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digitalswitzerland studies, based on international standards highlight the contribution made to the Swiss economy and society by digitalisation. They help get the issues faced by the ICT industry heard by the economy, politicians, authorities and the general public
First conducted in Switzerland in 2020
8 out of 10 SMEs entrust their digital infrastructures to external IT service providers and also seek advice from them in the area of cybersecurity. However, there is hardly any progress in the implementation of measures to protect against cybercrime. The results of the latest study on digitalisation and cybersecurity in SMEs make it clear: the more companies identify themselves as digital pioneers, the more often they implement technical and organisational measures to strengthen cybersecurity in their company. However, while in previous years around one fifth of the SMEs surveyed always saw themselves as digital pioneers, in 2023 this figure is only around one tenth.
The survey was carried out on behalf of the Swiss Mobiliar Insurance Company Ltd, digitalswitzerland, Allianz Digitale Sicherheit Schweiz, the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW – Digital Transformation Competence Centre and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW.
Published 21 June 2021
As in other sectors, digitalisation and the ageing of society will be drivers for the decline in labour market supply. The ageing of society means that an increasingly large proportion of the population will no longer be available as a workforce. The overarching goal of the study is to capture the skilled labour potential of the 58 – 70 age cohort in ICT and the opportunities to activate that group.
First conducted in Switzerland in 2015; annually updated.
digitalswitzerland supports the annual Swiss Software Industry Survey (SSIS), the largest study in all of Switzerland to examine the industry’s key performance indicators, which is carried out by the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Bern. The SSIS is a long-term survey and provides information on the latest situation, the newest trends and long-term developments in the Swiss software industry.
The complete study results since 2015 until today:
First conducted in Switzerland in 2010; updated every two years.
The number of people working in information and communication technology (ICT) in Switzerland is growing at twice the rate of the overall economy. Every two years, ICT Vocational Training Switzerland, a subsidiary association of digitalswitzerland, considers how many ICT specialists the country will need in the coming eight years.
The complete study results since 2010 until today (only available in German):
First conducted in Switzerland in 2019
From 25 January to 15 February 2019, the market and social research institute gfs-zürich asked one thousand adults in German-speaking and western Switzerland about online security.
The survey shows that about one million people in Switzerland have already been affected by an attack via the Internet. These attacks resulted in financial damage, needed time and expense to put them right or had a stressful emotional impact. Nonetheless, more than half of those affected believe they are sufficiently well informed to be able to protect themselves against such attacks. This conflicting view, at odds with the reality of the damage caused, shows just how important comprehensive awareness-raising activities are.
First conducted in Switzerland in 2017.
More than a third of all Swiss SMEs are affected by cyber-attacks. Most, however, still feel they are well to very well protected, and only 4% of SMEs’ CEOs consider a cyber-attack a significant or very significant risk to their livelihood. These disturbing findings are from the representative survey carried out by market and social research institute gfs-zürich. Trade associations and the government are being pressed to take action to counteract this nonchalance towards cyber-attacks.
First conducted in Switzerland in 2015.
The study shows that job-seeking IT professionals aged 45 and over are well qualified overall. The fact that job market opportunities fall as applicants get older could be related to recruiting filters. There is a lack of transparency in the IT industry due to the lack of a single language for describing capabilities and requirements. The study proposes specific measures to promote opportunities on the labour market for Swiss IT professionals. The measures and recommendations are aimed at applicants/employees, employers and industry associations, educational institutions as well as politicians and administrators.
Thanks to modern infrastructure and location-independent activities, two-thirds of Swiss SMEs were able to respond quickly to the coronavirus lockdown and in many cases could switch easily to working from home. At the start of 2020, an average of 10% of employees worked primarily from home, and during the lockdown this rose to almost four times as many. The numbers fell again after the lockdown, and with 16% of employees now working from home, this equates to a 60% increase compared to the start of the year. While Swiss SMEs demonstrated flexibility, the risks from home offices and digitalisation are underestimated by many companies. Although a quarter of Swiss SMEs have already been victims of a serious cyberattack, two-thirds of SMEs neither hold regular employee training on the subject of cyber security nor have a security concept in place.
From August to October 2020, the market and social research institute gfs-zürich conducted a representative survey of 503 CEOs of small companies (with 4 to 49 employees) in the German, French and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland on the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on digitalisation. The survey was commissioned by digitalswitzerland, Mobiliar, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the School of Business of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW).
