Switzerland and Singapore as Examples: How Does Research Become Innovation?

The presentations and the subsequent panel discussion came together as a stimulating intellectual exchange. At times the speakers' ideas echoed one another, while at others they highlighted fundamental structural dilemmas and contrasting models of research organisation.

Switzerland or Singapore?

During the panel discussion, Balázs Gulyás, President of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, brought the example of Singapore into the discussion. Unlike Switzerland, Singapore represents a highly successful ecosystem that is strongly state-led, mission-oriented, and driven by necessity and limited resources.

According to Gulyás, the most important driving force is a commitment to societal and national benefit – a “hunger for doing something which is good for society, which is good for the country, which is good for the nation”.

Alexander Zehnder, former President of the ETH Zurich Board and a member of HUN-REN’s International Scientific Advisory Board, argued that there is no single model that guarantees success. Switzerland represents the peak of the market-driven, bottom-up approach, while Singapore exemplifies the state-directed, top-down model. Either can work; what matters is consistency. “Once you decide for one system, go 100% and don't start to make compromises,” he said.

Zehnder specifically highlighted the world-class performance of Hungarian researchers in mathematics, physics, energy research and materials science. At the same time, he pointed to what he considers the greatest weakness: fragmentation and a lack of cooperation. In his view, if these fragmented capabilities were brought together within a strong national research centre, Hungary could achieve a leading position not only in Europe but globally as well.

The Fusion of Academia and Industry: Beyond the Laboratory

Another recurring theme of the event was the connection between science and the market.

Péter Noszek, CEO of Nestlé Hungary and President of the Hungarian Management Association, emphasised the practical needs of industry, including strengthening vocational education and providing students with more industry-based practical training, particularly in robotics and automation

On this point, Balázs Gulyás and Alexander Zehnder were in complete agreement: research cannot stop at publications. Gulyás stressed that the most productive scientists are those who combine fundamental research with industrial collaboration.

As he put it, “Cooperation with industrial partners is an important part of your career as a researcher.”

In this spirit, HUN-REN is already actively supporting spin-off and start-up companies, establishing a venture capital fund, developing technology transfer mechanisms, and providing researchers with training in innovation and entrepreneurship.