Swiss Stories

Avalanche

Avalanche risk management included in world heritage

Environment
Knowledge of avalanches and avalanche protection is a vital tradition in Switzerland. Since November 2018, avalanche risk management has been added to the UNESCO list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The inclusion was based on a joint application submitted by Switzerland and Austria. But what exactly does avalanche risk management mean?
Sebastian, Gert-Jan, Grégoire and David

Swiss neurotechnology

Science & Education
Paraplegics are being given new hope by Swiss researchers who have come up with a technological breakthrough that is helping people who have suffered spinal cord injuries to walk again.
Cheese

The Swiss cheese with the musical taste

Society
When a Swiss person travels abroad, the odds of cheese being mentioned in the first five minutes of a conversation are almost as high as talking about chocolate or the mountains. While Swiss cheesemaking remains true to its roots, there is still plenty of room for innovation and creativity, with new varieties being introduced regularly and production methods constantly being updated. As if to prove this, the latest surprising – yet entirely serious – initiative is the use of music during the ripening process.
Exoskeleton

The exoskeleton – promising developments in robotics for paraplegics

Science & Education
Swiss scientists are doing groundbreaking work to give paraplegics new hope. Their research has produced breakthroughs in technologies that could enable people who have suffered spinal cord injuries to walk again unaided. Their work on exoskeleton technology is among the most promising.
Elias Läderach

Swiss Chocolate Masters winner

Society
For Elias Läderach, dreaming up new chocolate creations is about much more than just exquisite taste. It's also about art and innovation – from the initial design to tasting trials and the final hand-crafted creation. It's a process of regular self-scrutiny and a chance to use creativity to translate tradition into something new. Elias' win at the World Chocolate Masters in Paris proves how Swiss chocolatiers can reach even greater heights – in innovation.
Michael Weber, head of VariCom, and Danilo Christen, creater of the variety © Sedrik Nemeth

The Fred® pear – the fruit of perseverance and expertise

Environment
The perfect pear does exist. It's Swiss and it's called Fred®. Launched at the beginning of 2018, the fruit is the culmination of an 18-year breeding programme carried out by researchers at Agroscope, Switzerland's centre of excellence for agricultural research. And at the heart of the process: the desire to produce the ideal pear to satisfy growers, sellers and buyers alike.
Swiss Humanitarian Aid expert in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Swiss tech for good

Science & Education
How can technology be used for the common good? This is what Tech4good is all about. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation works closely with Swiss enterprises, start-ups, universities and research units to provide tech solutions to challenges in development cooperation. Some examples of Tech4Good projects developed in Switzerland are set out below.