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Zug, October 29, 2025 – The study «SME Cybersecurity 2025» shows that despite the unchanged and persistently high level of cyber threats, Swiss SMEs’ confidence in their own protection is declining sharply. Only two out of five companies feel well prepared for an attack – last year it was still more than half. Almost one in five SMEs even feels poorly protected. Despite this uncertainty, cybersecurity continues to lose priority – and the willingness to invest has fallen again.
The threat from cybercrime remains consistently high, but response remains sluggish
As in the previous year, one in twenty-five companies (4%) reported having been affected by a cyberattack in the past three years. 5% had been blackmailed, and 4% lost money due to fraudulent emails. In total, 88% of SMEs regard cybercrime as a serious problem. Nevertheless, only 24% of executives perceive incentives or expectations from their professional environment to invest more in IT security – many decision-makers simply do not realize the urgency.
Weak resilience, yet still low priority
Confidence in their own defenses has fallen significantly: only 42% of companies consider their protection sufficient in the event of an attack – a clear drop from 55% in the previous year. Overall IT-security confidence has also declined slightly: 52% of companies feel secure (2024: 57%), while 9% feel insecure. Despite this, cybersecurity continues to lose importance: in 28% of SMEs, the topic is no longer a business priority – a sharp increase compared with 18% in the previous year.
«Either companies underestimate the consequences of cyberattacks, or they lack the know-how or resources to prioritize this issue. Politics, business, and academia must work together to raise awareness,» says Franziska Barmettler, CEO of digitalswitzerland.
Organizational measures lag behind
While more than two-thirds of companies implement technical measures such as firewalls or software updates, organizational measures remain underdeveloped: only 30% of SMEs have an IT security concept, conduct training, or maintain an emergency plan. Regular IT security audits are carried out by only one in five companies.
IT service providers see room for improvement – but willingness to invest continues to decline
IT service providers also assess the situation as critical: only 39% consider their SME customers secure, while 14% regard their protection as insufficient. Accordingly, 84% expect rising demand for security solutions, while SMEs’ investment readiness continues to decline. Only 40% now plan to increase their cybersecurity measures over the next one to three years (2024: 48%).
Resilience as the key to digital security
«The results of the study make it clear: resilience is the key to protecting Swiss SMEs against the growing threats of cybercrime. It’s not enough just to feel secure – companies must be actively prepared. As an insurance partner, we see it as our responsibility not only to provide financial protection but also to strengthen our customers’ digital resilience – ideally through a combination of technology, organization and awareness,» says Simon Seebeck, Head of the Cyber Risk Competence Center at the Mobiliar.
Plea from the study partners
«The study partners call on SMEs to treat cybersecurity as a strategic issue. Greater awareness, targeted investment, and collaboration with certified IT service providers are required. The Alliance Digital Security Switzerland ADSS particularly recommends working with CyberSeal-certified partners,» says Andreas W. Kaelin, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ADSS.
Marc K. Peter from the FHNW School of Business and HES-SO Valais-Wallis School of Management recommends treating cybersecurity as a success factor in digital transformation: «Comparable to other digital topics such as AI and new work, cybersecurity belongs on the agenda of every board member and business executive.»
More information at cyberstudie.ch
Bern, 28 September 2025 – “Today, the Swiss population said yes to a central digital infrastructure. We can now build on this”, says Franziska Barmettler, CEO of digitalswitzerland.
“I am relieved that the e-ID was supported by a majority of the Swiss population at the second attempt,” said Andreas Meyer, President of digitalswitzerland.
The state e-ID will form the basis for identification processes in everyday digital life: from access to public authorities and concluding contracts to proving age in everyday life. “Our aim is for the added value of the e-ID to be noticeable in our everyday lives from day one of its introduction.” To this end, digitalswitzerland is coordinating the relevant players in close consultation with the federal government and jointly prioritising initial use cases.
Specifically, digitalswitzerland is initiating round tables with member companies, associations, authorities and experts to refine requirements, clarify responsibilities and agree on a joint approach. Based on this, pilot projects will be prioritised, prepared and tested in real-world environments.
Meyer adds: “The reliable identification of people on the internet is becoming increasingly important. Preliminary discussions have shown that Switzerland’s digital transformation must be accompanied by a broad social dialogue. And now it’s time for careful implementation.”
Following the referendum against the e-ID Act, the Alliance for the e-ID is campaigning for the Swiss population to receive a secure, state-issued digital identity card (e-ID). This will allow anyone who wishes to do so to identify themselves digitally in the future, securely and easily.