An overview of the main findings:
Florian Schütz, Federal Cyber Security Delegate, praised the adaptability of Swiss SMEs: “It is really promising to see how much progress even the smaller SMEs in Switzerland have made with regard to their IT infrastructure, and that increasing focus is being placed on cyber security. The lockdown showed how important the digital transformation is for companies to remain adaptable. Many SMEs have recognised this and are accelerating their digitalisation activities. However, the current situation also makes it clear how important it is that we create framework conditions in order to shape cyber security in Switzerland in a way that the opportunities associated with digitalisation can be exploited as much as possible. The federal government plans to further expand its efforts and actively support the general population and businesses in the protection against cyber risks.”
Andreas Hölzli, Head of the Cyber Risk Competence Centre at Mobiliar, explained that “Although Swiss SMEs are investing in IT security, one in four of the SMEs surveyed has already been a victim of a cyberattack. The problem is that organizational measures in particular are often considered less important. Companies need measures that go beyond the technical aspects, including raising awareness among their employees, for instance.”
Prof. Dr Marc K. Peter of FHNW believes that working from home will become an established component of the new working world strategy for “blended working” in the long term: “For many jobs, a combination of working from home and working in the office will become part of everyday life. With this, however, urgent consideration needs to be given to the fact that this will require huge investments in technology and IT at Swiss SMEs.”
For Nicole Wettstein, Cybersecurity Programme Manager at SATW, the large number of SMEs affected by a cyberattack is motivation for driving forward the current awareness-raising activities: “It is crucial that the number of SMEs implementing the minimum measures for basic cyber security protection continues to increase.”
Andreas W. Kaelin, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Cyber Security Dossier at digitalswitzerland, indicated that, “according to the survey, around two-thirds of small businesses rely on the support of external IT service providers. This means we need to urgently take action to make it easier for companies to identify trustworthy IT service providers, because the security of a company relies entirely on the service providers.”
An event of collaboration
Jointly organised by IMD (Institute for Management Development in Lausanne), École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and digitalswitzerland, representatives from academia, politics and business, including guest speakers, economist Marina Mazzucato and venture capitalist Klaus Hommels, interpreted and evaluated the latest results of the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking.
Understanding the ranking
The IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking is compiled annually based on indicators that focus on education, technology and the level of future-readiness. This year, The United States and Singapore came in first and second, respectively, with Denmark in third place and Sweden in fourth place.
Switzerland’s successes and weaknesses
Marc Walder, founder of digitalswitzerland drew attention to the importance of preparing Switzerland for the upcoming challenges of digitalisation. “Today’s published IMD ranking on digital competitiveness is a great indicator to show the progress we have made in Switzerland and at the same time, remind us how much work still lies ahead.” Switzerland’s strong position can be explained by its top results in several key areas.
In the technology category, Switzerland can benefit from legislation to promote scientific research and from its financial stability. According to the IMD ranking, the conditions for setting up companies and promoting startups in Switzerland need to be improved.
In the third main category “future-readiness,” Switzerland’s strength lies in knowledge transfer. In contrast, the study sees a backlog demand in eParticipation.
Rich opportunity for improvement
Participants agreed that this is not the time for Switzerland to get comfortable. Digitalisation is rapidly advancing as every nation continues to navigate its response and recovery to the Covid-19 pandemic. China for instance made advancements this year in future readiness, sitting 18 places higher than it did last year, while Denmark and Sweden bettered their knowledge building.
Investing to support innovation
Dr. Klaus Hommels, venture capitalist and founder of Lakestar, discussed the importance of investments to support innovation. Switzerland is an excellent place to invest from and has all the right ingredients to do so. Lakestar has invested in European payment systems to ensure digital sovereignty in Europe. However, Europe also needs to find some “European champions”, such as the worldwide known AliBaba for example.
Challenging traditional thinking
University College London Professor Mariana Mazzucato, special guest of the Summit stressed, “We should not obsess about technology but about problems that require different types of investments and innovative solutions across the economy. After all that is where the Internet came from. With such outcome-based thinking, the public sector is a key investor on both the supply side and the demand side.”
