Federal Council appoints Innosuisse Board

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09.12.2016

On 9 December the Federal Council appointed André Kudelski, CEO of Kudelski SA, as chairman of the Innosuisse Board. From 1 January 2018, Innosuisse will take over the functions of the current Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI. The Board is made up of seven specialists from the worlds of science and business.

The innovative strength of the economy is key to ensuring Switzerland’s competitiveness and so to preserving jobs. On 17 June, Parliament approved the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency Act, or Innosuisse Act. On 16 November theFederal Council announced that the organisational provisions would enter into force on 1 January 2017.

The Innosuisse Act provides the legal basis for the CTI to become an institution under public law. Innosuisse’s remit is to support businesses even more closely in their innovation activities. The Board will play a key role in Innosuisse’s success. The Federal Council has appointed the following persons to the Board, all of whom are closely involved in innovation promotion:   

President:

  • André Kudelski, Président Directeur Général (CEO), Kudelski SA, Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne;

Members:

  • Prof. Edouard Bugnion, professor at the EPFL, Laboratoire de théorie de l'information, Lausanne;
  • Dr Thierry Calame, partner and co-head of the Intellectual Property expert group at Lenz & ‎Staehelin, Zurich;
  • Trudi Haemmerli, CEO and Director of PerioC Ltd, Ongar, UK and Managing Director of TruStep Consulting GmbH, Basel;
  • Prof. Martina Hirayama, Director of the School of Engineering, Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Winterthur;
  • Marco Illy, Managing Director and Head of Swiss Investment Banking at Crédit Suisse, Zurich;
  • Nicola Thibaudeau, CEO MPS Micro Precision System, Biel/Bienne.

The Board’s constellation ensures a close link between the worlds of science and business at Innosuisse. The members are well versed in innovation management and are familiar with the mechanisms and challenges involved in innovation promotion, as they are with the political environment. The Board also has proven competences in strategic corporate management, economics, law and compliance. The Federal Council selected the Board members on the basis of a requirement profile drawn up by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER.

The newly appointed Board is tasked with making Innosuisse fit to begin operations by the end of 2017 and with creating a sound basis for the agency’s future activities. Its tasks include issuing Innosuisse’s organisational regulations and ordinances, and approving a multi-year programme, budget and annual report. The Board also decides on appointments to the management team of the Secretariat, appoints members of the Innovation Council, and is responsible for overseeing these bodies. Furthermore, it is responsible for implementing and reporting on the Federal Council’s strategic objectives.

(Press Release)

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