In order to promote the image of Swiss scientific excellence abroad, Switzerland has established a network of "science consulates," known as "Swiss Houses", under the joint auspices of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research and the Swiss Foreign Ministry.

The first – known as SHARE, or Swiss House for Advanced Research and Education - was set up in Boston in 2000, the second – swissnex - in San Francisco (2003), and the third in Singapore (2004). They work to encourage not only education and research but also hi-tech business. This is done in a variety of ways, such as organising university exchanges and cooperation, encouraging Swiss research institutions to attend local education fairs and holding small exhibitions on Swiss-related scientific topics.

Networking with local personalities in the region as a whole is also an important function of the Swiss Houses. It is hoped that in the long term the Houses will obtain two-thirds of their running costs from private sponsors.

In addition to the Swiss Houses, Switzerland has science and technology counsellors attached to a number of its embassies around the world, who carry out similar functions on a smaller scale.