Organisation

The National Network consists of a number of thematic clusters. A cluster is a group of scientific experts in a crisis-related subject area. Its members are selected according to criteria laid down by the executive committees of the institutions of the education, research and innovation (ERI) sector.

• In its own field, the Network serves as an interface between science and policy-making by anticipating risks and preparing analyses that are useful to the authorities.

• Each cluster is led by a scientific steering committee which proposes experts, sets priorities and determines its working methods.

• The institutions of the ERI sector – the ETH Board, swissuniversities, the SNSF, Innosuisse, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, and the Swiss Science Council – support the clusters and ensure the smooth running of the scientific secretariats responsible for coordination, administration and communication.

Together, the clusters and their members form the Network: they ensure continuous scientific monitoring in the various specialist areas, exchange information with the authorities, take preventive action and prepare for crisis situations.

At present there are four thematic clusters:

• Public Health

• Disinformation (under development)

• Cybersecurity

• International Challenges

How it works

In normal times, the clusters carry out scientific monitoring, identify potential risks and foster regular dialogue with the authorities. These dialogues are an important tool for policy advice while also strengthening mutual trust. This forms the basis for the ability to work together in times of crisis.

In a crisis situation, an ad-hoc expert group is set up at the request of the Federal Council in order to provide targeted, interdisciplinary expertise; this group is incorporated into the federal government’s crisis management unit. The Federal Council appoints experts to the panel of experts when a crisis occurs.

This structure makes it possible to combine foresight with rapid implementation.

Selection of experts included in the Network

With few exceptions, the experts in the National Science Advice Network come from Swiss universities and research institutes. The process is based on an agreement formulated jointly by the Federal Chancellery, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and the ERI institutions. The members of the clusters are selected by the executive committees of the six ERI institutions for a term of four years on the recommendation of the steering committee. In addition to professional expertise, the selection criteria also include the ability to give scientific policy advice using the “honest broker” approach, as well as appropriate coverage of the relevant subject areas, language regions and genders.

Code of Practice

All the experts in the Network's clusters undertake to abide by a Code of Practice approved in 2023. This sets forth the key principles:

• scientific independence and integrity,

• transparency of processes and management of conflicts of interest,

• acting as “honest brokers”: i.e. presenting the current state of knowledge, the uncertainties and the various possible scenarios, without recommending policy options.

This framework ensures that science contributes impartially to public decision-making and strengthens trust between scientists, the authorities and society.