Switzerland and Brazil deepen their cooperation in education, research and innovation
Bern, 17.03.2026 — On 16 March, the seventh meeting of the Switzerland–Brazil Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation took place in Bern. The aim was to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in these areas and to set future priorities.
State Secretary Martina Hirayama opened the meeting, which was chaired on the Swiss side by Ambassador Jacques Ducrest, Head of the International Relations Division of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The Brazilian delegation was led by the Brazilian Ambassador to Switzerland, Maria Luisa Escorel de Moraes, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. In addition to government officials, the meeting was also attended by research and innovation funding organisations as well as by research and innovation stakeholders from both countries.
Meeting participants focused on strategic planning in science, technology and innovation, examined ways to further develop joint funding instruments and explored future avenues for cooperation. They also took stock of activities carried out since the last meeting in Brasília in 2024. The next meeting of the Joint Committee is scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2028.
Brazil is Switzerland's leading partner in Latin America in terms of the number of collaborations with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Between 2019 and 2024, the SNSF funded a total of around 200 projects involving Brazil. Innosuisse, the University of St. Gallen – as the federal government's Leading House for cooperation with Latin America – and Swissnex also play a significant role in strengthening Swiss-Brazilian cooperation.