Scientific interchange
A European network
Switzerland lies at a crossroads in Europe. It shares its three major languages with its neighbours; as a result, Swiss students have never faced linguistic problems in studying at universities abroad. Conversely, foreign scholars have long been drawn to Switzerland.
Two or three centuries ago, when scientific ideas were communicated by letter, Swiss thinkers were part of the European network of ideas. Albrecht von Haller (1708-77) of Bern, for example, had 1200 correspondents in 21 European countries, writing about subjects as diverse as medicine, botany and agricultural economics.
Foreign scholars
Over the centuries Switzerland has offered refuge to scholars who were persecuted at home whether for their scientific or for their political ideas. When Zurich University opened in 1833, all its teaching positions were filled by Germans, many of them refugees from the failed revolutions of 1830.
This cross-fertilisation continues today. Only about half of the professors at Zurich's prestigious Federal Institute of Technology are Swiss nationals. The high standard of research makes Switzerland attractive for foreign scientists.
Opening borders
Switzerland has signed up to the Bologna Declaration, which – among other things – aims to make it easier for students to study in another European country.
English is being used more and more in universities and research institutions, especially at the higher levels, in order to attract the best students from all over the world.
Many young Swiss scientists also go to the US for part of their studies.
"You can develop yourself here, because you are surrounded by first-rate people at every level."
Heinrich Rohrer (1933 - ), Swiss Nobel Physics Laureate