“The new e-ID is a decisive step forward for digital Switzerland and its economy. It strengthens trust in online interactions, offers citizens more convenience when dealing with the authorities digitally and simplifies business processes for companies.” – Franziska Barmettler, CEO digitalswitzerland
The new e-ID is the result of close collaboration between civil society, business and science – moderated and developed by the federal authorities. The result is a public service trust infrastructure for the general public that enables end-to-end and secure digital administrative processes and transactions with companies. This will considerably simplify many everyday situations for the population – such as concluding mobile phone contracts, obtaining an extract from the debt collection register or providing proof of age.
“By anchoring basic principles of data protection such as data minimisation and open source code, the e-ID forms an important basis for the development of digital services. The ongoing involvement of civil society is crucial to ensure public-interest and user-centred solutions that benefit us all.” – Erik Schönenberger, Managing Director Digitale Gesellschaft
The use of the new e-ID remains voluntary. The new law ensures that traditional identification using an ID card is still possible – freedom of choice is preserved. The decentralised nature of the infrastructure strengthens data protection and only mandatory data fields can be queried. Users of the new e-ID remain undisturbed – no third party, neither private nor governmental, gains access to individual transactions. This makes completely anonymous proof of age possible for the first time.
“Whether to protect your own identity, to ensure the protection of minors or for secure digital communication with the authorities – the electronic identity is an important step towards responsible and trustworthy digitalisation in Switzerland.” – Olga Baranova, Managing Director CH++
With the new e-ID, the central points of criticism of the first bill, which was voted on in March 2021, have been resolved. The legal basis for the e-ID is therefore supported almost unanimously by all parliamentary groups in the Federal Assembly. A broad, cross-party alliance of civil society organisations, academia and business associations also support the e-ID.
“The state digital identity card is a work of the century – the Switzerland of tomorrow is building on it. The e-ID strengthens direct democracy, removes existing hurdles, enables secure signature collection and more participation, for example for young people and people with disabilities.” – Daniel Graf, Board of Trustees member of the Stiftung direkte Demokratie
The Alliance for the e-ID thrives on the commitment of broad circles and is open to organisations and individuals from science, civil society, politics and business. Anyone who wants to stand up for a secure national digital identity is cordially invited to become part of this alliance and help shape the campaign.
“With great unity across all parties, Parliament and the administration have created a modern law for a new, state-run and trustworthy e-ID following the massive popular majority against the last bill.” – Gerhard Andrey, National Councillor and co-initiator of the new e-ID
About the Alliance for the e-ID:
The Alliance for the e-ID is an association of organisations and individuals from various sectors of society who are jointly committed to the introduction of a secure and state-issued digital identity card in Switzerland.
2024 has been a year of transformation for digitalswitzerland. The merger of the Foundation and Association will enable us to further strengthen our impact and enhance collaboration across sectors. With new leadership at the helm, namely CEO Franziska Barmettler and President Andreas Meyer, digitalswitzerland is entering its next phase of strategic development.
As Switzerland continues its journey toward becoming a leading digital nation, it has solidified its position as one of the world’s most competitive digital economies. The IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024 placed Switzerland in 2nd place globally, reinforcing the country’s strength in innovation, knowledge transfer, and technological advancement.
Through collaboration with business, academia, government, and civil society, we have worked to establish a robust foundation for digital trust, responsible governance, and technological excellence, ensuring that the digital future benefits everyone.
Responsible Digital Infrastructure and Regulation
The past year has seen critical developments in Switzerland’s digital infrastructure. The successful passage of the E-ID legislation marked a milestone in establishing a trusted digital identity ecosystem. digitalswitzerland played an active role in shaping discussions, contributing amendments, and advocating for a user-centric, secure approach to digital identity.
We have also deepened engagement in AI regulation and digital trust frameworks. Our AI working groups and engagement at the WEF and national forums have helped frame essential discussions around AI governance, ethics, and transparency. A policy paper on AI regulation is in development for 2025. The launch of our AI training platform further underscores our commitment to fostering AI literacy and responsible deployment.
At the intersection of data governance and digital sovereignty, we co-launched the Swiss Data Space Forum together with the Swiss Data Alliance, creating a platform for dialogue on how Switzerland can leverage data responsibly while ensuring self-determination in an interconnected digital world.
Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience
Cybersecurity remains a fundamental pillar of digital trust. In 2024, our national cybersecurity committee expanded to include 40+ leading experts, working on strengthening Switzerland’s cyber resilience. Our Cyber Study 2024, widely cited in the media, reinforced the urgency of proactive security measures for businesses and public institutions.
Through national and international collaboration, including our presence at the Global Cyber Conference, we continue to advocate for forward-looking cybersecurity policies that safeguard Switzerland’s digital landscape.
Digital Health: Building a Trustworthy Ecosystem
The integration of digital solutions in healthcare requires a high level of trust and coordination. This year, digitalswitzerland deepened its work on the Electronic Patient Record (EPR), advocating for improved adoption and usability. Our Digital Health Academy supported AI-driven health scaleups, ensuring that innovation aligns with ethical considerations and patient rights.
Additionally, we released The Swiss Healthcare System: Entering a New Digital Era, a study highlighting the evolving role of digitalisation in healthcare.
Through continued engagement with policymakers and healthcare stakeholders, we have helped strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leader in digital health governance and responsible data use.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
One of our core strengths remains our ability to bring diverse stakeholders together. In 2024, we facilitated key cross-sector collaborations, including:
Expanding Regional Engagement
Recognising the importance of regional collaboration, we reinforced our engagement across Switzerland. Events such as AI in Action at the Locarno Film Festival and the Digital Competitiveness Forum in Lausanne showcased Switzerland’s role as a hub for digital innovation.
At the digitalswitzerland Village in Davos, we brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the role of digitalisation in shaping Switzerland’s global competitiveness.
On the international stage, digitalswitzerland was invited to high-level discussions, including a WEF-facilitated capacity-building workshop on Digital Talent Mobility and industry panels on AI, sustainability, and governance.
Digital Literacy and Workforce Upskilling
Ensuring that Switzerland is prepared for an AI-driven economy is one of our key priorities. In 2024, we launched multiple initiatives to foster AI literacy, workforce upskilling, and digital competence:
eSustainability and Digital Solutions for Climate Action
Technology plays a crucial role in sustainability. Our study Smart & Green – Digital Pathways to Net Zero identified how digitalisation can contribute to reducing 1.2 to 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 in Switzerland.
Additionally, the WISER Project has continued its work in standardising greenhouse gas reporting, reinforcing Switzerland’s leadership in digital sustainability solutions.
Our focus will be on reinforcing trust in digital ecosystems, enhancing digital literacy, and fostering responsible innovation. Key priorities include:
Together with our diverse member base, our team will continue to shape a digital future that is innovative, inclusive, and built on trust. Thank you for your continued support.
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.
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.
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.
How can Switzerland future-proof its public administration through digital transformation? The new study “Res Publica Digitalis” by digitalswitzerland highlights promising strategies, showing that while Switzerland’s federal system faces unique challenges, it also fosters flexibility and innovation.
The study makes it clear that efficient and cost-saving digitalisation is only possible through close partnerships between authorities at all levels. In light of proposed federal budget cuts, such collaboration is not just an opportunity but a necessity.
Successful case studies from the cantons of Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Schwyz, as well as the cities of Lucerne, Bern, Lugano, Lausanne, and the Swiss Post, illustrate how citizen-centric eGovernment can succeed. These partnerships are already setting new standards for a sustainable and modern public service offering.
Read the full study to discover what the future of digital public administration could look like!
Our commitment regarding Education, Professionals & Diversity remains vital to transforming Switzerland into a leading digital nation. In 2023, we intensified our efforts to foster partnerships that enhance our educational initiatives.
Empowering Talent for the Digital Era
Since nurturing talent at every career level is an essential part to combat the ongoing shortage of skilled professionals, we have placed a strong emphasis on vocational training and development, which forms the backbone of our ICT workforce. Next to our own initiatives, our ongoing support for ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz aims to further strengthen vocational training as a primary source of skilled ICT professionals.
Fostering Innovation through Diversity
We believe diversity is a key engine of innovation. In 2023, our #herHACK initiative drew more than 450 enthusiasts across 11 events, remarkably, two-thirds of whom came from non-technical backgrounds. This initiative serves as a gateway for diverse individuals into the tech world, broadening the innovation pool and infusing the tech landscape with varied perspectives and fresh ideas.
Additionally, as a premium partner and an active member of the business advisory board for focus50plus, digitalswitzerland played an important role in advancing the platform’s mission – combating age-related stereotypes, and addressing the shortage of skilled workers through inclusive practices.
