On March 25, 2026, Dou Xiankang, President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), met with a delegation led by Benoît Dubuis, President of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW).

Dou extended a warm welcome to Dubuis and his delegation. He introduced the general profile of NSFC as well as its latest reform measures in strengthening the funding system for scientific talents and advancing international cooperation. He emphasized that NSFC attaches great importance to Sino-Swiss scientific cooperation. He expressed readiness to work together with SATW to further advance Sino-Swiss scientific cooperation and the exchanges of young researchers, so as to inject new momentum into basic research cooperation between China and Europe.

Dubuis spoke highly of China’s achievements in basic research and applied basic research, and introduced the general situation of SATW. He expressed readiness to continuously strengthen strategic mutual trust with NSFC and elevate bilateral academic exchanges and talent development to a new level.

Zhang Jianhua, Vice President of Shanghai University, Zhang Lei, Executive Dean of the Sino-Swiss Institute of Advanced Technology at Shanghai University, Fan Yingjie, Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, Li Wencong, Deputy Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, and relevant staff from the Europe Division attended the meeting.