The signing between ministers Matan Vilnai and Pascal Couchepin - today in Jerusalem
Israel and Switzerland will sign today the letter of understanding for scientific cooperation between the governments. The letter of understanding will pave the way for scientific cooperation at the intergovernmental level between Israel and Switzerland. The letter deals with the establishment of a joint team of experts, which will map the existing collaborations and recommend scientific fields for collaboration. The team's activities should be completed by May 2006.
The letter will be signed by the Minister of Science and Technology, Matan Vilnai, and Minister Pascal Couchepin, the minister in charge of internal affairs, whose responsibility is the issues of science, culture, health and national insurance.
Officials in the scientific community in Israel see the event as a breakthrough, as this is the first time that the Swiss government is willing to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Israel for scientific cooperation, after years in which it sought to keep scientific relations on a low profile (until now, the connections were only at the level of universities and individual researchers).
During the official visit (hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science) which will take place between September 14-18, 2005, the Minister will make an introduction to Israeli science, and will tour the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Science-intensive Industries Park in Ness Ziona and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The visiting minister will also meet with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Taxation, and the Minister of Finance, Ehud Olmert, and with the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Limor Livnet.
The minister will head a delegation including Prof. Olaf Kuebler - president of the Technical University of Zurich (known for its high scientific level), Prof. Urs Altermatt - Chancellor of the University of Friborg, Prof. Marcel Tanner - Director of the Tropical Institute in Basel. – STI, Prof. Michel Aguet - director of the Swiss Cancer Research Institute - ISREC.