Looking to the future
All speakers agreed that this ranking list helps Switzerland critically assess its strengths, but also weaknesses and this is a powerful catalyst to learn and improve ahead of next year’s ranking.
Watch the live stream of the Digital Competitiveness Summit.
The Digital Competitiveness Summit 2021 will take place on 5 October at 18:00 – 19:30.
In partnership with Bilanz and Handelszeitung, digitialswitzerland is once again embarking on the exciting quest to identify and celebrate the 100 people advancing Switzerland on its journey to become a leading global digital hub of innovation. The new edition of 100 Digital Shapers 2020 will be published at the end of September.
Our Digital Shapers work in a spirit of resilience, adaptability and forward-thinking. This is so needed to face the challenges of Covid-19 as it continues to impact all our lives. We’re proud to shine a spotlight on the advances that push Switzerland forward as a leading global digital innovation hub.
We received a total of 550 nominations representing digital pioneers, data enthusiasts and digital visionaries, covering everything from support ecosystems for startups, innovative solutions in healthcare, to digital tools that advance education, manufacturing and technology. What unites these doers and thinkers? A shared motivation to make a positive impact, not only on Switzerland, but on the world. We are also excited that our Hall of Fame continues for the second year and is made up of exceptional shapers who have been elected for the third time.
We have also added four exciting new categories to attract a diverse range of applications. We sent out a public call on social media for those who identify themselves as “The Infrastructure-Builders”, “The FinTechers”, “The Sustainers” and “The Creatives”. Here is the list of all ten categories
It’s no mean feat whittling down 420 submissions to 100 finalists. Let us now introduce the diverse jury members with the experience and expert knowledge needed to appoint the next Digital Shapers!
Writing about new technologies for over 30 years, Mark Kowalsky is responsible for startups and digitalisation coverage at Bilanz magazine. With in-depth knowledge of the very latest developments in the Swiss economy, we value his sense for fresh ideas and the next big players in the future of digital.
Our Managing Director Nicolas Bürer brings his entrepreneurial and innovation spirit and experience to the decision-making process. With his extensive network in the Swiss startup ecosystem and the realm of digitalisation, as well as first-hand experience of founding a startup, Nicolas has an eye for the next big talent and digital transformation.
Sébastien Kulling is a sustainability champion and believes consumption habits should reflect and integrate the environmental cost of our natural resources. A certified business coach and entrepreneur, he shares his leadership skills to develop individuals, teams and startups.
Stéphane Benoit-Godet is editor-in-chief of the Swiss daily newspaper Le Temps. With a profound knowledge about the Suisse Romandie ecosystem, Stéphane is always at the edge of new trends and technologies He has previously held various positions in the French-speaking Swiss press, including editor-in-chief of the magazine Bilan.
Michael Hengartner is President of the ETH Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the ETH Domain. Michael founded and has also been a part of the board of a number of start-ups, including the biotech company Devgen and the scientific consultancy company Evaluescience.
Susanne Schumacher is committed to actively shaping our contemporary culture of digitality. She brings experience of digital information and media technologies in the arts, design and architecture. At the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), she is chairman of the Digital Council of the ZHdK and heads the Digital Knowledge program.
Anja Wyden brings a wealth of diverse experience to our jury. Alongside her work at civicLab, she was State Chancellor for the State of Geneva for eight years. She teaches innovation and design thinking at University of Lausanne, University of Geneva and Applied University Geneva and is chairwoman and member of boards of corporate companies and foundations.
Previously shortlisted on our 2019 Digital Shapers 100 list, Cornelia knows what it takes to be a shaper. Owner of Gutvilla Consulting AG, Managing Director of the Startfeld Foundation and Co-Managing Director of the Startfeld Innovation Center Association, she also contributes learnings from her time in the banking industry and her role as a management consultant.
Melanie is a creative entrepreneur, business coach and podcast host of Joyful Learning. Named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list 2018, she supports aspiring entrepreneurs to turn business ideas into profitable businesses. Melanie serves on the board of the Impact Hub Association and is a judge at the Swiss Economic Award.
With a passion for innovation, Nicoletta is a serial entrepreneur on the lookout for new challenges. As Founder, CEO and President of SMARTEC SA, Innovation Counsellor at the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse and Chair of BRIDGE steering committee, her diverse skills greatly enrich our appointment process.
