Every August 1, Switzerland celebrates its founding as a Confederation. In the preamble of its Constitution, Switzerland mentions a simple yet profound guiding principle: “a spirit of solidarity and openness towards the world.” In the 21st century, these words carry renewed urgency. Solidarity and openness are no longer abstract ideals; they are strategic imperatives in an era where knowledge and innovation shape global power – and where crises such as climate change and antimicrobial resistance transcend borders.

This reality is prominently evident in the relationship between Switzerland and India – two democracies deeply invested in research and innovation. For decades, the scientific and academic ties between the two countries have been rich and productive. 

Researchers have collaborated across disciplines, labs have exchanged data and startups have explored new markets. But until recently, these interactions were largely ad hoc – driven by individual excellence rather than anchored in a shared strategic framework.

At Swissnex in India, we came to a clear realisation: the era of business-as-usual science diplomacy is over. The challenges we face demand something different – structures that defy convention. And in fact, Swissnex in India was built on that premise. 

It is a diplomatic representation which builds bridges between worlds – science and diplomacy, academia and industry, research and entrepreneurship. In an age where foreign policy is inseparable from technological foresight, such models are no longer curiosities. They are necessities.

The clearest argument for why this change matters is found in a material that is both prosaic and transformative: cement. Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), co-developed by Swiss and Indian researchers, emits up to 40% less CO₂ than conventional cement while outperforming it in durability. In a world hurtling toward climate breakdown, such innovation is not optional – it is essential. Yet, LC3’s significance lies not only in its technical properties. It is a case study in what happens when long-term vision meets deliberate coordination – a decade of structured collaboration, spanning institutions, funding cycles and policy environments, made this breakthrough possible.

What if LC3 were not an exception but a pattern?

This question prompted the launch of the Indo-Swiss Innovation Platform, designed to move beyond episodic cooperation and toward systemic alignment. The platform has served as a backbone, connecting actors, coordinating resources, and embedding science into the very architecture of diplomacy. Its outcomes are already visible: joint startup programmes in sectors such as assistive technology and space, high-level scientific missions and – perhaps most significantly – greater convergence between funding agencies and ministries in both countries.

The Indo-Swiss Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Dialogues exemplify this shift. Convened in 2023 and again in 2025, these dialogues addressed one of the most pressing global health challenges: the silent pandemic of AMR that claims millions of lives each year. Bringing together researchers, funding bodies and policymakers, these conversations produced actionable roadmaps and research priorities that are now shaping bilateral funding instruments.

These developments signal a move away from the fragmented model of the past toward a strategic compact grounded in trust, continuity and shared ambition. But they are also a starting point, not a destination.

The next phase demands more: more frequent joint research calls, a broader thematic scope encompassing emerging technologies and sustainability, and institutional mechanisms to ensure follow-through. The goal is not merely to replicate LC3 but to create the conditions for multiple such breakthroughs – innovations that address global challenges while advancing mutual prosperity.

This September’s Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Cooperation in Science and Technology offers the ideal platform to reinforce this trajectory. Its timing is significant: it comes just one month before the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association enters into force, signaling a new era of economic engagement. The JCM should complement this by embedding science and innovation as a strategic pillar of bilateral relations, aligning scientific collaboration with the same ambition that now underpins trade.

The stakes extend beyond Switzerland and India. In a multipolar world where scientific and technological capabilities increasingly shape geopolitical influence, agile bilateral partnerships can become laboratories for multilateral innovation. The Indo-Swiss experience suggests a quietly radical proposition: that by investing in platforms, not just projects, countries can punch above their weight in addressing challenges that no nation can tackle alone.

Science diplomacy, in short, is no longer a soft accessory to foreign policy. It is a strategic necessity. And strategy, as LC3 demonstrates, is about more than intent; it is about staying the course – aligning vision with resources, partnerships with systems, and ambition with action.

The coming months and years will test whether this promise can be realised. 

The JCM is an opportunity to institutionalise what has begun, to scale it, and to send a clear signal: the future of Indo-Swiss scientific cooperation is not incremental. It is transformative.

Jonas Brunschwig is the CEO of Swissnex in India and the Consul general of Switzerland in Bengaluru.

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