Swiss Stories

Senegal © Secours Protestant

The Swiss tap that saves water and lives

Science & Education
Good hand washing practice has come firmly into focus during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the clamour for hand sanitiser and protective face coverings in Europe, it must not be forgotten that there are around 3 billion people who are not able to wash their hands at home with soap and clean water. 1.7 million children die each year due to diseases transmitted by unclean hands. Exciting Swiss innovations, such as The Drop, recently recognised on UNICEF’s May 2020 list of ‘Handwashing Stations and Supplies for the COVID-19 response’, are being developed to meet these needs.
Umweltpreis

Swiss Award for the environment

Science & Education
Profitability and sustainability are steadily becoming a reality in many areas. Each year the Business Award for the Environment is awarded to innovative projects that are environmentally friendly and economically viable.
© Évéquoz Ferreira architectes

Energypolis: the Swiss ecosystem for sustainable development

Science & Education
Since 2015, the city of Sion has been home to a global training and research hub in the field of sustainable development.Recent events have shaken the entire world, causing us to rethink our future. One of the approaches to safeguarding our future on this planet is sustainable development. Back in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It was on this premise that the campus in Sion was born. Since 2015, Energypolis has brought together EPFL Valais Wallis, HES-SO Valais-Wallis and The Ark Foundation under one roof. Thanks to the combined skills of these three partners, Energypolis is training tomorrow's thinkers – in energy, health and the environment.
SwissCovid App

SwissCovid Keeps Your Secrets

Science & Education
A conversation with Carmela Troncoso, who designed Swisscovid together with a team of Swiss and European experts.
Smixin © Smixin

The Swiss tap that can meet the world's water challenges

Science & Education
Freshwater is an essential resource and global needs keep rising, particularly because of population growth, agricultural development and industrial demand. But the world's water resources haven't changed, nor are they unlimited. The UN estimates there will be a 40% shortfall in the amount of water the planet needs by 2030. The cleantech sector has the potential to develop solutions to reduce how much of this valuable resource we use on a daily basis. Switzerland has extensive experience in the water sector and a network of tech companies that can help meet water-related challenges. One such start-up is Biel-based Smixin, which has come up with a novel type of tap.
Artist's impression of the space telescope © ESA/ATG medialab

Switzerland in space

Science & Education
Switzerland is leading the consortium of 11 European countries participating in the CHEOPS mission. The CHEOPS telescope was launched in 2019 to learn more about the little-known world of exoplanets. This is the first mission Switzerland has led within the European Space Agency (ESA), although it has been a member since the agency's inception. Other missions are in the pipeline – more on that below.
Hand hygiene © Julien Gregorio/phovea/HUG

COVID-19: Dr Clean Hands

Science & Education
Hydroalcoholic gel is a much sought-after product these days. It was developed by Dr Didier Pittet, infectious disease expert and director of the Infection Control Programme of Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). A pioneer in hospital hygiene, Dr Pittet developed, together with HUG pharmacist William Griffiths, this hydroalcoholic solution which has revolutionised hand disinfection methods in medical settings. Rubbing one's hands with this product is a very simple step that has been adopted worldwide and saves 8 million lives every year.