Tea brings invaluable knowledge of successful Swiss digital transformation. Added to this she has rich knowledge of marketing, communication and operations for startups, as well as medium-sized and large companies. A deep understanding of modern business practices combined with entrepreneurial thinking will bolster the jury panel.
Manuel is a Lucerne & Berlin-based entrepreneur and CEO at Belbo Business Solutions. Bringing experience of ICT and innovation-management, Manuel co-founded the innovation consultancy and coworking community Hirschengraben Coworking + Innovation. As a freelance consultant at 21-21, Manuel advises companies on how to master digital transformation.
Explore previous editions of the 100 Digital Shapers and take a look at the nominees of 2018 and the 2019 edition of Bilanz.
So far in this series, PwC, the University of St. Gallen and IMD have shared some of the ways they’ve responded to the crisis with innovative thinking and digital technologies. World Vision and Salesforce told us how they’re making a difference in communities around the world. And Heads! International and Daimler explained how they turned adversity into opportunity. As we emerge from the acute phase of the crisis, we explore how some of our other members’ innovation efforts could support a new normal.
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) strives to be at the intersection of technology and human service. Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the company has helped hundreds of thousands of travellers with rebooking, cancellations, refunds and repatriation. As people begin to cross borders again, there will be a ‘new normal’, with an expectation for disruption and uncertainty. GBT has been helping clients gain visibility on forward bookings by proactively pulling data, identifying and communicating with clients and their travellers that need support. This will continue as travel returns and companies will want to closely monitor travel plans and analyse the impact of travel on budgets, cashflow and planning.
The ZHAW University of Applied Sciences switched seamlessly to digital teaching during the coronavirus crisis. To support planning certainty and protect student and staff health, the university has moved all teaching online until 31 July 2020. ZHAW has underlined its commitment to innovation by pledging CHF 500,000 from its Digital Futures Fund (DFF) to support projects that provide a greater overall benefit during the pandemic. From over 109 applications, ZHAW digital selected 27 proposals in digital transformation at the ZHAW as well as externally. Some of the projects address immediate concerns such as ways to host events digitally. Others support a longer-term collaboration and networking within the ZHAW digital community.
Besides an innovative mindset and willingness to adapt, a strong digital infrastructure is more important than ever in the post-pandemic world. As an important pioneer of technology around the world, Huawei implemented many innovative solutions from the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Many of the solutions to fight the pandemic in China used 5G to enable AI-powered services. Use cases cover various different scenarios, from comprehensive telemedicine and remotely controlled medical equipment, to unmanned spraying devices – so collaboration with other expert partners is important
Despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, our members have embraced digital opportunities to adapt to life in lockdown, maintain business operations and support staff and customers. If this crisis has taught us anything, it’s that collaboration and communication powered by digital enablers are a powerful mix. In a post-pandemic world, we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.
Heads! International, a leading international Executive Search company, worked with a major banking client to design a global female talent pipeline on the Managing Director level – during the lockdown phase. While many companies were ordering hiring freezes or postponing new campaigns, Heads! International identified an opportunity: launching this big campaign to coincide with lockdown had a number of positive aspects.
“It may not feel like the right time to be focusing on anything but survival in the COVID-19 climate,” says Claudio Lupi, Partner at Heads! International in Zug, “but now is actually a unique opportunity to increase female leadership globally.”
The disruption people face has forced an openness for new horizons. In agreement with the client, Heads! International decided to trigger this talent pipeline for senior female managers just as many women in the candidate population would be thinking about their future in a post-COVID-19 world. With many people working from home, it’s easier to connect with female talents, reflect with them and communicate in new ways. “As we already have various digital channels built into our business model, we were able to roll out the campaign very quickly,” says Claudio Lupi.
Developing a pipeline of female talent during the crisis means that Heads! International’s client will be well placed in a post-COVID-19 world to deliver fresh perspectives and a more diverse leadership.
As government measures forced all but the most essential of businesses to close for an undefined period, the automotive industry was particularly hard hit. From factories to sales floors, the sector had to adapt rapidly to a new normal. At Daimler, the response across the organisation has been as varied as the teams and departments affected.
