The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER was commissioned by the Federal Council to examine Switzerland’s start-up ecosystem. The subsequent report reveals that this ecosystem is generally in good shape. However, there is room for improvement in a number of areas, namely technology transfer, internationalisation, access to skilled labour and financing. On 25 August, the Federal Council tasked the EAER and the Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP with examining measures in these areas in greater detail. The findings are expected to be presented in June 2022.
Start-ups 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 EAER in December 2020 to investigate which factors are crucial for the performance of the start-up ecosystem and how knowledge and technology transfer can be accelerated.
The findings show that the start-up ecosystem in Switzerland is generally in good shape. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement in a number of areas. The EAER is therefore proposing to the Federal Council various measures to be examined in greater detail; namely ways of optimising technology transfer, boosting internationalisation, improving access to skilled workers and honing regulation. In view of the fact that numerous states have launched extensive programmes to support start-ups in recent years, measures for a more active growth strategy should also be examined in order to strengthen Switzerland’s appeal as a location for start-ups in the long term. To this end, the Federal Council has decided in particular to comprehensively examine the advantages and disadvantages of a Swiss innovation fund. The aim is to explore the extent to which such a fund could expand the venture capital market in Switzerland and thus improve the growth opportunities of innovative companies in Switzerland.
On August 25, 2021, the Federal Council tasked the EAER and the FDJP with examining the various measures in greater detail. The findings are expected to be presented in June 2022.