2018

OPENING ADDRESSES
Jean-François PAROZ, Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan
TAKATSU Naoshi, Managing Partner, North East Asia, IMD (International Institute for Management Development)

KEYNOTE
Mauro DELL'AMBROGIO, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation of Switzerland

PANEL 1
Advantages resulting from the cooperation between the two countries in terms of competitiveness and innovation were discussed. The favorable environment in Switzerland for Japanese companies was also highlighted with the example of the Sunstar Group, which moved its global headquarters to Switzerland in 2007 from Osaka. The challenges and opportunities resulting from aging societies both in Japan and Switzerland were also considered.

SPEAKERS
Mauro DELL'AMBROGIO, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation of Switzerland
MAEDA Ryuhei, Senior Advisor, ANA Holdings Inc.
Wieland NOETZOLD, Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Planning, Sunstar Suisse SA
Moderation: TAKATSU Naoshi, Managing Partner, North East Asia, IMD (International Institute for Management Development)

KEYNOTE
Florian KOHLBACHER, Director, Economist Corporate Network, North Asia, The Economist Group

PANEL 2
Ageing means business. While Japan is often discussed in terms of its rapidly aging demography, the rest of the world, including Switzerland, are not that far behind. Despite the immense business potential lies in the growing silver market, not many leaders have come on board. Academic experts, and business executives discussed their best practices at this event.

SPEAKERS
Florian KOHLBACHER, Director, Economist Corporate Network, North Asia, The Economist Group
Sabina MISOCH, Professor, Sociologist and Head of the Interdisciplinary Competence Centre for Ageing (IKOA) at the University of Applied Sciences St. Gallen
SHIMADA Yuka, HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K.
SHIBATA Takanori, Chief Senior Research Scientist, Human Informatics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology – AIST
Moderation: Michael MROCZEK, Attorney-at-law, Switzerland

CONCLUSION
Claudio MAZZUCCHELLI, Head of Swiss Business Hub Japan