According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, met with Mórudel Ambroggio, the secretary of the Switzerland government on education of research and innovation, evaluating the cooperation foundations of the two countries in the area of science and technology.

In this meeting, Sattari pointed out the necessity of development of startups between the two countries, stating: one of the significantly proper opportunities for cooperation of Iran with Switzerland is rotation of experts and startups and using both parties in these events and programs.

He added: Iran has the necessary tools for rotation of startups between the two countries and it eager to cooperate with research centers of this country.

According to the vice president for science and technology affairs, Iran is recognized in this field due to having a great number of young elites. Therefore, this large and God-given capacity must be properly used.

President of the national elites foundation pointed out that eagerness of Iran in development of a technology ecosystem, expressing: we have aimed to develop the ecosystem of entrepreneurship with the help of the young students of the country by increasing the number of parks and growth centers to lay the foundation for creating an environment for business and occupation of the youth.

He continued: the necessary ecosystem of entrepreneurship has been created to develop the business space in companies based in parks and growth centers.

In another part of his speech, Sattari asserted: Iran has efficient abilities in fields of stem cells, biotechnology, information and communication.

He continued: we have started cooperation with China, Russia and Austria in the field of technology, and it is decided to expand cooperation with Spain as well.

He pointed out the excess number of Iranians in Switzerland, stating: a significant number of Iranian students are studying in this country and experienced Iranian professors carry our scientific activities in this part of the world. This can be the relying point for development of cooperation between the two countries by exchanging experts.

Brain Drain Must Be Replaced with Circulation of Brains

During the bilateral meeting, Murodel Ambroigio, secretary of the Swiss government in education, research and innovation, expressed his excitement with the presence of a high number of Iranian activists in Zurich park (the largest and main technology center and institute of Switzerland), stating: two per 10 members of the center are originally from Switzerland and the rest are from other countries, which shows the preparedness of our country for effective cooperation with other countries.

He added: 65% of PhD students are not from Switzerland, which shows the preparedness of a platform for cooperation with other countries.

According to Ambroigio, there is a good potential for bilateral scientific and technological companies of the two countries, which must be used to our benefits.

He also expressed: the both countries can expand their academic cooperation, so that circulation of brains is created instead of brain drain.

Secretary of the Swiss delegation in education, research and innovation continued: our country is eager to have technological cooperation with Iran, especially in areas of technology ecosystem, startups, transfer of technology and circulation of brains and experts.

He also asserted: without a doubt, cooperation in the area of standards and receiving licenses for branding and marketing are among the most important fields of cooperation between the two countries.

Ambroigio pointed out that Iran is regarded as a unique opportunity for cooperation with Switzerland, affirming: one of the differences between Iran and other countries, such as China and Brazil, is that you can freely cooperate with their various institutes to carry our research, and there is no conventional government intermediations.

He recognized the defining of a new method for bilateral cooperation between the two countries a vital issue, expressing: we definitely agree that a new cooperation model must be prepared and interactions must be implemented at a faster pace instead of spending time and money on preparation of useless documents and memorandums of understanding.   

Secretary of the Swiss delegation in education, research and innovation, expressed his satisfaction with travel of the president of Iran to Switzerland, expressing: we hope that this travel be associated with improved bilateral cooperation of both countries and flourishing of interactions.

During this meeting, Ali Morteza Birang, deputy for international affairs and technological exchange, presented a report on previous cooperation of the two countries and meetings on technology, preparation and unveiling the UNCTAD report and scientific and technological progresses of Iran.

In addition, Mahmoud Sheikh Zeinoddin, secretary of the exhibition and deputy of science and technology department, pointed out that science and technology can be one of the aspects of bilateral interactions and cooperation between Iran and Switzerland. In this regard, he stated: the best cooperation model could be providing the foundation for activities of Iran, costs of 70% of which will be supplied by Iran.

He added: the second type of model could be using the abilities of Switzerland in the standardization and receiving international licenses, especially in the area of medicine and pharmacy.

In this meeting, Marcus Leitner, Swiss ambassador in Iran, pointed out the abilities of Swiss government and its access to spiritual property recording center and sufficient experience in the area of intellectual property, affirming: Switzerland has a strong potential to work with Iran in this field.

He added: we have seen companies and organizations that can help the investment and development of startup environment of Iran.

According to the ambassador of Switzerland, the Swiss president invited the president of Iran regardless of consideration of Americans and will welcome the president of Iran in the beginning of July. This meeting is very important for president of Switzerland.