GUEST
Dr. Felix Moesner – CEO of Swissnex
In this episode, we got to sit down with Dr. Felix Moesner, a current member of the Swiss consul to Japan and the CEO of Swissnex. He has experience working in the private business sector for 10 years and has lived all around the globe. Now being back in Japan serving as the science consul of the consulate of Switzerland, we got a chance to sit down and hear this story.
Why did we reach out to Dr. Felix Moesner?
Our podcast host, Tobias had the pleasure to meet Dr. Felix Moesner after attending a Swissnex event. After getting to know him and his team a little better, he decided that we must have him share his story on Unpacking Japan. It isn’t often that people get the opportunity to learn about diplomacy and work as a consul.
What we talked about:
In this episode, we touched on several key topics: how Dr. Felix Moesner came to work for the Swiss consulate, why Switzerland is focusing so heavily on science and the future of technology, the communication differences between Western and Japanese business cultures, the major challenges many startups face in Japan, and the goals of Swissnex. Dr. Moesner delves into his journey, explaining why he came to Japan to pursue his Ph.D. in robotics and how he transitioned from academia to 10 years in the private sector. After leaving the private sector, he became a member of the Swiss consulate. This year, after traveling the world, he returned to Japan to work at the new Swiss consulate in Osaka.
Contrary to popular belief, consulates are not only about promoting fiscal policy through politics or handling visa-related procedures. Dr. Moesner explains that he has been focusing on science diplomacy. With Switzerland being a landlocked country with limited resources, they have been determined and passionate to foster and share their knowledge with the world. Currently, he supports this goal as the CEO of Swissnex Japan.
Swissnex is an initiative of the Swiss government designed to promote international collaboration in education, research, cultural diplomacy, and innovation. They also provide support for start-ups looking to enter the Japanese market. It operates as a global network that connects Switzerland with the world by fostering partnerships between academic institutions, research centers, companies, startups, and public organizations. Swissnex aims to enhance Switzerland’s reputation as a leading center of scientific research, technology, and entrepreneurship.
