Switzerland and Japan have continued to enjoy a long cooperative relationship in research and development for many years. To increase the scientific collaboration between Switzerland and Japan, Swiss Vice-President Pascal Couchepin visited Japan to sign the Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology. This agreement is intended as a door opener leading to more cooperation. The Strategic International Cooperative Program has been signed as part of this new agreement.

Switzerland is following a cooperative strategy focusing on priority countries, where Japan plays an important role. The idea is to create an exchange of traditions in the fields of science and technology, increasing common research projects and exchange programs under the umbrella of the newly concluded Science Agreement. There is a strong belief that the Science Agreement will generate many positive effects for our future bilateral cooperation.

 Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Swiss Federal Council on Cooperation in Science and Technology: State Secretariat for Education and Science

 Strategic International Cooperative Program: Japan Science and Technology Agency

• The Swiss funding organization for R&D, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and its counterpart Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) have an agreement to jointly support Swiss-Japanese scientific seminars: Under the current agreement, 4 joint seminars can be organized annually (2 in Japan, 2 in Switzerland).
• Approximately 20 Swiss researchers are staying in Japan for more than 2 months at universities or national laboratories as part of exchange schema.
  

 Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

On the education side, over 30 agreements between Swiss and Japanese universities are proof of ongoing good collaboration. The latest agreements have been concluded between University of Geneva and Keio, and between University of Basel and Dokkyo. In 2007, the Hosei University European Research Centre Zurich (HERZ) opened its doors. The new centre will support visiting Japanese researchers and bilateral research cooperation and conduct research on the management of international academic exchange. It will further develop international educational programs in collaboration with Hosei’s partner universities in Switzerland, the ETH Zurich and the University of St. Gallen. The University of Tokyo has also just recently opened its lab at the EPFL with the financial support of a major Japanese company. In contrary, EPFL will open a lab at the University of Tokyo.

• EMPA and NIMS are two material science research institutes that have an agreement for bilateral cooperation.
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, and SPring-8 (synchrotron radiation facility), in Hyogo Japan, have an agreement for bilateral cooperation.
• NEC - Swiss Center for Scientific Computing have an agreement for research cooperation.

 EMPA
 NIMS
 Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
 SPring-8
 NEC
 CSCS, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre

• Professor Kurt Wüthrich from ETHZ (Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich) was awarded the Kyoto Prize in 1998 for his achievements in the field of biotechnology and medical technology.
• Professor Walter J. Gehring from University of Basel received the Kyoto Prize 2000 for his study in molecular biology.
• Dr. Heinrich Rohrer, a Swiss Nobel Laureate for Physics 1986 was given JSPS Award for Eminent Scientists in 2002. The purpose of this award is to associate directly with younger Japanese researchers so as to mentor, stimulate and inspire them to greater attainments.
• Jean-Maie Rayroux received the MEXT Minister's Commendation for Meritorious Service in the Field of International Exchange in 2004
• Prof. Christian Göldi, Award for River Construction in 2005
• Professor Hans Leuenberger, UniBS. Japanese Award on Powder Technology 2005
• iSHONi Ltd. is the Swiss company that was the Component Of The Year 2006 Grand Prix winner. It is the world’s most prestigious HiFi Award.

 Professor Kurt Wüthrich: ETHZ
 The Kyoto Prize: Inamori Foundation
 Dr. Heinrich Rohrer: The Nobel Fondation

Switzerland and Japan are actively involved in multi-lateral cooperation as well, through various international scientific projects such as:

•  CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)
•  ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)
•  HFSP (Human Frontier Science Program)
•  IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Program)
•  IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing System)
•  IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program)
•  ISS (International Space Station)
•  ESO (European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere)
•  OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
•  UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)