Inspiration & Networking Archives

Tech leaders from industry, academia and government gather to address sustainability challenges.

Many countries and businesses have made it a top priority to become more sustainable and climate neutral. But how can the two driving forces sustainability and digitalisation be combined to safeguard our future? Both today and in the coming years. Considered together, these two key topics can create ecological, economic and social benefits. A challenge as tall as sustainability can’t be addressed alone and collaboration is key.

This was the central thread woven into a world class event during our recent World Economic Forum 2023 Breakfast event in Davos. digitalswitzerland, in partnership with Palantir, hosted an engaging event titled “Tech for Good – addressing Climate Change with Digital Solutions“. It brought together an esteemed lineup of speakers, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Dr. Alex Karp of Palantir, Dieter Vranckx of SWISS, and Dr. Peter Richner of EMPA. The format, with keynotes and a panel discussion, allowed for a rich exploration of the topic and a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights.

*L-R Dr. Alex Karp, CEO Palantir and Marc Walder, Founder digitalswitzerland*

Marc Walder (Founder of digitalswitzerland) and Dr. Alex Karp (CEO Palantir) welcomed our members and partners before introducing the keynote speakers. The panel that followed discussed the role of technology in addressing the pressing issue of climate change and the potential for digital solutions to have a significant impact.

*Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research*

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin highlighted the importance of Tech for Good for the Swiss economy and Swiss corporations, as well as for Swiss research and innovation. “It is important to promote the synergies between these two worlds as much as possible. This is to ensure the well-being of all in our country, but also beyond our borders. Digitalisation is a huge engine of change that is transforming society and the economy at a rapid pace. The potential is immense. Switzerland absolutely must make use of them”.

*Dieter R. F. Vranckx, Chief Executive Officer at Swiss International Air Lines*

Dieter Vranckx of SWISS shared his insights on the airline industry’s efforts to reduce emissions. During the pandemic, SWISS set environmental sustainability as its top priority. Vranckx is convinced that, “in the long term only airlines that become much more environmentally friendly than they are today will have a significant place in this world and contribute to the mobility of the future”.

Peter Richner, Head of Department Engineering Sciences at Empa

Dr. Peter Richner of EMPA discussed the potential of reliable and consistent greenhouse gas data. The goal is a digital solution that simplifies the modelling and analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in all international value chains. “If we want to achieve the goal of net zero, we can only do so if we measure what we do. We need a tool that enables us all to make smarter decisions when building value chains. This is exactly what WISER makes possible”.

The event provided valuable insights into the potential of technology to address climate change and the importance of collaboration between government, industry and academia. It was a great opportunity for digitalswitzerland members and partners to learn more about the latest developments and initiatives in the field, and to network with other experts in the area.

View more images from the event and read more about our Lunch Event Creating Value in the Metaverse, held at the Wipro Pavilion.

Photography by Moritz Schmid of Chilyvent.

The metaverse is a virtual world where the physical meets the digital. It is the idea of a new digital world that merges with the real world. It does not consist of monitors and keyboards, but gives the user the feeling of a real, physical interaction in the digital world. Users can interact with each other and with digital objects in a shared space. This trailblazing technology has the potential to change the way we live, work and play.

One of the most important ways for companies to benefit from the metaverse is to create value for the society, companies and their customers. This can be through immersive experiences, such as virtual reality shopping, multisensory experiences or gaming. Companies that invest in this technology now will be well positioned to reap the potential benefits in the future.

The digitalswitzerland WEF 2023 Lunch, hosted by Wipro, was a meeting of industry leaders and experts in the field of the metaverse. The event addressed the topic of “Creating Value in the Metaverse“, taking place in Davos. It provided an excellent opportunity for digitalswitzerland members to learn from some of the most respected industry leaders.

The event featured keynotes and a panel discussion with influential figures in the metaverse field, including Angie Gifford of Meta, Yat Siu of Animoca Brands, Efsun Erkiliç of Refik Anadol Studio, Isabel Steinhoff of Dimenteers, Srini Pallia of Wipro, Eric Saracchi of Firmenich and Cathy Hackl of Journey. After the welcome by Marc Walder, founder of digitalswitzerland and René Mulder, CEO Wipro Switzerland, the guests were guided through the event by Stefan Metzger, CEO of digitalswitzerland.

The event also gave participants the opportunity to network with other industry leaders and experts. Overall, the digitalswitzerland WEF 2023 Lunch was a valuable opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding of this exciting new field.

*Stefan Metzger, CEO digitalswitzerland*

Angie Gifford of Meta, a company that is developing a metaverse platform that allows users to create and share virtual experiences. “The metaverse is the next evolution of the internet”. Anyone talking about the digital world of the future can not avoid the Metaverse. Here, products can be experienced – independent of space and time. Interactions can be made more authentic in the metaverse, but without replacing the real world. We want people to have a better experience online, not more time online. Education opportunities in this space are exciting and the ability to share data in virtual rooms for example.