Alex Rey, Head of Retail Training & Coaching at Mercedes-Benz Schweiz AG, explains how the organisation has been supporting sales staff, mechanics and customer service advisers from 130 Daimler dealerships around Switzerland: “Nobody knew how long lockdown would last so we were keen to explore new ways our dealers could connect with customers at this difficult time. It meant rethinking what has typically been a direct customer-facing business and developing a new digital dialogue.”
As soon as it became apparent that face-to-face training would no longer be possible, the Daimler training team, together with an external training partner, set about designing two video series. The first taught ways to stay in contact with customers by phone, while the second focused on how to present a vehicle by video for interested customers. The aim was to support dealers in their main activity – connecting with customers – rather than making any kind of sales push. In order to benefit dealers and customers in the whole of Switzerland, the tutorial was translated into three languages. It was important that the resources be easy to access, so Daimler chose to share them via youtube. The entire concept was developed, realised and implemented within five days.
Daimler has been embracing digital learning for some time, but the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated use of distance learning tools. Alongside its specific new training series, the company has put together a package of around 250 relevant tutorials, videos and e-trainings so that dealers could spend time away from the showroom effectively.
By focusing efforts on dealers, Daimler wanted to empower those who would otherwise not be able to work during lockdown. Feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive; people are keen to get back to work properly, but are grateful for the chance to brush up old skills and learn new ones in the meantime.
Taking a longer-term view, connecting with stakeholders and upskilling throughout the crisis will help kick-start business once restrictions are fully lifted.
When the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread, the global children’s charity World Vision responded rapidly, building on current best practices to tackle the crisis – and protect the most vulnerable children and their communities – in the 100 countries it serves. The aid and development agency was already working closely with faith leaders before the crisis. As the most trusted and authoritative voices in many communities, their role in informing and advising people is vital. That’s why it’s so important that they spread timely and accurate information that communities can rely on.
The organisation had already been using WhatsApp groups successfully to enable specially trained faith leaders to access and exchange information and experiences. Users draw on these insights to support positive behaviours, increase awareness and decrease stigma around specific issues like HIV, Aids or Ebola. Leveraging a network of WhatsApp groups across Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, World Vision mobilised an estimated 80,000 faith leaders in the fight against COVID-19. The groups operate much like a telephone tree, as participants activate their own networks and spread key information. This is even more vital in regions with a low literacy rate.
Christoph von Toggenburg, CEO of World Vision Switzerland, confirms: “It’s about empowering faith leaders to make a real difference through authentic voices that people trust. The WhatsApp discussions are also inspiring new ways of communicating vital information during the lockdown.”
World Vision has also expanded technology use to help frontline healthcare workers deliver support in the crisis. The mobile platform CommCare is already proven in tracking and managing a continuum of service delivery steps in a range of healthcare settings. The tool works online or offline so is well suited for use in some of the poorest and most rural communities that World Vision supports, where the organisation has built a network of 220’000 community health workers. Drawing on experience with mobile solutions to address Ebola outbreaks, developer Dimagi adapted the CommCare app rapidly to the Covid-19 needs. The app incorporates WHO-recommended response mechanisms, can be rapidly tailored to country-specific needs – including local languages – and allows users to add cases or workflows as needed. Regular updates ensure information is always up to date and communities get the most relevant advice.
Trusted, up-to-date information is always important, but absolutely vital right now when COVID-19 details are changing by the hour. Being informed with real-time data can help increase safety and wellbeing, as well as reduce uncertainty during these uncertain times. Blaise Roulet, Salesforce Country Leader Switzerland, says: “Solidarity is so important during this crisis. At Salesforce, we have a responsibility to give back to our communities, and we’re using our technology and resources to help in any way we can during the COVID-19 crisis.”
With a focus on bringing companies and customers together, Salesforce uses data-driven technology to deliver rapid insights. As healthcare providers face an influx of requests due to COVID-19, Salesforce has expanded its Salesforce Care solution with additional features that help companies in any industry stay connected to stakeholders. And because everyone’s facing so much change at once, Salesforce is offering free 24×7 support, coaching, and guidance with Salesforce experts to help customers successfully deploy and use Salesforce Care solutions in this time of need.
Time is of the essence so new and existing customers appreciate the fact that the Salesforce Care solutions are available immediately, and can be set up very quickly. The add-ons are being offered free of charge as part of Salesforce’s commitment to doing good.
