The dazzling world of Swissnex: Inside the federal government's most unusual diplomats

Swissnex, an organization tasked with promoting Swiss education, research, and innovation globally, is under scrutiny for its spending and internal culture. With offices in major international hubs like San Francisco, Rio, and Bangalore, the organization receives significant funding from the Swiss federal government, totaling over 32 million Swiss francs in the last five years.

While Swissnex employees refer to themselves as "science diplomats" and aim to connect researchers and companies, their daily work is sometimes documented in lighthearted videos featuring office pranks and team interactions, tagged with "Office Pranks" or "Life at Swissnex." This contrasts with the serious mission assigned by the government, which positions Swissnex as part of the federal economic department and the foreign ministry's external network.

Adding to the concerns is the dual role of the communications chief at the Bangalore office, who also serves as the director of Amnesty International India. This position is politically sensitive, as Amnesty International has faced conflict with the Indian government and is considered effectively banned. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI), to which Swissnex is affiliated, stated that the employee performs her duties without overlap and outside of work hours, calling it standard practice for secondary employment, but did not comment on the political implications.

The article also touches upon past issues, mentioning that Swissnex's San Francisco office recently faced its own challenges, though details are not provided in this excerpt.