Core commitment: Science and society

The association of Academies advocates for equal opportunities, diversity and continuous development of the scientific system. The associated Academies support scientific excellence through promotional contributions and awards. Scientific communication is also supported by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences through a broad range of measures. Furthermore, the association of Academies promotes young scientific talent through the mediation of knowledge and methods and, additionally, networking and mentoring, particularly in the Swiss Young Academy. The associated Academies are also committed to the primary and secondary school level, the objective being to encourage the interest of schoolchildren in science and, in particular, the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM subjects).

The association of Academies promotes sustainability research in all disciplines and determines the research needs required for this. It mobilises professional associations and scientific communities and, together with practical players, develops guidelines, knowledge syntheses and courses of action to achieve a sustainable lifestyle. The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations receive particular consideration in this respect. In addition, the association of Academies provides a credible, independent platform for dialogue with the political community and society as a whole. Consequently, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have established themselves as political and administrative partners when it comes to addressing scientific questions relating to the societal transformation towards sustainable development.

Science is being transformed through digitisation of a once hermetically sealed area of activity for a few specialists, extending its sphere of influence to many interested parties. However, digitisation also creates risks, such as the growing dependence on critical digital infrastructures or cybercrime. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences place a particular emphasis on the early detection and exploration of opportunities and risks when handling data and artificial intelligence (AI), and they promote digital self-determination and continually evaluate the impact of digitisation on competition, work and social issues. The association of Academies supports objective political discussion in order to reach decisions on the basis of facts. In particular, it also promotes Open Science, a global movement that strives to achieve open and free use of research results and which promotes cooperation between research and data communities. This will open the process of knowledge generation and communication to those beyond the scientific community.

Multi-year planning is developed every four years in an iterative process that involves all association members and the committees of the association of Academies. Particular attention is paid to the unique characteristics of the association of Academies in this respect, namely the connection between theory and practice, persons from the scientific, business and political fields who are involved in the militia system, flexible links between different disciplines and between basic research and both applied and oriented research.