India-Swiss Bilateral Agreements on Migration, Mobility and Research Collaboration
During the state visit of the President of the Swiss Confederation to India, five significant agreements were signed covering migration, mobility, research, and technology collaboration. The Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) Memorandum of Understanding aims to develop cooperation under equal treatment principles while preventing and combating irregular migration, human exploitation, and trafficking in accordance with national laws. The agreement provides for multiple-entry visas valid for up to 5 years, allowing stays of up to 6 months on each visit, along with renewable 1-year student permits.
The Agreement on the Exchange of Young Professionals (YPS) governs the exchange of young professionals taking up temporary employment in the other country to enhance their professional and language skills within their field. The program incorporates an exchange of 300 persons annually per country, which may increase to 500, with a timeline of 30/90 days for verification of nationality and residency status among other provisions.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and India's Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to promote collaboration in transportation technologies, mobility systems, and infrastructure. The agreement focuses on sustainable infrastructure development with emphasis on electric vehicles, ropeways, circular economy, tunnels, and other transport sectors.
Additional agreements include a Letter of Intent between India's Department of Science and Technology and the Swiss National Science Foundation to promote long-term scientific collaboration and build partnerships for future joint research across mutually agreed priority areas. An Implementation Arrangement was also established between the Department of Science and Technology and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences for cooperation in innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship through the Indo-Swiss Academia-Industry Training program for early-stage startups.
The visit also featured the announcement of the inaugural session of the Indo-Swiss Research Flagship event in collaboration with India's Ministry of Science and Technology, further strengthening bilateral research cooperation.