President Guy Parmelin meets Swiss start-ups

Startups play an increasingly important role in a country's innovative strength. They make a significant contribution to harnessing the innovation potential resulting from research. They also play an important role in the development and application of new technological innovations. Against this backdrop, the Federal Council commissioned the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) in December 2020 to investigate which factors are decisive for the performance of the start-up ecosystem. Based on this report, the Federal Council has identified optimisation opportunities in technology transfer, promotion of internationalisation, access to skilled labour and regulation, which are now being examined in greater detail. On 25 August, the Federal Council tasked the EAER and the FDJP with examining various measures in greater detail. The findings are expected to be presented in June 2022.

In this context, President Guy Parmelin welcomed a small group of executives from successful Swiss start-ups to the Bundeshaus on Friday to learn more about the challenges young companies face in Switzerland. The exchange gave the entrepreneurs the opportunity to make their suggestions for the implementation of the various measures under discussion to the Minister of Economic Affairs and the representatives of SERI and SECO who were present too. 

The event was organised by the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation (SwissEF). The foundation is under the patronage of President Guy Parmelin and is chaired by Urs Berger, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Schweizerische Mobiliar Genossenschaft and Schweizerische Mobiliar Holding AG. SwissEF is committed to improving the framework conditions for start-ups and entrepreneurship and runs a practice-oriented support programme for high-growth start-ups in the internationalisation phase.  

(Press release / SK)