Partners

Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)

The FOEN is the federal government’s centre of environmental expertise and is part of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication. The FOEN is the federal government's centre of competence for environmental matters. It contributes to the long term preservation and use of natural resources (air, water, soil, forests, landscape, biodiversity) for society and the economy.

For further information: www.bafu.admin.ch

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). In operating with other federal offices concerned, SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of development activities and cooperation with Eastern Europe, as well as for the humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation.

For further information: www.sdc.admin.ch

Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

SECO is the federal government's centre of expertise for all core issues relating to economic policy. Its aim is to ensure sustainable economic growth by putting in place the necessary regulatory and economic policy conditions. On the domestic front, SECO acts as an interface between business, social partners and government. It supports the regionally and structurally balanced development of the economy and ensures the protection of employees. Through its labour market policy, it contributes to the prevention and tackling of unemployment and consequently to upholding social peace. SECO also helps to ensure access to all markets for Swiss goods and services and investment. In terms of foreign trade policy, SECO is active in the formulating of efficient, fair and transparent rules for the world economy.

For further information: www.seco.admin.ch

Federal Environment Agency Germany

For man and the environment is the mission statement of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). Founded in 1974, the UBA is Germany’s central federal authority on environmental matters. Its key statutory mandates are: To provide scientific support to the Federal Government; Implementation of environmental laws, and Information of the public about environmental protection. It has a total staff of around 1430, who work at 13 sites, of which seven are measuring stations of the UBA's own air monitoring network.

For further information: www.umweltbundesamt.de

 UNEP International Resource Panel

The Panel was officially launched in November 2007 and is expected to provide the scientific impetus for decoupling economic growth and resource use from environmental degradation. The overall objective of the Resource Panel is therefore to provide independent scientific assessment of the environmental impacts due to the use of resources over the full life cycle, and advise governments and organizations on ways to reduce these impacts.

For further information: www.unep.fr/scp/rpanel

Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. HP is one of the world's largest information technology companies, operating in nearly every country. HP specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, data storage, and networking hardware, designing software and delivering services. Major product lines include personal computing devices, enterprise, and industry standard servers, related storage devices, networking products, software and a diverse range of printers, and other imaging products. HP markets its products to households, small- to medium-sized businesses and enterprises directly as well as via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors. HP also has strong services and consulting business around its products and partner products.

For further information: www.hp.com

Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is an American confectionery, food and beverage corporation. It markets many brands in more than 155 countries. The company is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Its European headquarters is in Opfikon, Switzerland. 11 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Kraft, Cadbury, Oscar Mayer, Maxwell House, Nabisco, Oreo, Philadelphia cream cheese, Jacobs, Milka, LU and Trident. Kraft is an independent public company, it is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and became a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on September 22, 2008.  

For further information: www.kraftfoodscompany.com

Sika AG

Sika AG, located in Baar, Switzerland, is a globally active specialty chemicals company. Sika supplies the building and construction industry as well as manufacturing industries (automotive, bus, truck, rail, alternative energies, building components). Sika is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures. Sika’s product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring as well as roofing and waterproofing systems. Worldwide local presence in 74 countries and some 13 500 employees link customers directly to Sika and guarantee the success of all partners. Sika generates annual sales of CHF 4.4 billion.  

For further information: www.sika.com

Swiss International Air Lines - Official Carrier for the WRF 2011

Swiss International Air Lines AG is the principal airline of Switzerland operating scheduled services in Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Its main hub is Zurich Airport. Swiss is a subsidiary of the German airline Lufthansa, with headquarters at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg near Basel, Switzerland, and an office at Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland.  Swiss currently operates a fleet of 70 airplanes.

For further information: www.swiss.com

City Council St. Gallen

The city of St. Gallen received the award "Energy city Gold", developed the "Energy concept 2050", and promotes CO2-saving measures in buildings via its own Energy Fund.
The City Council supports the establishment of an independent general office of the World Resources Forum in St. Gallen.

