Translated with DeepL
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) affects everyone, regardless of national borders. While the situation in Switzerland is still under control thanks to preventive measures, countries such as India are already more severely affected. This year's Indo-Swiss AMR Innovation Dialogue therefore brought together 50 experts from India and Switzerland, providing two complementary perspectives: Prevention on the one hand, urgent need for action on the other.
Over the course of six days, researchers and representatives from start-ups, authorities and international organisations engaged in an intensive exchange with the aim of learning from each other, forging new alliances and developing concrete solutions. Visits to research institutions and clinics in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Rüschlikon and Geneva created the framework for a fruitful dialogue that closely linked theory and practice.
Particular attention was paid to the development of new diagnostic procedures, the responsible use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine and so-called One Health strategies, which take a holistic approach to health - across humans, animals and the environment.
The exchange did not remain abstract: several concrete results emerged directly from the dialogue. For example, an Indian version of the Swiss AMR database ANRESIS was developed by Dr Shraddha Karve and Prof Andreas Kronenberg in order to collect and utilise reliable surveillance data for resistant pathogens in India.
In addition, a joint publication in Nature was produced in which Dr Shraddha Karve(Ashoka University) and Dr Reety Arora(CRISPRBITS) shed light on new approaches in dealing with AMR. Such projects show: The dialogue has long since arrived in scientific practice.
A particular concern of the organisers is the involvement of young scientists. For example, companies implemented insights they had gained from the work of Indian researchers and Indian students spent time in Switzerland to complete their Master's theses."
The dialogue format was such a success for all participants that it is to take place every two years in future - as a platform for sustainable cooperation, joint project development and international knowledge transfer in the AMR sector.
The Indo-Swiss AMR Innovation Dialogue 2025 was made possible by the support of the SATW as part of its specialist funding. The member company biotechnet Switzerland played a central role in this - as co-organiser and as a bridge builder between research and application. Together with other committed players, they contributed to making the dialogue a living example of successful international cooperation.
Universität Zürich, Global Affairs
Swissnex India
