The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Switzerland have unveiled the Indo-Swiss Research Framework (ISRF), a new structured approach to scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. The framework was announced at a Flagship Event in New Delhi, marking two decades of formal India-Switzerland partnership in science and technology that began with an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in 2003.
The new framework aims to strengthen research networks, researcher mobility, knowledge exchange and collaboration between academic institutions and industry in both countries. It introduces two new funding and cooperation mechanisms: a Letter of Intent between DST and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and an Implementation Arrangement between DST and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
Key facts
- Indo-Switzerland formal science and technology partnership began in 2003
- Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme launched in 2005
- Seven rounds of the Indo-Swiss Joint Committee on Science and Technology held to date, most recently in Bern in September 2025
- Current cooperation involves Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research and Indian Council of Social Science Research
- Four Indo-Swiss projects in mountain and glacier research currently active, covering glacier evolution, ice nucleating particles, water vapour isotopes and debris-glacier interactions
- New “Explore” programme scheduled to open in November 2026 with 9 to 12-month project duration
- Event held on 6 October 2026 in New Delhi with attendance of Swiss President Guy Parmelin
What the new framework covers
The Indo-Swiss Research Framework represents a shift towards long-term, system-level cooperation rather than project-by-project collaboration. It is built around four main pillars: strengthening mobility for researchers, facilitating knowledge exchange, building research networks, and fostering links between academic and industry sectors.
The framework expands cooperation into new areas including mountain hazards and glacier studies, systems medicine, One Health initiatives, social sciences, digital governance, artificial intelligence ethics and the social impact of technology. This builds on existing partnerships in renewable energy, biomedical research and life sciences.
New funding mechanisms and programmes
Two key agreements were signed to operationalise the framework. The Letter of Intent between DST and SNSF commits both parties to exploratory scientific collaboration, future joint research and long-term cooperation in mutually agreed priority areas.
The Implementation Arrangement between DST and ZHAW will advance cooperation in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship through a new Academia-Industry Training (AIT India) programme. This programme aims to create opportunities for science-based innovators and researchers to gain practical experience in translating research into applications.
The “Explore” initiative, opening in November 2026 as a joint DST-SNSF funded programme, targets new research networks and consortia in basic science. Projects selected will receive support for travel, networking and small equipment, with a duration of 9 to 12 months, to help early-stage research ideas develop into larger collaborative opportunities.
Existing cooperation and current projects
India and Switzerland have already established substantial research collaboration. The Ministry of Earth Sciences and SNSF have jointly supported four projects on glacier evolution, ice nucleating particles, water vapour isotopes and glacier-debris interactions. Cooperation has expanded into geoscientific hazards in mountain regions.
The Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research and SNSF are collaborating on One Health research. The Indian Council of Social Science Research and SNSF are working together on digital governance, AI ethics, inequality, justice and inclusion, and social transformation.
What this means for researchers and innovators
Indian researchers and innovators now have expanded opportunities to collaborate with Swiss counterparts through structured, funded programmes. The new framework removes barriers to mobility, making it easier for scientists to spend time at partner institutions and share expertise.
The Academia-Industry Training programme offers a new pathway for those seeking to commercialise research or develop innovation-based startups. The “Explore” initiative is designed for early-career researchers and those launching new research collaborations, providing seed funding and networking support to scale up ideas.
Universities and research institutions in India can now engage more systematically with Swiss partners in areas aligned with national priorities such as mountain research, public health, social sciences and emerging technologies.