For further information: www.stadt.sg.ch

Global e-Sustainability Initiative 

The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is a strategic partnership of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and organisations committed to creating and promoting technologies and practices that foster economic, environmental and social sustainability. Formed in 2001, GeSI’s vision is a sustainable world through responsible, ICT-enabled transformation. GeSI fosters global and open cooperation, informs the public of its members’ voluntary actions to improve their sustainability performance, and promotes technologies that foster sustainable development. GeSI has 33 members representing leading companies and associations from the ICT sector. GeSI also partners with two UN organizations - the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - as well as a range of international stakeholders committed to ICT sustainability objectives. These partnerships help shape GeSI’s global vision regarding the evolution of the ICT sector, and how it can best meet the challenges of sustainable development.

For further information: www.gesi.org

Swico

In the business association SWICO more than 400 providers from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Consumer Electronics (Consumer Electronics, CE) are organised. They have together more than 36,000 employees and a turnover of over 20 billion Swiss francs, and SWICO is therefore one of the leading business associations in Switzerland. SWICO combines the interests of its members and represents them as a competent negotiation and contact for public policy and administration. SWICO acts on behalf of its members to promote the economically free and environmentally responsible market development.  

For further information: www.swico.ch

Swissmem Industry Association

Swissmem unites the Swiss engineering, electrical and metal industry and associated technology-oriented sectors. The ability to compete internationally is not a matter of course – it must be worked on. A location able to compete is the basis of success. The commitment of Swissmem applies to Switzerland, the context for work and thought, for this reason.

For further information: www.swissmem.ch

Mercator Foundation Switzerland

The Mercator Foundation Switzerland initiates and funds projects that promote better educational opportunities in schools and universities. In the spirit of Gerhard Mercator, it supports initiatives that embody the idea of open-mindedness and tolerance through intercultural encounters, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and culture. The foundation provides a platform for new ideas to enable people to develop their personality, become involved in society and make the most of the opportunities available to them. Mercator Foundation Switzerland takes an entrepreneurial, international and professional approach to its work.

For further information: www.stiftung-mercator.ch

Mistra

Mistra is a Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research. Mistra distributes about SEK 200 million a year to environmental research. At the beginning of 2007, the foundation's capital amounted to SEK 3.6 billion. Mistra applies the same principles of transparency as the government research councils. Mistra funds and organises research aimed at solving strategic environmental problems. A Mistra programme is considered a success when scientifically advanced research has been put to practical use in companies, authorities or other organisations. Mistra funds about 20 major programmes, each of which should have a time span of between six and eight years. Major investment in interdisciplinary research programmes stimulates innovation, new options and new forms of cooperation, benefiting both Swedish environmental research as a whole and Sweden as a nation.

For further information: www.mistra.org

Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems

The Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS) was founded in 1983. It was established as one of the first organisations worldwide to provide assessment and certification services.
Today, SQS is the market leader in its sector in Switzerland. With 147 permanent employees of which 5 are apprentices in Switzerland, France and Italy and a further 262 associate employees worldwide, SQS relies on a well-established network which operates on an international level. Due to its legal status as an association, SQS is a not-for profit organisation which functions neutrally and independently.

For further information: www.sqs.ch

Öbu

Öbu, the network for sustainable management in Switzerland, is a think tank for environmental, social and management issues. It implements company-specific and economic projects and promotes exchange of experience between some 370 member companies.

For further information: www.oebu.ch

Paul Scherrer Institut

The Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI, is the largest research centre for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. We perform world-class research in three main subject areas: Structure of Matter; Energy and the Environment; and Human Health. By conducting fundamental and applied research, PSI work on long-term solutions for major challenges facing society, industry and science

For further information: www.psi.ch

ETH Board

With some 600 professors, 16,000 staff and 20,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne and the four application-oriented research institutes – the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the Materials Science and Technology Research Institution (Empa) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) – constitute the ETH Domain.
All reseach is done under the strategic leadership of the ETH Board as the supervisory body.
Appointed by the Swiss Federal Council, the ETH Board allocates funds to the six institutions within the guidelines set by the government, and administers their real-estate holdings on a fiduciary basis.

For further information: www.ethrat.ch

Swiss Academy for Engineering Science (SATW)

SATW is a non-commercial, politically independent umbrella organization bringing together people, institutions and specialist companies in Switzerland that are active in the application and promotion of the engineering sciences.
SATW and its three sister academies SAHS, SAMS and SCNAT are recognized as scientific institutions under Federal research law. Around 80% of SATW’s funding (approximately CHF 1.5 million a year) comes from the Federal Government. The academy’s services are defined in a contract with the Federal Government. SATW has around 230 individual members and 60 member organizations. 

