In alignment with the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) annual policy strategies and S&T program planning, STPI team accompanied the NSTC Department of Planning on a visit to Switzerland and the Netherlands. The delegation engaged in exchanges with government agencies and research institutions responsible for formulating science and technology policies in these countries. Through interactions with leading institutions overseeing S&T policy making and implementation, the delegation aimed to gain insights into their key strategic thinking and future directions as a reference for Taiwan’s own S&T policymaking. During the visit, the delegation also paid a courtesy call to the Délégation culturelle et économique de Taipei in Switzerland (駐瑞士台北文化經濟代表團).

This visit can be broadly categorized into observations at the governmental and non-governmental levels. At the governmental level, the delegation engaged with institutions such as the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Swiss Innovation Agency (Innosuisse), Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), and Advisory Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation (AWTI) of the Netherlands. At the non-governmental level, observations focused on organizations including Switzerland Innovation, Rathenau Institute and International Institute of Social Studies (ISS). 

The visit followed a structured approach, beginning with an analysis of policy orientations to understand the underlying strategic thinking behind policy formulation. This was followed by in-depth interviews with government officials, scholars, and experts to further clarify the effectiveness and contextual framework of policy planning and implementation.

(Above) The group photo taken during the visit to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

The key takeaway from this visit was gaining an understanding of how the Swiss government, under its federal system, adopts a “divide and conquer” approach to the funding and policy formulation of S&T research. In contrast, the Netherlands operates under a parliamentary system, where the actual allocation of resources and policy execution relies heavily on inter-ministerial coordination and collaboration. Switzerland primarily leverages competition and structured mechanisms to ensure impartial funding allocation, while fostering an open-minded approach that emphasizes innovation in uncharted territories (blue ocean strategies). Despite external geopolitical and economic challenges, the stability of its resource allocation ratio contributes to guiding long-term national research priorities and supporting the development of strategic industries and technologies.

Additionally, Switzerland has established innovation and research parks within university campuses to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry development. The country places great importance on forming partnerships with internationally renowned universities and technology enterprises, providing students with exchange and internship opportunities. Their approach emphasizes that research outcomes should contribute to enhancing national economic competitiveness and improving quality of life. Innovation parks in Switzerland serve as non-traditional platforms, fostering collaboration among companies while maintaining a strong research-driven ethos. Through ample funding and sufficient autonomy, these parks effectively optimize scale and efficiency.

In contrast, the Netherlands has developed policy mechanisms that ensure recommendations are valued and responded to. The country emphasizes structured communication channels among institutions and stakeholders, the establishment of platforms, and proactive engagement with the public. Additionally, the government actively involves stakeholders in policy discussions, thereby enhancing the social impact and acceptance of its policies.

(Above) Group photo after discussions with the Advisory Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation (AWTI) in the Netherlands

This visit provided valuable insights that Taiwan can reference when developing a systematic and sustainable industry-academia collaboration mechanism. Future efforts should focus on: educational system reform to strengthen connections between academic research and industry needs; enhancing linkages between the research and education systems to ensure that scientific research aligns with national talent development; fostering collaboration between research institutions and industrial promotion systems to bridge technological advancements with market applications. By learning from the Swiss and Dutch models, Taiwan can develop its own tailored industry-academia collaboration framework, ensuring long-term benefits for research, education, and economic growth.