Czech President visits ETH Zurich

President Petr Pavel, First Lady Eva Pavlová and Federal President Viola Amherd arrived at the Gloria Cube at ETH Zurich on Tuesday, 5 November, where they were received by ETH President Joël Mesot. Before proceeding to the opening of the Swiss-Czech Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Forum, they engaged in an informal exchange with Czech students and researchers.

Innovation to overcome global challenges

The seminar room in which the forum took place was full to capacity. Around 100 guests attended at the invitation of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Switzerland Global Enterprise and trade association economiesuisse.

Joël Mesot welcomed the guests in ETH Zurich's newest building. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between science and business in addressing the current global crises. He stated that challenges such as an ageing society, climate change and cyber security could only be overcome through innovation and by working together.

At the same time, he reminded the audience that scientific institutions relied on political support to fulfil their mission. At ETH Zurich, this mission had remained unchanged since its foundation: to serve society.

Extensive collaboration between Swiss and Czech companies

In her welcoming address, former federal councillor Ruth Metzler, President of Switzerland Global Enterprise, stressed the importance of the long-standing relations between the Swiss and Czech industries. She noted that, historically, business relations had been focused primarily on the machine industry. However, today sectors such as life sciences, technology and services had become increasingly important. Czech companies made ideal partners for Swiss companies due to their reputation for high quality.

In his speech, economiesuisse President Christoph Mäder highlighted the similarities between Switzerland and the Czech Republic, noting that industry was a significant contributor to both countries’ economies, accounting for around 25% of their gross domestic product. This positioned both countries as vital parts of Europe's industrial backbone.

Jana Havrdová, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, also underlined the importance of Czech-Swiss trade relations. She expressed confidence that the event would help expand these ties.

Strengthening relations in difficult times

Viola Amherd stressed the growing need for closer cooperation between medium-sized states in light of the changing global political landscape. She pointed out that a strong Europe not only served its own interests but acted as a central pillar that reinforced the free world and ultimately supported partners beyond Europe.

The President of the Swiss Confederation noted that both the Czech Republic and Switzerland had dynamic economies with strong innovative potential. She underscored the necessity of strengthening relations, particularly during difficult times.

Amherd also reminded attendees that the bilateral agreements provided a framework for cooperation with European countries. She expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union would lead to a balanced outcome.

Institutions like ETH crucial for the future

Petr Pavel was delighted to begin his state visit at ETH Zurich, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. He believed that institutions like these were crucial for the future, not only for their research and innovation but also for their role in educating brilliant minds capable of critical thinking.

The Czech President expressed his satisfaction with the strong interest in the economic forum. He stressed how the challenges arising from the various crises could not be tackled by one company alone. He suggested that much more could be achieved by fostering cooperation among companies and scientific institutions.

President as test subject in the laboratory

To round off their visit, the guests toured the Laboratory for Movement Biomechanics, where Professor Bill Taylor and his team study knee kinematics. The newly opened laboratory houses a 22-metre-long testing facility equipped with a motion analysis tool, which Taylor demonstrated to the guests. Using this tool, researchers can capture X-ray images of a moving knee while a test subject walks along a specialised catwalk. President Petr Pavel was keen to try out the facility himself.