Building Digital Fluency
A cornerstone of our mission is to enhance digital skills across the board. The Boost Programme, supported by UBS, wrapped up this year, successfully equipping over 340 individuals with crucial digital competencies (you can find more in our impact report). Simultaneously, our Careers in Tech initiative aims to facilitate connections between talent seeking new opportunities and companies eager to adopt lateral hires into the tech sector. Several conducted interviews and workshops as well as the mentoring of a Bachelor’s and a Master’s thesis now form the basis for the development of a “Handbook for Companies”. The handbook is intended to support companies with advice and guidelines on the topic of lateral entry.
Swiss Digital Days 2023: Uniting Communities, Empowering Minds
Swiss Digital Days 2023 showcased the power of collaboration, bringing together digitalswitzerland, partners, cities, and cantons to amplify the digital movement nationwide. Over the course of three months, more than 140 events in 11 cities fostered connections among the population, highlighting themes of digital inclusion, AI, and future skills. The event’s Flagship formats #herHACK, NextGen, and Digital Xchange highlighted the importance of bridging the digital divide, empowering individuals from all walks of life.
Shining a light on the digital landscape
The highlight of Swiss Digital Days, the Lighthouse event at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, drew over 200 participants. With a rich program and partner activities, the event provided a networking platform and insightful pitches by key figures of the Swiss digital landscape. Highlighted by a keynote speech by a German astronaut in the planetarium, the event successfully addressed the pressing topic of artificial intelligence.
NextGen Future Skills AI Experience: Inspiring Tomorrow’s Innovators
Artificial intelligence transcends traditional learning boundaries. Over 1’000 children and young adults participated in our Future Skills AI Experience workshops to gain knowledge about AI, including its associated opportunities and risks. During the workshops, children were able to use AI to create their own images on the theme of the digital future, complementing the slogan of Swiss Digital Days 2023. The 30 most aesthetically pleasing images, as rated by the AI software Aesthetify, were exhibited and awarded prizes at the Lighthouse event.
In 2023, the Digital Health initiative strengthened its footprint and activities within Switzerland through collaboration with all healthcare stakeholders. We released the study, “A Swiss digital healthcare system: What the population thinks”, available in English, French, and German. By the end of the year, the study was viewed over 7’000 times. It spawned 2 panel discussions, caught the attention of the media and was cited in various third-party reports. Based on the results, increasing digital health literacy among the Swiss population became a key focus.
Empowering Innovation
This year, in collaboration with Swiss Healthcare Startups, digitalswitzerland launched the Digital Health Academy, connecting four innovative startups and scale-ups that empower the Swiss population to own and understand their healthcare data. Over the course of six months, participants were invited to two panel discussions, two workshops, and a bootcamp, while profiting from expertise provided by our participating members. The academy concluded with the publication of the report ”The Swiss healthcare system: entering a new digital era”, receiving over 1 ‘000 views within the first two weeks after publication.
Further, we released the Swiss Patient ecosystem map, illustrating digital solutions that improve and enhance the patient journey. At the end of 2023, the map featured 82 solutions; it is updated on a quarterly basis. Within our new “Community Talks” webinar series, we further spotlighted some of these solutions. Lastly, with the help of the Digital Health and Public Affairs committees, we actively contributed to the consultation on the Electronic Patient Record, advocating for citizen-centric healthcare solutions.
Strategic Partnerships for Ecosystem Growth
Strategic partnerships with leading organisations like Day One, Swiss Healthcare Startups, and the Swiss Health Data Space have strengthened the reach and impact of our Digital Health initiative. These partnerships help to drive us toward a more integrated, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare landscape in Switzerland.
In 2023, digitalswitzerland prioritised three key areas within infrastructure and cybersecurity: digital identity (eID), data ecosystems, and cybersecurity. These efforts are aimed towards building a stronger digital foundation for Switzerland.
Enabling a Digital Identity for Switzerland
We intensified our involvement in enabling the eID and associated trust infrastructure by collaborating with expert groups like DIDAS as well as staying in close contact with the Federal Administration’s eID team. Our proactive advocacy in legislative and technical frameworks have positioned us as a thought leader in the field. digitalswitzerland is committed to enable a digital identity and digital credentials ecosystem for Switzerland.
Facilitating Data Ecosystems in Switzerland
We have facilitated discussions on digital sovereignty, digital self-determination and the strategic use of data during crisis. We closely align our activities in this area with the Swiss Data Alliance and federal authorities. These common efforts resulted in the development of a code of conduct for trustworthy data spaces as well as collaborations with reputable international bodies such as New York’s GovLab and the International Data Space Association.
Increasing Switzerland’s Cybersecurity Resilience
Our role in increasing cybersecurity in Switzerland has expanded. We advise on foresighted policy and strategies to increase Switzerland’s cybersecurity resilience. Our national cybersecurity committee has grown to include 40 leading cybersecurity experts from a diverse set of industry sectors. digitalswitzerland co-hosted a cybersecurity seminar in Israel with the Alliance Digital Security Switzerland, thereby enabling dialogue between the Swiss and Israeli cyber ecosystems. Our cybersecurity awareness study, enabled by strong digitalswitzerland members and partners has been downloaded over 500 times and received extensive media coverage. digitalswitzerland also supported national initiatives such as the Global Cyber Conference in Zurich and promoted actionable tools such as the CyberSeal and the CyberNavi to enhance cybersecurity awareness and resilience in Switzerland.
Promoting sustainability through digital innovation was one of the core topics for digitalswitzerland in 2023, with a strong focus on biodiversity and emissions reporting.
Biodiversity Digital Academy
This year, we launched the Biodiversity Digital Academy with our startup cohort to combat one of the most pressing issues related to climate change: biodiversity loss. We selected ten leading startups from the Swiss ecosystem and paired them with experienced mentors from our network. This initiative supported and enabled the scale-up efforts of these startups.
WISER: Advancing Emissions Reporting
The team has continued to shape the Innosuisse Flagship project WISER. This collaborative project features five prestigious academic institutions and ten implementation partners from both the private and public sectors. The project’s goal is to create a unique open source digital ecosystem for accessing and verifying scope 3 emission factors and greenhouse gas (GHG) data. This initiative aims to simplify trustworthy and comparable scope 3 reporting in Switzerland. With 50% of the project completed, the WISER solution is paving the way for enhanced accessibility and accountability in environmental reporting.
Community Talks and Sustainability Lunch Bites
We hosted the first edition Sustainability Lunch Bites under the umbrella of our Community Talks webinar series, co-hosted with economiesuisse and ewz. This event provided valuable insights into recent developments in Swiss climate legislation and discussed how organisations could contribute towards achieving Swiss Climate Neutrality by 2050.
In 2023, digitalswitzerland focused on strengthening the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) community. Our flagship event took place in Bern in June, where our members discussed digital assets and the tokenization of company shares. This event filled with learnings gathered 50 participants. This event helped enhance expertise and facilitate networking within our community. Our dedicated website attracted 1,556 visits, highlighting the growing interest in DLT. Additionally, our LinkedIn group expanded to 148 members, further establishing our presence and influence in the online community.
Creating a self-sustaining community
As we move into 2024, digitalswitzerland will shift its focus towards other emerging technological themes, confident in the 4T-DLT initiative’s ability to “fly on its own”. This transition is a testament to the robust ecosystem we have nurtured, enabling the initiative to continue driving innovation independently. Revisit the initiative’s history and its milestones here.
digitalswitzerland’s Public Affairs Team initiated its 2023 agenda with a strategy workshop that defined its focus on four areas: AI, EU/Global Connectivity, eGovernment, and the Future of Work in the context of other strategic topics (see B2B).
Advancing AI and Legislative Frameworks
Activities in 2023 kicked off by supporting a postulate by Marcel Dobler, Vice President of digitalswitzerland and National Councillor, calling for the federal government to analyse Swiss law’s response to AI challenges and identify legislative gaps. This groundwork contributed to the digitalswitzerland AI discussion paper and announcement of the Swiss AI Alliance at Digital Gipfel Schweiz 2023, with preparations underway to make the Alliance operational by 2024.
Policy Engagement and New Initiatives
Across all focus areas, digitalswitzerland formed working groups to address regulatory and policy challenges through four principle-based discussion papers. These papers not only presented ideas for Switzerland’s future positioning, but also laid the groundwork for further Public Affairs activities, such as the new eGovernment programme at digitalswitzerland.
Election Year Dynamics and Broader Engagement
In 2023, federal elections were held in Switzerland. The Public Affairs team participated in policy and civil society forums, such as the Internet Governance Forum, Plateforme Tripartite and Parldigi, connecting with digitally minded parliamentarians. Three parliamentary election events held by digitalswitzerland in November addressed critical digital issues like Digital Health, Digital Sovereignty, and Cybersecurity.