Beyond acknowledging the importance of using new technologies to fight Covid-19, such an app also raises critical questions and concerns: Would it tempt states to increase their surveillance of citizens’ behaviour? How will data protection and privacy be ensured? What would a widespread use of the app mean for our society?
The blog is part of a blog series, which looks at issues that are tackled by the Swiss Digital Initiative (SDI). An initiative, which has been launched in September 2019 by digitalswitzerland and under the patronage of Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer. It aims to promote the responsible use of new technologies through concrete projects. In the last weeks, the need to incorporate ethical principles and values into technologies has become more apparent than ever.
A recent survey by Deloitte revealed that almost two thirds of the Swiss population are in favour of digital contact tracing.
Intermediary results of an ongoing survey conducted by the innovation ethics lab ethix show that participants are willing to use a decentralized model – as promoted in Switzerland – and consider the balance between protection of privacy and contribution of the app to crisis resolution to be acceptable. For those resistant to this, the impact on privacy is disproportional.
In Switzerland, ETH and EPFL are working on an app, based on the DP3T (Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing) concept, that will use the new Google and Apple contact tracing APIs when they become available. The app is designed to alert users who have been in contact with a person tested positive for the coronavirus. It does not trace the user location, but only traces proximity between users of the app on the basis of Bluetooth. As soon as two app users come into close contact, the proximity tracing app registers the contact as an encrypted “handshake”. If someone tests positive for the coronavirus this person can notify their anonymous contacts registered by the app and stored in a decentralized manner. According to EPFL and ETH, the app will be ready by 11 May.
The app alone is not the solution, but must be part of a larger strategy combined with additional measures (e.g. comprehensive testing).
For the app to be effective, it must be used by as many people as possible. Trust in the app is therefore essential. A key to trust is to ensure that the app meets the highest standards of privacy and security and maintains appropriate control mechanisms. The following main criteria must be fulfilled.
Both the Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Adrian Lobsiger, and the National Ethics Committee gave green light for digital contact tracing under specific conditions. They emphasised above all the consensus aspect: every step must be voluntary and without compulsion, even after installation. The Federal Council announced that the use of the app will be voluntary in Switzerland.
It is crucial that the application ensures user data privacy and enables user control over their data. It should therefore be open sourced to allow other software developers to review how it is built. As for the Swiss solution, both the documentation and a sample implementation are available on GitHub.
The approach adopted by DP3T aims to provide maximum security and privacy for the end user. This decentralized storage and processing of data is an important, trust-building principle. Anonymity of the user is guaranteed.
Temporally limited, necessary, proportionally and scientifically validated
The Oxford Digital Lab published guidelines for digital tracking and tracing systems and stressed that measures infringing on fundamental rights must be time-bound, and meet standards of necessity, proportionality and scientific validity.
To summarize, from a technical point of view the Swiss solution seems to fulfill the main criteria for a trustworthy app and develops its app on the basis of “privacy by design” principles. Other countries like Germany, which pursued a central approach in the beginning, switched to a decentralized approach according to the “Swiss model”. In addition to the technical and privacy criteria, the Federal Council will need to stand united behind the app with a broad alliance of civil society, economy and science.
Open questions remain: How can we ensure the fairness of the app, how can we prevent the digital divide from widening or avoid discrimination of people who do not want or cannot use the app? What if it is not the state, but for example shops, that make it mandatory for their customers to use the app? Another point is the international compatibility: On 20 April, 43 contact tracing apps were available globally – would we have to switch to a local app when crossing the border?
The situation around Covid-19 is continuously evolving and even though science can base its recommendations on data sets and models, it is an unprecedented crisis and predictions are difficult to make. Time is crucial and all necessary means should be explored to get back to normality. To ensure that our freedom and our democratic systems are not restricted, this should happen in a responsible manner. The use of a contact tracing app must remain on a voluntary basis and be understood as one measure among many, as part of a larger strategy. Measures should be based on scientific evidence and be evaluated on the way. Communication, coordination and trust is key. The “Swiss solution” values strong privacy and data security aspects. And isn’t it a paradox: Most of us use many different apps and devices in our everyday life, sharing our data and information without a second thought, with our personal data often being commercially exploited by others.