*Angie Gifford, Vice President EMEA at Meta & Supervisory Board Member*

Yat Siu of Animoca Brands, a company specialising in the development of digital collectibles and gaming experiences, sees ownership as the foundation of the metaverse. He kicked off his talk with the vita questions: Do we actually own the rights to our digital existence? Do we actually own our digital assets? AI and Deep Learning offer great value, but there is a catch. Who owns the data? It is important to understand the value of data. Do we own the rights to our digital existence? To quote George Washington: Freedom and property rights are inseparable.

*Efsun Erkiliç, Partner at Refik Anadol Studio*

Efsun Erkiliç of Refik Anadol Studio, a company that creates immersive, data-driven art installations, sees the metaverse as a way to create new forms of expression. “We want to create public art. As artists, we are interested in people. The pandemic made us realise that we already live in a digital world. Our research and practice focuses on people and puts them at the centre of everything we do. Efsun believes that the metaverse will allow artists and creators to push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating new ways to tell stories and express themselves.

*Isabel Steinhoff, Transformation Expert and Metaverse Entrepreneur, Dimenteers (centre)*

Isabel Steinhoff of Dimenteers, a company supporting leaders to become pioneers in the metaverse. “Businesses must first educate themselves and then engage with the amazing customer experiences. You need to communicate, move and shake up the possibilities from the top down. Explore and be vulnerable. If you do this, you can open up new possibilities for your company”.

*Srini Pallia, CEO, Americas & Member of Wipro Executive Board* (centre)

Srini Pallia of Wipro, a leading global technology, consulting and services company, sees the metaverse as a way to create new opportunities for innovation and value creation. The metaverse is not just about customer experience, it’s about the way we do business – it’s a game changer.

*Eric Saracchi, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Firmenich (right)*

Eric Saracchi of Firmenich, a company that specialises in creating and producing flavours and fragrances, sees the metaverse as a way to create new opportunities for customer engagement. The metaverse is a conversion of senses, not technology. The motto in exploring the possibilities of the metaverse: be curious, be foolish and embrace the technology. We need to be fast and furious.

*Cathy Hackl, Founder & Chief Metaverse Officer at Journey*

Cathy Hackl of Journey, a company that specialises in creating virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, sees the metaverse as a way to create new opportunities for storytelling and brand building. Cathy states that it’s important to build towards the long-term, not just the ‘hype cycle’ surrounding the metaverse.

Overall, these leaders in the metaverse space see the technology as a way to create new opportunities for value creation, innovation, and revenue generation. They all have different perspectives and specialities, but they all see the metaverse as a powerful tool that companies can use to create new forms of value for their customers.

View more images of the event here and read about our eSustainability Breakfast Event, which took place at the Palantir Pavilion.

Photography by Moritz Schmid of Chilyvent.

The ePower parliamentary group discussed the highly topical and virulent subject of cyber security at its traditional session event on Tuesday evening. National Councillor Franz Grüter, member of the ePower core team, welcomed top-class representatives from politics, administration, business and science. The cross-party audience agreed: cyber security is the order of the day.

The evening was opened by none other than Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer. The head of the Federal Department of Finance left no doubt about the importance of the topic: the cyber threat is one of the four main risks for Switzerland.

The complete article is available in the national language German and French.

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Please find our archive of press releases.

If you represent a magazine, newspaper or another kind of media entity, or have other media related inquiries, please get in touch.

Email our Director of Communications Eliane Panek: eliane@digitalswitzerland.com

2022

December

14.12.2022 – The Swiss population is ready for a digital healthcare system. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

October

27.10.2022 – Those were the Swiss Digital Days 2022. Find the press release in German, French and Italian.

04.10.2022 – Study on digitalisation in Switzerland: Great willingness – little movement. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

03.10.2022 – Swiss Digital Days 2022 are coming to Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Read the press release in German.

September

28.09.2022 – IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking: Switzerland once again among the top 5 worldwide. Read the press release in German and French.

27.09.2022 – Swiss Digital Days 2022 are coming to Ticino. Read the press release in Italian.

20.09.2022 – Digital sustainability and secure browsing: Swiss Digital Days are coming to the Romandie. Read the press release in French.

13.09.2022 – Augmented reality glasses and e-scooters: Swiss Digital Days are coming to Zurich. Read the press release in German.

06.09.2022 – Digital topics for young and old: there’s something for everyone at Swiss Digital Days in Northwestern Switzerland. Read the press release in German.

