The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Geneva science-diplomacy project gets more government backing

science laboratory work
Keystone / Gaetan Bally

The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), a project that aims to pre-empt the societal impacts of technological change, has won the financial support of the Swiss government for the next 10 years.

After a three-year pilot phase, the foundation has “carved out its profile in International Geneva as an important global governance player”, the government wrote on FridayExternal link.

As such, it has pledged to finance GESDA with a further CHF3 million ($3.27 million) per year for 10 years, starting in 2023. This will cover one-third of the foundation’s costs, with backing also expected from authorities in Geneva. A similar decision by the cantonal government is pending, the government said.

GESDA works in various areas on the intersection of science and diplomacy, with an overall goal “to strengthen the impact and innovation capacity of the international community through scientific and diplomatic anticipation”.

More

To do this, it works in the areas of “anticipation” (drawing up reports of the most important scientific and technology trends), “acceleration” (promoting dialogue between scientists, diplomacy, business, and philanthropy), and “implementation” (supporting science-based projects to achieve the 2030 UN sustainable development goals).

In October 2021, it hosted its first summit, bringing together 900 people from around the world.

On Friday, the government maintained the arguments made by foreign minister Ignazio Cassis at the creation of the foundation in 2019, saying that it also establishes a hub for science diplomacy and boosts the visibility of International Geneva.

Popular Stories

News

Thun awarded "Swiss Football Home" football campus

More

Swiss football cluster will be built in Thun

This content was published on The new "Swiss Football Home" football campus is being built in Thun. The centre, based on an international model, will include pitches for the senior national teams and the headquarters of the Swiss Football Association.

Read more: Swiss football cluster will be built in Thun
Majority of the population in Switzerland uses AI tools

More

Swiss AI

Majority of Swiss residents use AI tools

This content was published on AI tools like ChatGPT continue to gain ground in Switzerland: for the first time, a majority of the Swiss population is using them.

Read more: Majority of Swiss residents use AI tools
The Swiss want to be able to choose when to retire

More

Future of Work

Swiss workers want to choose when to retire

This content was published on Almost two-thirds of the Swiss population would like more freedom to choose their retirement age, according to a survey by Deloitte Switzerland.

Read more: Swiss workers want to choose when to retire
Myclimate cuts around ten per cent of jobs

More

Emissions reduction

Swiss carbon offset foundation to cut 10% of staff

This content was published on Myclimate will cut around 10% of its jobs by the end of the year. At the end of 2024, almost 200 employees were working for the foundation.

Read more: Swiss carbon offset foundation to cut 10% of staff

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR