg, and his economic and academic delegation visited Singapore with the goal of learning more about the Singaporean entrepreneurship and innovation landscapes as well as introducing the blueFACTORY project. An academic delegation from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne (HSLU) mandated swissnex Singapore to connect them with academic partners and explore potential collaborations in the fields of engineering, architecture and innovation.
“I am very pleased to learn about the relevant and innovative projects you build for the benefit of Swiss Academic Institutions. I appreciate your offering our Universities of Applied Sciences the best tools to connect with Singaporean High Level Institutions (...) I wish you every success for empowering Swiss students to help them imagine the future with international challenges.” Anne-Catherine Lyon State Councillor, State of Vaud
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Visits to Switzerland Chairman Lim Chuan Poh and his A*STAR delegation visited education institutions as well as government agencies and industry representatives in Switzerland to nurture brainstorming in view of the next Science and Technology Plan. The President of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Prof. Tan Thiam Soon and his delegation visited the State of Vaud to get an overview of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences. The delegation visited the School of Management and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD) and the University of Health Sciences (HESAV). The Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) in Switzerland welcomed a delegation led by the Singapore Minister for Education, Mr. Heng Swee Keat. The two days visit was the occasion to learn more about the Swiss dual education system as well as the implication of the government, companies and education institutions in this unique learning model. A delegation from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) led by Ms. Iris Seet, Senior Divisional Director for Curriculum & Educational Development Division attended a study trip to Europe. The delegation spent time in Switzerland in order to deepen their understanding of the Swiss apprenticeship model and discuss with specialists of this field.
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media & communication
swissnex Singapore updates its global network on upcoming activities via the quarterly newsletter with a dedicated video that highlights a main event for the quarter. Research and innovation news from Singapore are contributed monthly to the Science-Asia/Oceania newsletter together with other swissnexes and Swiss Science & Technology Offices in Asia and Australia. Engagement via various social media channels provides updates on the science and innovation landscapes in Switzerland and Singapore, allowing opportunities for interaction beyond borders. Follow our new blog where we take some more personal perspective on life in Singapore and check our media web page for the media coverage.
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swissnex singapore 2013
finances
2013
SERI OPERATING
CHF 380,000
SERI PROJECTS
CHF 81,900
THIRD PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS
CHF163,930
3rd party projects cash 3rd party projects in-kind
CHF 72,630 CHF 91,300
TOTAL: CHF 625,830
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partners & sponsors
swissnex Singapore partners with a variety of stakeholders, namely institutions of higher learning, research institutes, economic promoters, governmental offices, business associations as well as consulting services. swissnex Singapore is a member of the Swiss Business Association and the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. The Board of Higher Education of the State of Vaud (DGES) pursued its mandate of having a dedicated project manager hosted at - and shared with - swissnex Singapore to establish and deepen academic relations with partners in Singapore in the fields of music, health, teacher’s education, public administration, computer science and engineering. Following collaborations between swissnex Boston and Swiss Re in 2011, the mandate was extended to Singapore in 2012 and 2013. The conference “Life & Health R&D Forum Singapore: translational medicine in focus” took place at the SingaporeETH Center (SEC). Swiss Re envisages pursuing this close cooperation in future events. HEC Lausanne, Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne, has fruitfully collaborated with swissnex Singapore since 2011. To further cultivate this rewarding partnership, swissnex Singapore continuously hosts HEC students for an academic internship as HEC junior ambassadors, who gain experience during their involvement in projects and visit organization, as well as HEC brand building. The School of Management Fribourg (HEG Fribourg) is a leading institution for research and teaching in management, entrepreneurship and internationalization. Continued collaboration with swissnex Singapore facilitates construction of synergies towards improving efficiency and international opportunity-recognition for future research and universities partnership throughout South-East Asia. Since April 2013, a junior ambassador from HEG is part of the team.
