The decision to create GESDA in Switzerland, a country of 8 million inhabitants relying on a long tradition of disruptive research in science, engineering and technology, on renowned neutrality-driven diplomacy, a vibrant direct democracy as well as innovative companies and people open to the world, and more specifically to locate the Foundation in Geneva, has two related origins.
The Swiss federal government and the Canton of Geneva co-founded GESDA in collaboration with the City of Geneva to leverage the current and future International Geneva ecosystem, with currently close to 100 international organizations, over 700 non-governmental organizations, 180 representations of states, and over 1,600 multinationals businesses.
Geneva is known to be the operational hub of efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing peace, rights and well-being to every corner of the world. The guiding principles of everything we do are “Leave no one behind” (the SDG lead principle) and “Everyone has the right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits” (Art. 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
We are located on Campus Biotech, an international research park that is home to a number of cutting-edge science initiatives (in data and digital science, epidemiology or brain sciences amongst others), including partners such as the CyberPeace Institute and the Swiss Digital Initiative. Campus Biotech is also within walking distance of most International Geneva actors.
