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Switzerland takes 2nd Place in World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024

On 14 November 2024, the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne announced Switzerland’s impressive new position in its World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR). For the first time, Switzerland has risen to second place among 67 countries, marking its best ranking since the WDCR’s inception in 2017. This achievement reflects Switzerland’s strong progress in high-tech exports, e-participation, and cybersecurity, solidifying its status as a global digital leader.

Switzerland’s Strengths in Digital Knowledge, Technology, and Future Readiness

The World Digital Competitiveness Ranking evaluates digital competitiveness based on three key pillars: knowledge, technology, and future readiness, each of which includes several detailed sub-factors. Switzerland holds its top position in knowledge, rising to fourth place in technology and fifth in future readiness, making it one of the world’s most attractive hubs for digital investment and innovation. The nation continues to perform well in areas such as talent, regulatory framework, and scientific concentration, fostering a strong environment for international expertise and digital knowledge transfer.

Opportunities and Challenges for Switzerland in Digital Competitiveness

Despite this strong standing, there is still important work ahead. Key areas such as the digital identity (E-ID) and the electronic patient record (EPR) require continued progress. Franziska, CEO of digitalswitzerland, remarks: “To make these initiatives a success, we need not only investments but, above all, trust in technology, data security, and institutions”. Building digital trust is essential to secure Switzerland’s long-term competitiveness and develop a sustainable digital infrastructure. The path to a digitally advanced Switzerland lies in smart, secure, and future-oriented solutions that simplify citizens’ lives while upholding high standards of data protection.

The Federal Council opened the consultation on the proposal for a new e-ID law. digitalswitzerland notes that the proposal for a new e-ID law resonates broadly with our members by setting the framework for a trust infrastructure whose core element is a government-issued e-ID. digitalswitzerland welcomes the strategic direction of the preliminary draft.

However, we are convinced that electronic identity can only become widely accepted in Switzerland if it is embedded in an inclusive ecosystem of electronic credentials. We consider it essential to include this aspect in the purpose article of the law. We also consider the regular audit of state-operated infrastructure, a vehicle for expert input on technological law implementation, fee structure according to international standards, and regulation of private confirmation mechanisms to be useful.

A brief summary of the key proposals:

  1. Equal status for e-ID and e-ID ecosystem.
    Ensure that the e-ID, as the main credential of the ecosystem, thrives in a broad ecosystem that includes the private sector. The law should express this intention more clearly.
  2. Expert input on the technological implementation of the law
    Create an instrument that allows for the involvement of experts from academia and industry in the implementation of the law (e.g. UX, security).
  3. Fee structure according to international standards
    Follow internationally accepted principles for connectivity of SSI networks and make them free of charge for users (e.g. Sovrin Foundation rulebook).
  4. Regulate private confirmation mechanisms
    Ensure that sector-specific trusted third parties or organisations can continue to perform their function in the digital ecosystem (e.g. swissuniversities).
  5. Cybersecurity from the very beginning
    Check the structure of the Fedpol system for issuing E-IDs technically and procedurally for security issues. This should be anchored in the law.

The full statement can be found here in German and French.