Digital Summit Switzerland 2026: digitalswitzerland Launches Swiss AI Action Plan
At the invitation of digitalswitzerland and together with partners EY, Dassault Systèmes, Ringier, PHOENIQS, and Andermatt Swiss Alps, around 200 decision-makers from business, politics, academia, and public administration gathered at the Digital Summit Switzerland 2026 in Andermatt to discuss Switzerland's digital future. The insights led by digitalswitzerland on May 26 and 27 focused on the impact of AI, digital sovereignty, the competitiveness of Switzerland as a business location, and the question of how Switzerland can secure its digital infrastructure in the long term.
Under the motto "Using AI Opportunities While Maintaining Control," digitalswitzerland set a strategic milestone for the country with the presentation of the Swiss AI Action Plan. As part of the program designed by the umbrella organization for digitalization, which featured over 25 speakers, around 200 participants discussed topics including the implementation of the e-ID, investments in data centers and energy supply, digital skills, and measures to strengthen the responsible use of AI.
The high-profile speakers included WEF founder Klaus Schwab, ETH President Joël Mesot, Swiss Re Group CEO Andreas Berger, Harvard Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Mobiliar CEO Michèle Rodoni, OpenAI Manager Guido Brinkel, Microsoft Vice President Jeff Bullwinkel, and EPFL Vice President Edouard Bugnion.
For the future of AI in Switzerland, digitalswitzerland CEO Franziska Barmettler called for a joint effort: "The consensus of this year's Digital Summit is clear: we must act decisively now. We need to invest smartly in our digital infrastructure, accelerate the adoption of AI in our country, and strengthen AI literacy among the population. With the first version of the Swiss AI Action Plan and the results of the new DigitalBarometer, we have laid a strong foundation for this in Andermatt. On the 'Road to Geneva,' we must now join forces to translate this plan into measurable results. The Geneva AI Summit 2027 represents an opportunity for Switzerland to position itself internationally as a leading nation for trustworthy AI."
DigitalBarometer 2026: Population Torn Between AI Optimism and the Desire for Control
The baseline for the summit was established by the DigitalBarometer 2026, published on Tuesday by the Risk Dialogue Foundation (Stiftung Risiko-Dialog), digitalswitzerland, and Mobiliar. This representative survey highlights the population's attitude toward digitalization and, by extension, AI:
Optimism regarding AI development: Almost one in two people (48%) expect that the opportunities of AI will outweigh the risks over the next five years – the potential is viewed particularly positively in industry and production.
Massive "Swissness" bonus: A sensational 83% of the population state that a "Made in Switzerland" label strengthens their trust in digital services (compared to only 53% for an EU label).
Shift in sentiment regarding societal impact: For the first time, the predominantly positive perception of digitalization since 2020 is shifting. Today, 41% of respondents rate the impact negatively (compared to only 34% positively). Furthermore, 24% feel that they generally can no longer keep up with the pace.
Skill gaps in everyday life: Although 80% consider themselves reflective in their approach to AI, only 53% feel truly confident using AI tools in their daily practical lives. Additionally, 74% fear that AI will weaken creative work and independent thinking in the long term.
Trust in the state and data protection: For the e-ID (56%) and the electronic patient record (58%), the state enjoys significantly more trust than private companies. At the same time, 76% prioritize data privacy over pure convenience.
The Answer: digitalswitzerland's Swiss AI Action Plan
As an action-oriented response, digitalswitzerland, in close coordination with the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), is presenting the Swiss AI Action Plan for the first time. This dynamic roadmap comprises 23 concrete actions across five strategic core areas to secure Switzerland's technological self-determination and competitiveness:
Scaled AI Literacy & Education: Launch of a large-scale, national awareness campaign starting in 2027 with the goal of training one million people in the responsible use of AI. This will be supplemented by a practical "Playbook for AI Adoption" for SMEs, as well as targeted AI certificates for administrative professions.
World Class Research and Innovation: Promotion of cutting-edge research and targeted knowledge transfer to the economy. This includes the further development of open, transparent Swiss AI models (such as Apertus) for critical industries, as well as advancing the vision of a global "CERN for AI" as a basis for discussion at the Geneva AI Summit 2027.
Resilient Digital Infrastructure: Building stable, domestic data center capacities based on a projection of domestic computing power and electricity needs. In addition, the framework conditions for setting up AI infrastructure are to be improved.
AI-Ready Data: Providing high-quality, linkable, and legally secure datasets from both the public and private sectors to serve as a reliable fuel for AI applications.
Smart AI Governance: An innovation-friendly, lean regulatory approach that protects fundamental rights and is supplemented by voluntary industry self-commitments.
The Digital Summit 2026 made it clear: Switzerland has strong prerequisites in research, innovation, and trust. At the same time, pressure is mounting to implement digital projects faster, close the existing implementation gap, and secure strategic infrastructures in the long term.
digitalswitzerland will put the findings from Andermatt directly into practice together with business, politics, and academia, and will continuously deepen and develop the actions of the Swiss AI Action Plan alongside partners from business, administration, and research. A key next milestone on this path will be the Global AI Summit 2027 in Geneva. This year's Digital Summit was supported by partners EY, Dassault Systèmes, Ringier, PHOENIQS, and Andermatt Swiss Alps.
More about the AI Action Plan can be found at: https://ai-actionplan.ch/
More quotes and images about digitalswitzerland can be found at: www.flickr.com
Media contact
digitalswitzerland
David Torcasso
Head of Communications & Marketing
+41 78 824 48 80
david@digitalswitzerland.com
About digitalswitzerland
digitalswitzerland is the independent voice for digital transformation in Switzerland.
As an umbrella organisation with over 130 members from business, science, and civil society, digitalswitzerland unites actors from all sectors to further extend Switzerland’s position as a leading digital nation.
digitalswitzerland focuses on cross-sector, core digital issues, and complements the work of sector-specific associations. Driven by business and science, digitalswitzerland works in close dialogue with authorities to create favourable framework conditions to enable the full potential of digital technologies within Switzerland’s federalist system