Responsive and Proactive Policy Influencing
In 2023, The Public Affairs team has not only built up a proactive, forward-looking approach to digital policy, but has also been able to react to new developments in parliament in an effective, ad hoc manner. It utilised the Public Affairs Committee’s expertise to deliver policy stances on several major legislative initiatives, including the Electronic Patient Record and the new Information Security Law. In 2023, a total of nine policy statements have been submitted to the federal government and parliament, contributing to national policy discussions.
During 2023, digitalswitzerland worked diligently to expand its nationwide presence, particularly in the French and Italian-speaking regions, fostering greater engagement and outreach.
AI in Action at Locarno
In August, we hosted the “AI in Action” event at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. Attracting 80 guests, the exclusive event provided a platform for discussing the impact and potential of AI technologies in the creative and film industries, enhancing our visibility and interaction with regional stakeholders.
Digital Competitiveness Forum in Lausanne
The Digital Competitiveness Forum, held in partnership with IMD and EPFL in November, drew 100 attendees to explore the themes of AI and Switzerland’s competitiveness. The forum also marked the release of IMD’s World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2023. Alongside this, the partners issued a white paper titled “Charting the Future”. This document and the discussions at the forum contribute to shaping the strategic direction for Switzerland’s digital landscape.
We take pride in our network, which includes 170+ members and partners, along with 500+ CXOs from various sectors within the Swiss business, political, and educational ecosystem. Additionally, our VIP events have attracted 340+ guests.
Connecting and Empowering
In 2023, digitalswitzerland hosted several high-profile events that brought together leaders from across the Swiss business, political, and educational sectors, and even garnered international interest. These gatherings, such as the WEF Breakfast & Lunch, the Swiss Digital Days Lighthouse event, and the 5th Digital Gipfel Schweiz, highlighted critical topics like digital solutions for climate change, the AI revolution, the Metaverse, and innovation trends.
Enhancing Connections Through the Community Platform
This year also saw the launch of the “Community Platform,” an exclusive hub designed to enhance interactions among our members. This platform facilitates connections, collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge, providing members access to the latest research, best practices, events, and sources of inspiration.
In 2023, the Foundation worked towards fostering increased engagement from its 25+ partners within the digitalswitzerland ecosystem. This resulted in greater impact for our various private-public initiatives, underscoring the importance of bringing together diverse and complementary stakeholders from the association and the foundation. Leveraging various expertise, resources, and perspectives, we effectively addressed digital challenges and drove meaningful outcomes.
Fostering Dialogue and Addressing Public Concerns
Throughout the year, the Foundation intensified efforts to engage the public in an open dialogue about digitalisation. Through the ‘Digital Xchange’ project, we offered a platform for citizens to voice their hopes and fears regarding digital technologies. In collaboration with SRF, we organised a landmark event on Artificial Intelligence in the summer, which drew a large audience during a peak period of interest and concern about this technology. The Foundation also worked closely with the Association on several projects, including the Swiss Digital Days, where it hosted five Digital Xchange events across locations like Schwyz and Biel, capturing public feedback which helped our partners tailor their responses to the community’s needs.
Laying the groundwork for the future
Building on the ongoing efforts since 2022 towards advancing digital inclusion in Switzerland, the Foundation has been working towards the launch of the Alliance for Digital Inclusion in Switzerland, slated to happen in 2024. This new venture will foster collaboration among key stakeholders in civil society, government, and academia, focusing on e-accessibility and basic digital competences. The Alliance aims to create a cooperative space that supports Switzerland’s journey toward digital inclusivity, ensuring that digital tools and resources are accessible to all.
digitalswitzerland will focus on qualitative growth to provide substantial value to both current and prospective members. As a nation-wide initiative, strengthening our presence across the nation is paramount. Hosting four major national events is one of the measures planned for 2024: the digitalswitzerland Village in Davos, The Digital Gipfel Schweiz in Central Switzerland, engaging activities at the Locarno Film Festival, and the Digital Competitiveness Summit in Lausanne. The Swiss Digital Days movement, initiated in 2017, evolves into a self-sustaining format led by local partners, cities, and cantons, enhancing community-driven innovation. While pushing forward our current programmes and initiatives, we must also adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. New initiatives include the official launch of the AI Alliance and a strategic partnership with the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne to make digitalisation more accessible, reinforcing Switzerland’s position as a leader in innovation and digital transformation. This approach aligns with our current strategy, aiming at impact in society in clearly defined areas of action.
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