Science, Technology and Higher Education Section
The Science, Technology and Education Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in India contributes to strengthening bilateral relations between Switzerland and India in education, research and innovation.
It supports bilateral policy dialogue, contributes to the development and implementation of cooperation frameworks, agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and funding instruments, and follows developments in India’s education, research and innovation landscape to inform Swiss stakeholders and decision-makers. It also promotes Switzerland’s education, research and innovation landscape in India. It represents Switzerland at relevant governmental and institutional events and facilitates exchanges with key stakeholders.
The Science, Technology and Education Section is also part of the global Swissnex network, funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). It works closely with Swissnex in India, based in Bengaluru.
Bilateral Cooperation Framework
Switzerland and India maintain a long-standing partnership in science and technology. Their cooperation is based on the 2003 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which provides the framework for joint activities, funding mechanisms, and structured collaboration.
Regular Joint Committee Meetings review progress, define strategic priorities, and guide the further development of bilateral instruments and initiatives.
Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme (ISJRP)
The Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme (ISJRP) is a central instrument of bilateral cooperation. It supports the implementation of joint calls, facilitates institutional collaboration, and contributes to the development of sustainable cooperation structures. It is jointly implemented by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Indian partner ministries and agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and other relevant line ministries.
Swiss Leading House
The Swiss Leading House South Asia, mandated by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), supports cooperation between Switzerland and South Asia, including India. It provides complementary instruments to promote knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and innovation cooperation.
Study in Switzerland
Switzerland offers a high-quality and internationally recognised higher education system in a multilingual and multicultural environment. Its institutions include academic universities, universities of applied sciences, and universities of teacher education. Programmes are offered at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in German, French, Italian and English. Further information:
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
The Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation with over 180 countries, including India. The scholarships are administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS). The next call for applications (academic year 2027) will open in August 2026. Further information: