Press information
EAER Press releases
Sanctions: Ordinance on measures against individuals and groups associated with the Taliban
The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organisations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.
Switzerland and China strengthen cooperation in trade and science
On 30 October, President Guy Parmelin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss bilateral relations and current international issues. Switzerland and China are deepening their cooperation particularly in trade and science. Several agreements were signed during the visit, including the optimised bilateral free trade agreement, the associated agreement on cooperation in labour and employment matters, and an agreement governing cooperation in research and development.
Medical imaging: Zurich Blue, a nano-pigment inspired by an ancient prototype
For medical imaging, innovative contrast agents are in high demand. Materials scientist Robert Nissler has therefore developed an ultra-bright near-infrared nano-pigment designed to provide high-resolution images of intricate brain structures. In ancient Egypt, the precursor to the copper-based Zurich Blue was already prized for its brilliant blue color.
Federal Council approves agreement on management of research data with the People’s Republic of China
On 28 October, the Federal Council approved the Agreement on the Cross-Border Management of Scientific Data in the Context of Joint Research and Development Activities between Switzerland and China. It will be signed at the end of October during Federal President Guy Parmelin’s mission to China.
Sanctions: Ordinance on Measures Against Certain Individuals, Groups, Companies, and Organisations Associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaïda
The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organisations on 24 and 26 October 2026. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.
Detecting radioactivity from the air – more accurately than ever
Extreme situations demand speed: researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed a new computational method that makes it possible to identify radioactive material from the air more accurately within seconds and to determine its quantity and location more precisely. This significantly improves on the usual method of detection from helicopters. The method can also be applied in geophysics or monitoring of nuclear material.
Guy Parmelin to pay presidential visit to China and sign optimised free trade agreement
President Guy Parmelin will meet with President Xi Jinping on Friday, 30 October, during a visit to China. Following the meeting, Switzerland and China will sign an optimised bilateral free trade agreement. The programme for the visit, which runs until Saturday, includes meetings with further members of the Chinese Government. Mr Parmelin will be accompanied on the trip by a Swiss business and scientific delegation.
Federal collection facility – new waste treatment centre
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI operates the federal collection facility for radioactive waste in accordance with the Swiss Radiation Protection Ordinance. In the coming years, a new building for this purpose will be realised on the PSI campus. The project, named SamBA, began in 2023; the new building is scheduled to be operational by 2033.
Direct Air Capture reimagined: Cleaning the atmosphere with a CO₂ conveyor belt
Removing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere has so far been a complex, energy-intensive, and expensive process. Empa researchers are therefore pursuing a completely new approach: Instead of trapping the greenhouse gas in bulky filter materials over long periods of time, extremely thin coatings are designed to absorb and release CO₂ in a matter of seconds – thereby requiring significantly less energy and material.
SECO: Ordinance on measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 19 October 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) amended Annex 2 of the Ordinance on measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Three individuals and one entity have been removed from Annex 2 as they are already listed in Annex 1. The measures come into force on 20 October 2026 at 11 p.m.
X-rays show how quasiparticles interact in solids
In solids, different types of excitations can affect each other. Using a new experimental technique at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL, a team at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI has now been able to uncover the interplay between electronic, magnetic, and lattice excitations. This understanding is important for learning how spin excitations can be controlled for future information technology. The results have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Switzerland and Vietnam strengthen ties in trade, investment and innovation
During his official visit to Hanoi on Saturday, 17 October, President Guy Parmelin was welcomed by President Tô Lâm and Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng. The discussions focused particularly on bilateral relations between Switzerland and Vietnam, with agreements reached in several policy areas. On Sunday, 18 October, the free trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states and Vietnam will also be signed.
Programme for the Development of Scientific Experiments (Prodex) celebrates its 40th anniversary
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Programme for the Development of Scientific Experiments (Prodex) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since 1986, the programme has provided funding for the development and use of scientific instruments and experiments. Switzerland played a key role in establishing Prodex and uses the programme to fund its space science experiments. In doing so, it promotes scientific excellence in ESA missions and missions run by international partners such as NASA, JAXA and CNES. The programme's achievements were celebrated in Zurich from 14 to 16 October.
Switzerland attends informal meeting of EU education ministers in Ireland
On 15 and 16 October, Silvia Studinger, Deputy Director and Head of the Higher Education and General Education Division at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, attended the informal meeting of EU education ministers. The meeting, which took place in Dublin, Ireland, focused on strategies to strengthen basic skills and improve the ability of education systems to anticipate future skills requirements.
Sanctions: Ordinance on Measures Against Certain Individuals, Groups, Companies, and Organisations Associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaïda
The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.
Technologies for the energy transition
The future begins in the laboratory. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI are working on technologies to accelerate the energy transition, with a view to reconciling climate protection with security of supply. PSI is using science and innovation to meet one of the greatest challenges facing society today.
Switzerland and Thailand underscore opportunities offered by free trade
President Guy Parmelin met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Thursday, 15 October, during his official visit to Thailand. The talks focused on bilateral relations, the free trade agreement negotiated between the European Free Trade Association and Thailand, and current international affairs. President Parmelin will then pay a presidential visit to Vietnam and, together with the EFTA partners, sign a free trade agreement.
Launch of Climate Solutions Hub within the ETH Domain: Overcoming the scaling challenge for climate solutions
The climate crisis demands rapid and effective solutions – yet many promising climate technologies remain stuck in pilot and demonstration projects. What is missing is the step towards a broad implementation. This is precisely where the new Climate Solutions Hub (CSH) by Empa and Eawag comes in: It investigates why transformative climate solutions fail to scale and, together with partners from research, industry, and the public sector, develops ways to overcome these barriers. As a result, the CSH is among the first research hubs worldwide to focus explicitly on the scaling of innovative climate solutions.
Switzerland at 2026 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Bangkok
President Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, as well as Martin Schlegel, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, will attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Bangkok from 15 to 17 October 2026. A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will also take place during the Annual Meetings. The Swiss delegation will additionally use the event for bilateral talks.
New agreement on digital trade
On 14 October, the Federal Council launched the consultation process on the plurilateral Agreement on Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce Agreement, ECA). The ECA establishes a common regulatory framework for digital trade among 67 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and enhances legal certainty for businesses. The consultation procedure will run until 28 January 2027.