Swiss minister warns 'geopolitics of knowledge' threatens science

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has raised alarms about an emerging "geopolitics of knowledge" that is eroding international trust in scientific progress. Speaking at the 2025 Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipation (GESDA) Summit, Cassis warned that rapid technological advances in fields like artificial intelligence and synthetic biology are outpacing the ability of political systems to regulate them.

Technological Advances Outpacing Political Frameworks

Cassis highlighted specific technologies, including quantum computing and neurotechnology, as developing faster than corresponding political and ethical guidelines. "We face a dangerous mix, a world losing both its geopolitical compass and its trust in science," he stated, emphasizing the urgent need to defend factual evidence against misinformation and ideological influence on a global scale.

Global Conflicts Impacting Scientific Cooperation

The minister noted that traditional geopolitics is "on fire," with multiplying conflicts and scientific collaboration increasingly constrained by national interests and strategic rivalries. He pointed to Switzerland's efforts during its 2024 UN Security Council presidency, which successfully established a formal recognition between scientific advancement and international peace.

New Initiative for Ethical Technology Development

Addressing these challenges, Cassis announced the launch of a new GESDA initiative focused on Brain-Computer Interfaces. This coalition of foundations and global partners aims to ensure such powerful technologies promote human welfare and reduce inequality, rather than exacerbating global divisions. "The duty to build bridges is ours, and we must do it together," he concluded.