Ms Moser met with Swiss staff based at Exeter University, before having an exchange with academic staff involved in the GenEx partnership between Exeter University and the University of Geneva to secure joint seed funding for research and education collaboration.

She then attended a lunch hosted by Prof. Richard Follett (Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement) where they discussed the potential for further collaboration between Exeter and universities in Switzerland, as well as future co-operation opportunities between the UK and Switzerland in the fields of science and research.

Deputy Ambassador Moser then delivered a lecture to Exeter students that focused on the Swiss-UK relationship. She explained the Swiss government’s “Mind the Gap” strategy aimed at safeguarding and, where possible, building on the rights and obligations applicable between Switzerland and the UK, after the UK’s decision to leave the EU. She highlighted areas where Switzerland and the UK are now looking to deepen and expand their relations, particularly in the areas of trade, financial services, research and innovation, mobility and foreign policy co-operation. Following her lecture, students at the university then had the opportunity to question the Deputy Ambassador on various aspects of Swiss foreign policy, including Swiss-EU relations, the concept of Swiss neutrality and Switzerland’s response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

Overall the visit to Exeter demonstrated that strong links between Switzerland and the UK can be found across the country, with the partnership between Exeter University and Swiss universities, in particular the University of Geneva, demonstrating the successes that can be achieved through bilateral co-operation in research and innovation.

We are innovative. We are committed. We are connected. #WeAreSwitzerland