Switzerland will have an ad hoc ambassador for the… science

For the first time, the Federal Council has appointed a special representative for scientific diplomacy in the person of High Representative Alexandre Fasel

New technologies are also becoming increasingly important for foreign policy: what opportunities does digitization offer and which areas require regulation?
With International Geneva, Switzerland has a platform for dialogue between science and diplomacy.
In order to strengthen the role of the city on the shore of Lake Geneva as a hub of digital governance, the Federal Council has appointed for the first time a special representative for science diplomacy in the person of Ambassador Alexandre Fasel.

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Digitization is increasingly becoming a foreign policy issue, and this is for two reasons.
First of all, it is a question of how to exploit new technologies, which have great potential and create new opportunities, but also raise new questions that society must answer.
For example, whether there is a need to introduce new regulations for the use of these technologies in order to protect privacy, and how the risks associated with cybercrime can be limited.

“Understanding science,” remains the must for Ignazio Cassis.

It is then necessary to connect two worlds: that of science and that of diplomacy. “You have to understand science and know diplomacy to open new paths,” said Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in a speech at the University of St. Gallen in May 2019.
The goal is to combine the strengths of both to develop new approaches to the problems that new technologies raise.
The importance of digitization for foreign policy was also recently emphasized by the Federal Council, which adopted the Digital Foreign Policy Strategy 2021-2024 in early November 2020, after digitization had already been included among the thematic priorities of the Foreign Policy Strategy 2020-2023.

How to develop digital foreign policy

With its digital foreign policy strategy, Switzerland now has an appropriate framework for defending its interests and values outside of “physical space”.
These interests and values also apply in the digital space. Switzerland is therefore committed to a free, open, and secure digital space, based on international law and focusing on people and their needs.

The ‘Digital Foreign Policy Strategy 2021-2024’ volume 

In concrete terms, this involves strengthening the profile of the Swiss Confederation in the area of digital governance, developing digital foreign policy, and supporting the establishment of International Geneva as a focal point for discussions on digitization and technology.
The Digital Foreign Policy Strategy gives concrete form to these objectives – and with the appointment of the Special Representative for Science Diplomacy, the Federal Council is taking an important step towards the desired strengthening of Geneva’s position in this area.

A special representative for scientific diplomacy

The Special Envoy will be tasked with enhancing scientific diplomacy and promoting digitization as integral parts of Swiss foreign policy, and especially with harnessing the potential of international Geneva in these areas.
Geneva is already home to several organizations and companies that have considerable expertise in science and new technologies.
The new Special Representative for Science Diplomacy should strengthen the collaboration between the various actors of the scientific and economic world and representatives of state and multilateral institutions as well as civil society, thus reinforcing Geneva’s role as a center for digital governance.

Messaggio concernente la modifica della legge federale sulla innovazione (In italian)
Decreto federale sul finanziamento delle attività di Innosuisse (in Italian)
Legge federale sulla promozione della ricerca e dell’innovazione (In Italian)

With Ambassador Alexandre Fasel, the Federal Council has appointed an established expert from international Geneva as its first Special Representative for Scientific Diplomacy.
Between 2013 and 2016, Ambassador Alexandre Fasel was head of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.