The two delegations spent Monday 25 February in Geneva, where they met representatives of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the Deputy Secretary General responsible for economic affairs of the Geneva Economic and Development Agency. The purpose of these exchanges was to explain the Swiss approach to innovation, where one factor underpinning Switzerland’s success is the autonomy of the Federal Institutes of Technology as well as an extremely good level of cooperation among all players. SERI also introduced the innovation promotion agency, Innosuisse, which provides 75% of its financial support directly to innovative SMEs. As for the canton of Geneva, it has a wide range of tools to support the promising new businesses and help them develop. In 2018, it provided CHF 10 million to support young startups in incubation. As an expert in this field, Jacques-André Maire (NC), a member of the National Council Science, Education and Culture Committee, also participated in the discussions. All the participants recognised the importance of the geographical proximity between industry and academia in finding a skilled workforce and in facilitating the transfer of innovation from research into practice. SERI accepted that Switzerland could not compete with Chinese and American investment in innovation, but added that our country was an important player in the niches where we excel and surpass some of our main competitors.
The two delegations also had the opportunity to discuss eHealth with Professor Antoine Geissbuhler, Head Physician of the eHealth and Telemedicine Division of the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). Prof Geissbuhler outlined the various challenges ahead in eHealth and noted that the electronic health records project was progressing well, but that care had to be taken in view of data sensitivity issues. He also welcomed the legislative progress in this field in France.
The afternoon was devoted to visiting the Human Brain Project, a project initiated by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). First, the delegations were received by Mr Stéphane Decoutère, the EPFL President’s delegate for government affairs. They were impressed by the EPFL’s digital shift and its many online MOOC (massive open online) courses taken all over the world, in which 33% of students are Francophiles. The delegations then visited the Centre of Neuroprosthetics, where Bruno Heberlin, assistant to the director of the Centre, presented the various projects which the Centre is working on, including their latest success, a means of stimulating the spinal cord that allows paraplegics to regain the use of their legs. The implementation of this project is now being supported by Suva (the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund); a good example of successful innovation transfer. Finally, the delegations visited Open Deck, a 3D visualisation platform that provides a computer simulation of how our brains work. This highly innovative tool allows us to analyse the stimulation of the neural brain cells by using computing power instead of testing on humans and animals.
On the evening of 25 February 2019, the delegations were received by Hans Stöckli (SP/BE), Vice President of the Council of States. He praised the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries and welcomed the opportunity to receive the senators as friends in Bern.
The delegations spent Tuesday 26 February in Zurich. In the morning, they visited the Google research centre to learn more about artificial intelligence. After a brief introduction to the culture of Google, which has experienced a massive increase in staff over the last 15 years; from just 2 to more than 2,500 employees hailing from 85 different countries, the delegations learned (with varying degrees of success) how Google Assistant works through deep learning, which was the central theme of their visit. The head of research presented the many applications of A.I., some of which will benefit all of humanity. According to the head of research, A.I. is still far from surpassing human intelligence but it can, in specific situations, support humans, for example by assisting doctors in their research into genetic diseases. In addition, A.I. is to software programmes what aviation was to travel. A.I. boasts enormous potential for development in view of the smartphone boom (5 billion people will have a smartphone by 2020). In keeping with Rabelais’ maxim, «science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul», the French senators also called on Google to work with philosophers in a bid to set the lines that must not be crossed in terms of A.I. The visit was wrapped up with a tour of the company premises.
The delegations then visited the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) for a meeting with its president, Joël Mesot. He thanked Parliament for its support for science and research, but also noted that the challenges ahead related to training were alarming. In addition, even though Switzerland has an excellent system of education and training, it is struggling to meet a growing demand. He was, however, pleased that the Swiss VPET system with its pathways allows Switzerland to guarantee top quality at all levels. Finally, Mr Mesot stressed that the Swiss system remains conservative with respect to investment in innovation compared to the United States, and that Parliament should consider amending the statutory provisions to facilitate investment and increase the rate of transfer of innovation in industry. Mr Fathi Derder, a member of the National Council, noted that members of parliament were very suspicious of science in general. Mrs Liliane Maury Pasquier, a member of the Council of States, added that since there were courses on how Parliament works for new members at the beginning of each legislature, why not offer science courses (a kind of technical training) to improve members’ understanding of the issue.
The members of parliament also visited the ETHZ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab where they had the opportunity to exchange views with the creators of start-ups. FenX and Oxara, two start-ups that have emerged from the ETHZ Pioneer Fellowship Programme, gave their ‘elevator pitch’ to the two delegations: FenX uses minerals (ash or clay for example) to create an innovative non-inflammable insulation material; Oxara has created a cement-free concrete, 2.5 times less expensive than ‘normalK concrete and 60 to 70% more environmentally friendly. The applications of these two start-ups hold potential for developing countries, due to their low production costs. The members of parliament from both delegations praised the two companies for their entrepreneurial courage and their ingenuity.
Given the excellent close relations between Switzerland and France, the delegations also took the opportunity to openly discuss bilateral and cross-border issues. The members of the French delegation asked their Swiss colleagues what they thought about the Citizen Initiated Referendum (RIC) called for by the yellow vests movement in France. The Swiss members of parliament replied that in Switzerland we make a distinction between contesting a bill (referendum) and proposing a bill (initiative). They pointed out that the Swiss consensus culture played an integral part in Switzerland’s political history. This is not necessarily the case in our neighbouring countries. The French delegates took the view that the Swiss system could be applied in France, but only at local level. The Swiss delegates sought clarification with regard to the cross-border health cooperation agreement and its adoption by the French National Assembly, which had many reservations about this agreement and had, in 2018, carried out a flash mission in Switzerland to clarify certain issues. However, although this mission has now been accomplished, the agreement has still not been adopted by the French National Assembly and has therefore not yet been sent to the Senate. The senators suggested that this agreement, much needed by many health professionals, was likely to be discussed in the Senate in May 2019. To be continued.
The French-Swiss friendship group of the Senate – which brings together senators from all parliamentary groups – was headed by the group’s president, Senator Ronan Le Gleut. He was accompanied by Senators Martine Berthet (Les Républicains, Savoie), Hugues Saury (Les Républicains, Loiret) and Christophe-André Frassa (Les Républicains, French citizens living outside of France).
The Swiss delegation consisted of its president, member of the Council of States Liliane Maury Pasquier (PS/GE), its vice president, member of the National Council Céline Amaudruz (UDC/GE), members of the National Council Fathi Derder (PLR/VD), Alice Glauser-Zufferey (UDC/VD), Yves Nidegger (UDC/GE) and Manuel Tornare (PS/GE) and member of the Council of States Olivier Français (PLR/VD).