10/11/2026
Developed in Switzerland, shared with the world. 🇨🇭🌍
Science has the greatest impact when knowledge is shared. On World Science Day for Peace and Development, discover four contributions developed in Switzerland whose benefits reach far beyond its borders:
The World Wide Web: Invented by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989 to help researchers share information. CERN made the Web software freely available in 1993, helping it spread worldwide.
Hand hygiene: At Geneva University Hospitals, Didier Pittet and William Griffiths helped make alcohol-based hand disinfection part of everyday care. Their work with the World Health Organization helped spread this approach internationally, including through formulations that healthcare facilities can produce locally.
Precision proton therapy: At the Paul Scherrer Institute, researchers developed spot-scanning proton therapy, which treats tumours point by point while limiting radiation to surrounding healthy tissue. First used to treat a patient at PSI in 1996, the technique is now used worldwide.
Solar water disinfection: Building on earlier research in Lebanon, scientists at Eawag developed and tested SODIS, a method that uses sunlight and clear PET bottles to disinfect water. Together with local partners, they helped bring it to communities in more than 25 countries.
Four examples of how research, international cooperation and shared knowledge can support better health, access to information and safer water.