New Delhi: India and Switzerland have launched a new research framework aimed at deepening scientific cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on researcher mobility, research networks, knowledge exchange and stronger links between academia and industry.
The Indo-Swiss Research Framework (ISRF) was unveiled at the Indo-Swiss Research Flagship Event 2026 in New Delhi, marking two decades of bilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
Union minister of state for science and technology Jitendra Singh said the framework would provide a more structured platform for expanding collaboration into emerging areas and creating new opportunities for researchers and innovators in both countries.
The partnership dates back to the 2003 India-Switzerland Inter-Governmental Agreement on science and technology, followed by the launch of the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme in 2005. The programme has since supported collaboration between faculty and young researchers from the two countries.
The partnership has expanded across areas including mountain and glacier research, geoscientific hazards, systems medicine, One Health, renewable energy, life sciences and social sciences.
Under the new framework, India and Switzerland will also introduce initiatives aimed at building new research networks and strengthening the pathway from academic research to innovation.
One such initiative, Explore, is expected to open in November 2026 as a co-funded programme of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST). The 9–12-month programme will support travel, networking and small equipment, with the aim of helping researchers develop new ideas and build larger research collaborations.
The two sides also signed a Letter of Intent between DST and SNSF to support exploratory scientific collaboration, future joint research and longer-term cooperation across mutually agreed priority areas.
An Implementation Arrangement between DST and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) will support cooperation in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship through the Indo-Swiss Academia-Industry Training (AIT India) programme.
The programme is intended to create opportunities for science-based innovators and strengthen links between academic research and industry.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin said the two countries had strong foundations for further cooperation, citing India’s expanding research and innovation ecosystem and Switzerland’s research capabilities, funding mechanisms and innovation ecosystem.
The new framework, he said, would strengthen connections between researchers and institutions, improve mobility and knowledge exchange, and create opportunities for ideas to develop through sustained collaboration.
The flagship event brought together policymakers, researchers, universities, funding agencies and other stakeholders from both countries. It also showcased research collaborations in areas including mental health and brain research, language and linguistics, and Himalayan glacier research.
The new framework comes as India and Switzerland seek to move beyond individual research projects towards a more structured and long-term model of scientific and innovation cooperation.