For further information: www.satw.ch

Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences

The association of the «Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences» includes the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS), the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS), and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)as well as the two Centres for Excellence TA-SWISS and Science et Cité. Their collaboration is focused on early detection, ethic and the dialogue between science and society.

For further information: www.swiss-academies.ch

Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)

The Academy is a national and independent organization composed of elected members with the highest honor in the community of engineering and technological sciences of the nation. Its missions are to initiate and conduct strategic studies, provide consultancy services for decision-making of nation’s key issues in engineering and technological sciences and promote the development of the undertaking of engineering and technological sciences in China and devote itself to the benefit and welfare of the society.

For further information: www.cae.cn/en

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is a leading academic institution and comprehensive research and development center in natural science, technological science and high-tech innovation in China. It was founded in Beijing on 1st November 1949 on the basis of the former Academia Sinica (Central Academy of Sciences) and Peiping Academy of Sciences.

For further information: http://english.cas.cn

The Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ)

The Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ) Inc. is a non-profit, non-governmental organization for public services. It has been formed to contribute to the general advancement of engineering and technological sciences in Japan by members in leading positions with outstanding achievements and extensive knowledge in these and closely related fields. 

For further information: www.eaj.or.jp/index-e.html

Acatech

acatech - the German Academy of Science and Engineering - represents the interests of German sciences and technology in Germany and abroad. As a working academy, acatech supports policy makers and society with technically qualified evaluations and far-sighted recommendations.

For further information: www.acatech.de/uk

Pusch Foundation

The Swiss foundation for environmental management Pusch is a NGO that promotes environmental protection and a sustainable use of resources. Pusch offers courses and classes, publishes magazines and newsletters, launches campaigns, informs about green consumption and develops strategies for the future.

For further information: www.umweltschutz.ch

Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI)

SERI is a Pan-European think tank exploring sustainable development options for European societies based in Vienna. It was set up in September 1999. SERI takes a comprehensive view of sustainability both empirically and in its policy recommendations.

For further information: www.seri.at

Koli Forum

The 2nd Koli Forum will took place on 14th-16th September 2011 in the Koli National Park in Finland. The biannual Forum is providing a forward-looking, informal discussion platform for European leaders to produce common views and proposals for the management of natural resources to the European Commission, the UN Climate Conference in South Africa 2011 and further the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro 2012.
The 2nd Koli Forum will execute the Europe 2020 strategy and is titled "Koli Forum on Europe 2020: Resources for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth - Renewable forest and bioenergy". The themes of the Koli Forum 2011 are innovation and education, sustainable bioeconomy and renewable bioenergy. These three theme sessions will be approached via keynote presentations, panel discussions and active participation by the Koli Forum participants.
Participation is by invitation only and limited to about one hundred eminent decision makers, executives and experts from the spheres of business, science, politics and culture. Participants at the Forum include, amongst others, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of IPCC and Director General of TERI and Mr. Dacian Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. The voice of children (ENO-Environment Online), youth (IFSA - International Forestry Students' Association) and NGOs will be heard clearly and taken into account, as well as the public opinion.

For further information: www.koliforum.fi

Foundation Entwicklungsfonds Seltene Metalle ESM

The Foundation Entwicklungsfonds Seltene Metalle ESM is a non-profit organization dedicated to research and development in the field of rare metals in view of industrial application. Since its creation more than 50 years ago, the Foundation has supported basic research in the field of metallurgy and basic as well as industry-related materials research in the last 15 years by about 20 projects with an overall budget of more than two million Swiss Francs. ESM emphasizes interdisciplinary research and collaborations between different universities and research institutes to further the use of rare metals also in non engineering fields, e.g., in medicine.

For further information: www.esmfoundation.org

myScience.ch

myScience.ch gives an overview of science, research, universities, R&D companies and research centers in Switzerland. myScience.ch provides practical information on employment, funding and daily life as well as scientific news, the science job portal, the swiss scientific agenda and the continuing education portal for academics. myScience.ch is intended for researchers, scientists, academics, and everyone interested in science. 

For further information: www.myscience.ch