Context and Allegations
In 2021, the Geneva-based Haute école spécialisée de Genève (HEPIA) was reportedly involved in a confidential collaboration with Philip Morris. According to the RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse) investigative desk, discussions centered on tests of efficiency in agronomic research, but the full details remain unclear. Philip Morris has stated to RTS that the collaboration did not progress beyond a preliminary evaluation, while HEPIA declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement binding the institution to the multinational.
Transparency and Legal Questions
OxySuisse’s pursuit of documents
OxySuisse, a Swiss association campaigning against tobacco industry influence, sought full access to the contract. Its president, Pascal Diethelm, argued that scientific transparency is a cornerstone of academic rigor, essential to verify that integrity rules are respected. The Geneva Administrative Court ultimately sided with OxySuisse, enabling the association to obtain the agreement in subsequent proceedings.
HEPIA has also provided RTS with the signed convention with Philip Morris, but the document reportedly contains no substantive details about the discussions; on the contrary, it blocks further communications on the topic. Confidentiality clauses of this kind are not unusual in applied research, but they fuel questions about openness in areas where public health considerations are at stake.
Broader Context in Romandy
RTS investigations uncovered that other Romand higher education institutions have engaged with tobacco and nicotine industries. The rectorate spokesperson for the Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale (HES-SO) noted that all Romand HES must adhere to a Scientific Integrity Code based on reliability, honesty, respect, and responsibility. These four principles aim to prevent harm to the environment or public health and to maintain trust in academic research.
Nevertheless, Pascal Diethelm, head of OxySuisse, contends that such partnerships inherently undermine ethical norms and scientific integrity. He argues that the tobacco industry’s products pose real risks and that its cultural patterns of secrecy make strict adherence to ethical guidelines difficult, if not impossible, within these collaborations.
Industry Response and Academic Boundaries
Philip Morris, through a company spokesperson, defends collaborations as part of a broader research program to develop products potentially less harmful for adult smokers. The spokesperson told RTS that the aim is to advance harm-reduction science and encouraged critics to engage with the data rather than dismiss the concept outright.
In response to rising scrutiny, the board of directors at HES-SO has commissioned a legal and ethical review to clarify the boundaries of such partnerships and to draft common guidelines. The objective is to reconcile innovation with robust safeguards for scientific integrity, transparency, and public health considerations.
Implications for Swiss Higher Education
The unfolding debate illustrates a tension at the heart of Swiss higher education: how to balance industry collaboration and the pursuit of practical advancements with unwavering commitments to transparency and public welfare. The case raises critical questions about the role of confidentiality in research, the right of the public to scrutinize partnerships, and the mechanisms by which universities and polytechnics govern potential conflicts of interest.
Conclusion
As the legal and ethical analyses proceed, Swiss higher education faces a defining moment: can collaborations with powerful industries be reimagined to preserve scientific integrity and protect health outcomes, or will opacity persist as a default? The RTS reporting and the OxySuisse case have already accelerated calls for clearer guidelines, stronger transparency, and more consistent ethics standards across Romandy’s institutions.
