swissnex San Francisco works on behalf of several external companies, organizations, and universities to fulfill a shared mission. For a list of Sponsors and Donors, click here. For a list of groups working in our office, click here.
Mandates
Nestle Innovation Partnerships
Nestle is interested in co-developing innovation. In 2007, Nestle’s Innovation Partnership Group, created to identify, evaluate, and bring added value through external innovation, opened an Innovation Desk at swissnex San Francisco. They mandated Birgit Coleman to identify strategic partnerships that innovate nutrition, health, and wellness.
CTI Start-up USA
swissnex San Francisco's Birgit Coleman and Gioia Deucher head the CTI Start-up USA program. CTI Start-up promotes the immediate benefits of science and technology brought to market by researchers and entrepreneurs. Read Coleman’s guide for CTI Start-up companies in the Silicon Valley here.
EPFL A3
A3 is the association that brings graduates of EPFL together from all departments and all degrees. The group allows alumni to stay in touch, both socially and professionally, and to stay connected to EPFL. It also publishes an online directory for its members, all of whom receive a lifetime e-mail address. In December, the association launched a joint program with swissnex San Francisco with the arrival of Simon Lépine, who began a six-month intensive effort to reconnect with EPFL graduates in North America, survey and update alumni information, and organize regional alumni events in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in the US.
Recently, swissnex attended an A3 general meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. See the video below.
Pro Helvetia
Pro Helvetia is a foundation under public law dedicated to promoting cultural endeavours of nationwide interest. Founded in 1939, it is funded by the Swiss Confederation. Its annual budget currently amounts to 34 million Swiss francs.
UZH Alumni
University of Zurich has a desk at swissnex San Francisco to bring together UZH Alumni on the West Coast and keep the informed about their alma mater and promote networking amongst alumni.
Learn more about recent UZH events in the Bay Area.
Universities of Applied Sciences
KFH encompasses the rectors of the eight universities of applied sciences which are acknowledged by the Swiss Confederation. The Conference was established in 1999 in order to represent the interests of the universities of applied sciences when dealing with the Confederation, the cantons and other institutions in charge of education and research policy as well as the public in general.
Former Mandates
World Knowledge Dialogue
The World Knowledge Dialogue Foundation (WKD) was established in 2005 to bridge the gap between the natural/technical and the human/social sciences. A transdisciplinary symposium held in Switzerland every two years brings together top researchers and opinion leaders to address this disconnect. swissnex San Francisco worked closely with swissnex Boston and the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC to identify potential speakers and actively promote the WKD to select contacts, thereby strengthening US participation at the 2nd WKD symposium held in September 2008.
KFH encompasses the rectors of the eight universities of applied sciences which are acknowledged by the Swiss Confederation. The Conference was established in 1999 in order to represent the interests of the universities of applied sciences when dealing with the Confederation, the cantons and other institutions in charge of education and research policy as well as the public in general.
