KMU Swiss opens doors to Taiwan

One week after the extremely successful SME SWISS Symposium in Brugg the network was able to experience another important highlight. Together with the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT) and the Délégation culturelle et économique de Taipei a varied and pioneering day was on the agenda on October 23, 2025. Science, innovation, culture and trade came together in an inspiring way.

Visit to the Paul Scherrer Institute

The official visit began in the morning at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, where the guests were welcomed by Council of States member Marianne Binder-Keller. In exciting presentations, Adrian Selinger, Robert Rudolf and Yasin Ekinci impressively demonstrated how excellent research is combined with industrial applications at the PSI - from materials science to quantum technology. Through the presentations on Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare, the guests were able to experience how research and entrepreneurship go hand in hand in Aargau. The innovation ecosystem around the PSI plays a central role in translating scientific findings into marketable solutions - a topic that is also highly relevant in Taiwan. The discussions between the representatives of the two countries clearly showed a shared interest in closer cooperation between research, industry and SMEs. The subsequent tour of the facilities gave the Taiwanese delegation a deep insight into Switzerland's innovative strength.

After an excellent lunch at the Restaurant zum Sternen in Würenlingen, the tour continued to the Hartmann winery in Remigen. Winemaker Bruno Hartmann presented the traditional family winery, which focuses on quality, craftsmanship and sustainability. A tour of the cellar and a wine tasting rounded off the program in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere - the perfect setting to strengthen existing contacts and forge new partnerships.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding

Later in the afternoon, the official highlight of the day took place at the Park Hyatt Zurich: the signing ceremony between KMU SWISS and IEAT. Armin Baumann for KMU SWISS and Jerry Hsu for IEAT signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which forms the basis for long-term cooperation. The agreement reaffirms the common desire to promote economic and entrepreneurial exchange between Switzerland and Taiwan.

The MOU aims to intensify cooperation in key economic areas such as imports and exports, investments, information exchange and SME promotion. The key points include mutual support at trade fairs and exhibitions, the exchange of market and industry data, the promotion of delegation trips and the joint development of new markets. The cooperation should also help to facilitate access to new business opportunities for small and medium-sized companies in both regions and promote the development of partnerships in third countries. The agreement is not legally binding, but expresses the clear will of both sides to take concrete steps to strengthen bilateral economic relations.

Source: SME Swiss