Ministers from south-eastern Europe, visiting Bern to meet their opposite number, Ignazio Cassis (centre). | Image: Alessandro della Valle/Keystone

In the Western Balkans, eight countries have come together to set up the first-ever large-scale research infrastructure in the region: the ‘South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies’ (SEEIIST). The EUR 200 million needed are due to come from the EU. Switzerland is supporting the project by helping to set up its administrative structures and by organising the international tender for the site of the new institution.

“As an innovative country and home to a large scientific community, Switzerland has the necessary assets and credibility”.Ignazio Cassis

This is also the launch of Switzerland’s new foreign policy strategy in which science diplomacy is intended to play a major part. “As an innovative country and home to a large scientific community, Switzerland has the assets and credibility to play this facilitating role”, said Switzerland’s Vice President Ignazio Cassis at a SEEIIST meeting in Bern earlier this month.

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