05.09.2022 – Switzerland’s largest NFT project unveiled at the start of Swiss Digital Days 2022. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

August

30.08.2022- 4. Digital Gipfel Schweiz: International business leaders, academics and digital thought leaders meet to exchange views on the digital future. Read the press release in German and French.

29.08.2022 – Startup battle, hackathon and big bubbles: Swiss Digital Days are coming to Bern. Read the press release in German.

July

21.07.2022 – From A as in Aarau to Z as in Zurich: Swiss Digital Days 2022 are going on a Switzerland-wide tour. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

June

28.06.2022 – No improvement in cybersecurity among SMEs despite digitalisation boost from Corona crisis. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

March

18.03.2022 – An important step towards increasing Switzerland’s cyber resilience: statement on Amendment of the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (OTS) to protect telecommunications infrastructures and services. Read the press release in German and French.

January

26.01.2022 – Statement on the amendment of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration. Read the press release in German and French.

18.01.2022 – The Swiss Digital Initiative presents the world’s first label for digital responsibility. Read the press release in English, German, French and Italian.

2021

December

23.12.2021 – Stefan Metzger appointed new Managing Director of digitalswitzerland. Read the press release in German, English, Italian and French.

November

18.11.2021 – Home office is establishing itself as a place of work for SMEs. Read the press release in German, French and Italian.

11.11.2021 – Digital Economy Award: Recognition for digital excellence. The digital pioneers of the year have been selected. Read the Press Release in German and French.

7.11.2021 – Programming with purpose: #herHACK Switzerland’s largest female hackathon sets an example for gender diversity. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

3.11.2021 – The Swiss Digital Initiative unveils the Digital Trust Label Seal. The Press Release is available in English.

October 2021

28.10.2021 – Digital Day 2021: 12 hours of livestream and over 150 events, online and across Switzerland. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

14.10.2021 – A Swiss Pavilion at GITEX Technology Week, one of the largest technology fairs in the Middle East. The Press Release is available in German and French.

13.10.2021 – The E-ID is inevitable – let’s move forward. The Press Release is available in German and French. Read the statement in German.

7.10.2021 – Wake-up call from pandemic: The Swiss want to improve digital skills. Press Release is available in German, French and Italian. Data is available in German.

September 2021

30.09.2021 – Finalists of the Digital Economy Award: Fintech industry booming, healthcare more digital as never before. The Press Release is available in German and French.

29.09.2021 – Kick Off for Digital Day 2021 – 6 weeks of inspiration start now! Press Release available in German, French and Italian.

15.09.2021 – Unacceptable solution for the Labour Law – flexible working for the ICT sector continues to be out of reach. digitalswitzerland calls for key points to be added to the insufficient proposal. The Press Release is available in German and French.

7.07.2021 – Possible approach for the creation of a trustworthy Distributed Ledger Technology ecosystem in Switzerland. The Press Release is available in German, French and English.

August 2021

31.08.2021 – Swiss Digital Day 2021: Digital skills for a digital future. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

24.08.2021 – 3rd Digital Gipfel Switzerland: International digital experts and
Swiss business representatives exchange ideas on digitalisation. The Press Release is available in German and French.

18.08.2021 – Security above speed: Yes to the e-voting proposal with a sense of moderation. The Press Release is available in German and French.

July 2021

13.07.2021 – Swiss Digital Day 2021: This is how the population is shaping Switzerland’s digital future. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

June 2021

24.06.2021 – Untapped potential for skilled workers among older employees. The Press Release is available in German and French. Survey available in German.

17.06.2021 – Digital Economy Award: Honouring Switzerland’s digital
Switzerland’s top digital achievements takes place. The Press Release is available in German and French.

2.06.2021 – digitalswitzerland confirms new president. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

May 2021

27.05.2021 – digitalswitzerland confirms new president. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

11.05.2021 – Switzerland-wide initiative strengthens digital skills of
employees. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

6.05.2021 – SDI Report: Labels and Certifications for the Digital World – Mapping the International Landscape. The Press Release is available in German, French & English.

April 2021

21.04.2021 – Switzerland provides new impulses for innovation: Privacy Icons wins award for the most impressive digitalisation project. The Press Release is available in German and French.

16.04.2021 – Sascha Zahnd becomes new president of digitalswitzerland. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

12.04.2021 – Cutting-edge Swiss technologies showcased at the digital HANNOVER MESSE 2021. The Press Release is available in German and French.

March 2021

7.03.2021 – The e-ID law is rejected. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

February 2021

17.02.2021 – Digital Economy Award enters 3rd round: Nomination phase started. The Press Release is available in German, French and Italian.

January 2021

14.01.2021 – The E-ID law stands for a modern Switzerland. The Press Release is available in German.

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