History of the partnership
The following is a chronological list of the most important meetings and activities that have taken place to date within the context of the State Partnership between Basel-Stadt and Massachusetts.
Basel, 18th April 2011
Annual reception in the Basel City Hall (Rathaus)
For the eighth time, a selection of students from high schools in Wakefield, Gloucester and Natick in the US-American state of Massachusetts has taken part in the student exchange programme between the partner states. The Department of Presidential Affairs of Basel-Stadt supports this inter-cultural project within the framework of the Basel - Massachusetts State Partnership, and invited the guest students to an official reception in the City Hall. The welcoming address was given by Barbara Schüpbach-Guggenbühl, State Chancellor of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Alex Daniels, the Press & Cultural Attaché of the US-American embassy in Bern, also had a few words for the exchange participants.
October 2010
On the initiative of the Office for the Economy and Labour (AWA) of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, a delegation of von business promotion organisations from North-Western Switzerland will be visiting Boston. The main focus will be on exchange of expertise and meetings of experts within the context of the events at Swissnex Boston.
Student reception
As in every spring, guest students from Massachusetts will be received by representatives of the government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. In the presence of a representative from the US Embassy, the students from Massachusetts, who are participating in a exchange programme of the Gymnasium Leonhard and the Wirtschaftsgymnasium, were received in the Parliament Hall (Grossratssaal) of the Basel Town Hall (Rathaus).
More about the student exchange.
May 2008
Boston College in Basel
As in the year before, group of students of economics at Boston College visit leading companies and institutes in Basel.
February 21, 2008
New adhesive tape from Masssachusetts and Basel
In a joint research project, scientists at the Biozentrum of Basel University, MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a new adhesive tape for doctors The tape has been inspired by the gecko. More.
September 28, 2007
Novartis – MIT Center for Continuous Manufacturing
The pharmaceutical company Novartis and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) start a longterm research cooperation to develop new methods for the production of pharmaceuticals.
July 3, 2007
Biozentrum and MIT develop a fungicidal surface
Scientists at the Biozentrum of Basel University and at MIT present a process by which medicinal products such as needles or catheters can be covered with a fungicidal surface. More.
July 19, 2007
Successful cooperation in nano sciences
An international team of researchers at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute of Basel University, MIT, Harvard University and Bell Labs succeeded in experimentally proving a promising quantum state in semiconductor nanostructures. These ground breaking experiments are an important step towards the development of a topological quantum calculator. More.
May 2007
Boston College in Basel
A group of students of economics at Boston College visit several companies and institutes in Basel.
May 2007
BIO 2007 in Boston
Several representatives from Basel (politicians and economic leaders) participate in BIO 2007, the global fair for biotechnology.
April 23, 2007
Renewal of the Sister State Agreement
Governor Deval L. Patrick, who was elected in November 2006, renews the Sister State Agreement between Massachusetts and Basel in a proclamation presented to the Basel Government by exchange students of Gloucester High School.
2007
Drug management project
University Hospital Basel and Brigham Hospital at Harvard Medical School start a joint drug management project.
October 2006
Economic relations are intensified
BaselArea (Economic Promotion Basel), the Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit des Kantons Basel-Stadt and the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment intensify their cooperation.
March 2004
Joint Master course in eBusiness/eGovernment
The Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Boston College and Babson College offer a joint international Executive Master in eBusiness/eGovernment.
2004 to 2006
Exchange on „NursingCare“
University Hospital Basel and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston start an exchange on „Effects of Rationing on Nursing Care“.
2004 to 2006
Exchange on civil engineering projects “Urban Geoscience”
The Department of Geosciences of Basel University initiates an exchange on civil engineering projects with MIT in Cambridge. The exchange is called “Urban Geosciences”.
September 2003
Going to Boston
A group of students of Gymnasium Leonhard in Basel enjoy a visit to Memorial High School in Wakefield. This is the start of an exchange programme between several partner schools (Gymnasium Leonhard, Wirtschaftsgymnasium, Wakefield Memorial High School, Gloucester High School and Natick High School). Every year, students of Basel and Massachusetts visit each other.
May 8 to 10, 2003
Welcoming visit to the new Governor
State councillor Ralph Lewin visits the new Governor Mitt Romney. Together with former Governor Jane Swift, Lewin receives the “Julius Adam Stratton Prize for Intercultural Achievements” awarded by the association “Friends of Switzerland”.
June 20, 2002
Sister State Agreement is signed
Governor Jane Swift and President Carlo Conti sign the Sister State Agreement between Basel-Stadt and Massachusetts in Boston.
May 2002
NIBR Headquarter in Boston inaugurated
Novartis opens its global research headquarters at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge.
November 3, 2000
The association “Friends of Massachusetts” is founded
The “Friends of Massachusetts” are founded as a private non-profit association. This association will lay the basis of the future partnership and initiate a number of projects.
October 2000
SHARE Boston is opened
State Councillor Ralph Lewin is invited by the Swiss Federation to open the first Swiss research consulate SHARE (Swiss House of Advanced Research and Education) world wide in Boston.
May 22, 2000
Memorandum of Understanding is signed
Substitute Governor Jane Swift visits Basel on a trade mission. Along with president Ralph Lewin, she signs a Memorandum of Understanding, in which both states agree to extend their relationship. The Memorandum is the first step on the path to an institutionalized partnership.