On July 9, Feral Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and other leading Swiss delegations in the field of science and technology visited KAIST to discuss plans of exchange and cooperation in scientific and technological advances.

The delegation was greeted by the core members of KAIST, including President Sungmo Steve Kang, the vice president, the provost, the dean, and several key professors from the departments of information and science technology, electrical engineering, bio and brain engineering, and chemical and biomolecular engineering.

Federal Councilor Ammann is a VIP guest who will eventually serve as Federal President of Switzerland in 2015. His group of delegations included President Patrick Aebischer of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), President Ralph Eichler of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), and President Jean-Dominique Vassalli of the University of Geneva, President Martin Vetterli of the Swiss National Science Foundation, university administrators, ambassadors, rectors, and directors of various organizations.

The delegation explained that the incredible growth and success of KAIST had peaked their interest and made them eager to “improve network and establish even personal relationships between the highest of science community of yours and mine.” Federal Coucilor Ammann emphasized the similarities between the two communities stating that they were both specialists in science with outstanding results and are innovative and competitive. “I am looking forward to interesting discussions and long lasting relationships,” added Federal Councilor Ammann.

Afterwards, he and his delegation visited several key laboratories at KAIST, including Professor Dae-shik Kim’s Brain Reverse Engineering and Imaging Lab in the Department of Electrical Engineering and KI Research Center’s various laboratories in the fields of biology and information and technology (IT).