“swissnex has a reputation for excellence and your commitment in providing opportunities to various stakeholders which is near and dear to my heart. Personally, I have benefitted greatly from swissnex through its sponsorship for my French Language immersion at the University of Geneva.” Mega Hairiani Student at National University of Singapore, exchange student at the University of Geneva
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swissnex singapore 2013
Actigenomics
National University of Singapore
Swisslitho
Attolight
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases
UBS AG
Audemars Piguet
Planitswiss Sàrl
breew
Presence Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne (HSLU)
Capital On Stage
Pro Helvetia
Creaholic
Roche Translational Hub
Debiopharm Group
Seedstars
Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, A*STAR
Experimental Therapeutics Centre, A*STAR Exploit Technologies Private Limited, A*STAR Graduate Institute of International Studies (IHEID)
Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC) St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia (SGI) Swiss Business Association (SBA)
Hocoma AG
Swiss Clean Tech Cluster
International Institute for Management Development (IMD Business School)
Swiss Dreams Singapore
Lasalle College of the Arts Nanyang Technological University National Medical Research Council Singapore
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) University of Applied Sciences Bern University of Applied Sciences Zurich (ZHAW) University of Basel University of Bern University of Fribourg University of Geneva University of Lausanne University of Liechtenstein University of Lugano
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich)
University of Neuchâtel
Swiss Re
University of Zurich
University of St.Gallen
“Once again, many thanks for the perfect organisation of our week visiting Universities and Education institutions in Singapore.” Conrad Briguet Director, School of Engineering at Changins
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partners & sponsors
Swiss Advisory Board Mauro Dell’Ambrogio State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Philipp Egger Executive Director, Gebert Rüf Stiftung Dania Gerhardt Co-Founder, Head Operations, Amazee Labs Giancarlo Kessler Head of Political Division V, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Thierry Lombard Senior Partner, Lombard Odier & Cie Antonio Loprieno President, Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities Mauro Moruzzi Ambassador, Head International Relations, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation Tiana Moser National Councillor, Green Liberal Party Nicola Rohrseitz CEO, President of the Board of Directors, ViSSee AG Walter Steinlin President, Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) Martin Vetterli President, Swiss National Science Foundation
Local Advisory Board Patrick Aebischer President, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) Bertil Andersson President, Nanyang Technological University Peter Edwards Director, Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC) Soo Boon Koh Managing Partner, iGlobe Partners Alex Matter CEO, Experimental Therapeutic Centre (ETC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Nico de Rooij Director, Institute of Microengineering IMT, EPFL Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) James Soh Executive Director, National Youth Achievement Award Council 24
swissnex singapore 2013
Swiss community in Singapore The Swiss Business Hub ASEAN (SBH) is responsible for promoting Switzerland as a business location abroad in addition to advising small and medium-sized Swiss companies intending to develop international activities in Southeast Asia. SBH has been a major partner in the organization of the successful Swiss Education Fair. The Swiss Business Association brings together representatives of Swiss companies, to facilitate networking and exchange of information. swissnex Singapore, being a member of the association, has made numerous events open to its members. The Swiss Association aims to create a network within the growing Swiss community in Singapore and acts as the connection between other Swiss organizations and the Swiss community. Several swissnex Singapore events have been organised at the Swiss Club and advertised or reported in the Relax magazine, which reaches out to the Swiss Club members. swissnex Singapore facilitates talks and visits at the Swiss School for iconic events and gets assistance from the school in matters related to primary/secondary education in Switzerland. Switzerland Tourism has a regional office in Singapore promoting tourism to Switzerland within the ASEAN region. St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia (SGI) is a subsidiary of the University of St.Gallen offering Asia-related academic activities, while at the same time maintaining the dynamic HSG alumni network. Collaborative efforts involved co-organisation of various events and talks, development of academic partnerships with local players and facilitating exchange and executive programs. The Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC) was established in Singapore in 2010 as a collaboration between the National Research Foundation of Singapore and ETH Zurich. The institution frames a number of research programmes, the first of which is the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL). Since its opening, it has engaged in various collaborative efforts with swissnex Singapore.
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team
Suzanne Hraba-Renevey, Founder and CEO Sébastien Monnet, Executive Coordinator and Junior Ambassador HEG Fribourg Jessica Ulloa, Project Manager and Representative Board of Higher Education, Canton of Vaud Nurulhuda Izyan, Communications Officer Academic Interns and Junior Ambassadors Anina Albonico, Social Sciences, University of Zurich Samy Bensalem, Business Administration, University of Geneva Didier Eggel, Business Administration, University of St.Gallen Gabriele Farei, Finance, HEC Lausanne Laure-Anne Graf, Management, HEC Lausanne Claudia Piwecki, Cultural Studies and Sociolinguistics, University of Basel Kathrin Schwarz, Culture Analysis, University of Zurich Peter Stutz, International Affairs and Governance, University of St.Gallen Rebecca Zay, International Hospitality Management, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
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swissnex singapore 2013
“My time here in Singapore has unfortunately come to an end and I will be leaving swissnex today. This internship has been a fantastic opportunity for me and I really enjoyed working with everyone here at swissnex and at the Embassy. Thank you for the great experience, I will miss the friendly atmosphere here!� Anina Albonico Junior Project Manager, swissnex Singapore 27
outlook
2014 will mark the tenth anniversary of swissnex Singapore! A key celebration of this milestone, graced by our State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, will be held in June with interdisciplinary activities highlighting or nurturing collaborations between various stakeholders from Singapore and Switzerland. University of Zurich will have its first junior ambassador in swissnex Singapore to tighten the alumni network and entrench the university’s identity in Singapore. Bilateral discussions continue between Singapore and Switzerland over vocational education and apprenticeships. swissnex will be happy to support this learning process and sharing of expertise. The upcoming visits of students and faculty as part of the Summer University program organised by the Board of Higher Education of the State of Vaud (DGES) will be one of the highlights of the academic activities. Swiss innovation will be showcased at the Swiss Pavilion during the biennial Singapore International Water Week and World Cities Summit, where government leaders, industry experts and innovators will gather to engage the theme of creating a sustainable society. The innovative-entrepreneurial vigour will overarch a number of our activities, thriving on the momentum of the increasing interest from Swiss start-ups to make Singapore their hub in Asia. We look forward to your engagement in our activities, building up together strong communities and enabling networks! The swissnex Singapore Team
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swissnex singapore 2013
swissnex singapore 60 Biopolis Street, #01-01/02 Genome, Singapore 138672 t: +65 6774 9360 f: +65 6774 9365 www.swissnexsingapore.org