We can only speculate on what the long-term impact of the use of the proximity app will be on our society and democracy. Waiting would be the wrong strategy. Switzerland should test new solutions, within the bounds of its unique democratic system, where inclusion, cross-sector collaboration and a pragmatic solution-oriented approach is part of its success story. Yet, a broad societal discussion on the long-term effect and proportionality of proximity tracing apps should take place.
More companies than ever will introduce new digital tools, foster digital literacy and equip their employees with everything they need to work from home. The pace at which companies adapt a digital mindset is unprecedented, innovation is happening rapidly and with it we are entering a new era.
The term is a composition of global and local. It describes the act of thinking globally and locally at the same time. I am expecting that many production companies will start producing more locally. This allows them to monitor and adjust production constantly, be in close contact with local authorities and respond to the growing demand of society for locally produced goods.
Growth has been at the forefront of our minds for many years now. From one week to the next it seems we have switched into survival mode. Almost all companies are struggling, many SMEs are expected to declare bankruptcy within the coming year. What can save us now is creativity, adaptability and a positive attitude towards change.
Working from home is technically possible for a large number of people. But what about those, who aren’t as digitally literate? It is our responsibility as a society to continually educate ourselves on digital topics. Ask for help if you need it. We are all both students and teachers.
In terms of leadership the skills that will matter going forward are empathy, compassion and trust. If you are a manager of a team: stop micromanaging and let your team show you what they are capable of. Model discipline, communicate openly and show compassion. This is a tough time for all of us and we’re all doing our best. Going forward, leaders will be the ones who are able to motivate their teams in times of crises. Those who are able to cultivate a sense of community, purpose and belonging.
The next few months, maybe even years, will be tough. Possibly the toughest many of us have ever lived through. But they also hold great learning opportunities – after all, crisis is a great catalyst for creativity. Not only for businesses or employees but for us as a society, as citizens of the world. We will emerge out of this crisis stronger, more resilient and connected than ever.
Please reach out to me if you have anything to add, want to prove me wrong or would like to share your thoughts. This is just the beginning of our conversation.
Stay healthy,
Nicolas Bürer
The second edition of the Digital Summit Switzerland took place last week in Zurich on 25 and 26 November 2019, following the success and great response of last years event. digitalswitzerland, in cooperation with Swisscom, Ringier, EY Switzerland and Mercedes-Benz Switzerland (mobility partner), invited high-ranking national and international executives to the Digital Summit Switzerland. This event – under the patronage of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) – has established itself as an important platform facilitating exchange and networking between corporate, academic, entrepreneurial and political players in Switzerland. A high-calibre discussion and expert presentations addressed the overall key topic “Digital Transformation” from many different aspects.
The Swiss Digital Summit is making an important contribution to help shape and tackle the complex effects of digitalisation in Switzerland. It emphasises awareness of both the urgency and the magnitude of the changes resulting from digital change.
Marc Walder, founder of digitalswitzerland and CEO of Ringier: “With the Swiss Digital Summit, digitalswitzerland launched another relevant initiative. The summit provides an important platform for executives of leading Swiss companies, research institutions and politicians to exchange information regarding digital transformation. We are all united by the will to promote digitalisation in Switzerland – and to actively accompany this change”.
The Summit was opened by Professor Dr. Thomas J. Jordan, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank. Jordan spoke about “The Future of Money”. Sergio Ermotti, CEO UBS, and Tidjane Thiam, CEO Credit Suisse, then debated “The New World of Finance” during a panel discussion. The renowned investor Klaus Hommels spoke about Europe’s role as a sustainable destination for digital innovation.
Urs Schaeppi, member of the Steering Committee digitalswitzerland and CEO of Swisscom: “I am delighted with the great response that the first Digital Summit triggered last year. In 2019, we once again succeeded in engaging top-class speakers. In order for companies to remain competitive in the digital world, they need inspiring impulses from outside and dialogue with other companies and organisations.”
Marcel Stalder, member of the Executive Committee digitalswitzerland and CEO of Chain IQ Group AG, adds: “The prosperity we enjoy in Switzerland must be preserved. Together with my colleagues, I am happy to work to ensure that Switzerland is in no way inferior when it comes to digitalisation. This also includes preserving our leading education and research location, changing the framework conditions to meet future needs, and creating sufficient risk capital to finance innovations.”
The third edition of the Swiss Digital Summit is planed for November 2020.
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