Supporting collaboration of the Scottish and Swiss innovation ecosystems

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences are delighted to jointly host and co-organise this webinar on Scotland-Switzerland innovation ecosystems. The discussion aims to reach out to academics, practitioners, students, industry and the wider public to bring further awareness and understanding to help foster Scotland-Switzerland collaborations.

Scotland is a forward-looking and vibrant country that supports an excellent start-up ecosystem with world-class universities at the centre. University-driven innovation is uniquely supported by connecting Scotland’s world-leading researchers and businesses. Our innovation centres and related hubs provide industry know-how, specialist research, new skillsets, and sources of funding.

Switzerland regularly tops international innovation rankings on the basis of scientific excellence and strong high-tech industries. University spinouts have a track record of achieving unicorn status or high-value exits and fuel a strong deep-tech environment which also includes global corporations. The Swiss government supports business university collaboration and strengthens the ecosystem via thematic networks and start-up coaching.

Join us virtually for an insightful discussion to learn more about the current Scottish and Swiss innovation ecosystems, hear about successful case studies, and discuss support for collaboration and potential synergies that can strengthen both countries’ innovation power.

10:00 | Welcome by RSE, Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom and Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences

• Professor Jeremy Peat FRSE, Vice President Business, Royal Society of Edinburgh
• Ambassador Markus Leitner, Embassy of Switzerland in the UK
• Professor Marcel Tanner, President of Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences

Overview of the innovation landscapes

10:10 | Scotland: Dr Olga Kozlova FRSE, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement, University of Strathclyde

10:20 | Switzerland: Daniel Egloff, Head of Innovation, Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

What support is out there and how do we link innovation internationally?

10:30 | Switzerland: Marc Pauchard, Head Knowledge Transfer & International Collaborations, Innosuisse

10:45 | Scotland: Alasdair Macleod, Head of Innovation, Scottish Government

Successful case study

11:00 | Scotland: Dr Elaine Baxter, Founder & Director of Boutique Innovations

11:15 | Switzerland: turning research into innovation [TBC]

Panel discussion

11:30 | Panel discussion

11:55 | Thank you from RSE, Embassy of Switzerland and Swiss Academies representatives.

12:00 | Supporting collaboration of the Scottish and Swiss innovation ecosystems webinar ends