The Geneva Center for Neutrality (GCN) hosted a public debate, “Science, Art, Sport & Neutrality: Can Switzerland remain a neutral hub?” at the Swiss Press Club in Geneva on Tuesday, 23 September 2025. Moderated by Nicolas Ramseier, President of GCN, the discussion brought together leading voices from diplomacy, science, and multilateral affairs: Carl Gustav Lundin, marine biologist and former IUCN director, expert in ocean governance, Lisa Emelia Svensson, Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN, Amb. Jean-Daniel Ruch, former Swiss Ambassador to Serbia, Turkey, and Israel, Gérard Escher, Senior Advisor, GESDA.
Opening the discussion, Amb. Jean-Daniel Ruch emphasized that a truly neutral hub safeguards artists, athletes, and scientists from blanket boycotts while creating space for peaceful protest and reasoned exchange. A 2011 mediation around the Basel “Culturescapes” festival was cited as a successful model: keep culture open, add structured dialogue. He mentioned also that Switzerland’s credibility has enabled cross-border initiatives despite political rifts: the Transnational Red Sea Center is one of the best examples. Neutral, excellence-driven platforms help adversaries work together on shared problems.
The panel warned that Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China in “big science” and tech. The solution can be to invest in open, rigorous research and keep debate broad, but pair openness with proportionate security and ethics guardrails. Speakers emphasized huge potential of Switzerland, having a very progressive science centers, like CERN in Geneva, in EPFL in Lausanne, ETH in Zurich, etc. Geneva should convene its role as a neutral international platform faster, more inclusive (internationally, with private sector, scientists, citizens), and anchored in concrete domains such as science diplomacy, AI, neurotechnology, quantum, and climate and health data. Expert-driven standards processes point to a pragmatic “new multilateralism.”
As well, as host to major sports bodies, Switzerland’s image is intertwined with governance standards. Neutrality in sport should protect participation and fair play while addressing misconduct transparently.
As a conclusion, experts are convinced Switzerland’s evolving stance regarding neutrality underscores the need for a fresh, society-wide debate. Swiss Confederation can remain a global hub for science, art and sport, if it protects civil-society exchanges, convenes rivals around science and standards internationally, funds bold open research, and manages real security risks with proportionate safeguards. Geneva’s power - paired with scientific quality, ethical foresight, mediation platform and institutional agility can keep Switzerland at the heart of global cooperation.
