The analysis of the 2023/24 annual reports covers 43 funds listed on the Swiss stock exchange and 34 German mutual funds. In Germany, many of the key figures that must be included in the annual report are enshrined in law. In Switzerland, sustainability reports increasingly go beyond the legal requirements due to other specifications. The portfolio sizes of the funds surveyed in Switzerland range from 100 million to 3 billion Swiss francs, while in Germany they are between 18 million and 18 billion euros.

Focus on environmental aspects

While almost all funds in Switzerland (91 %) provide at least quantitative information on environmental aspects, 37% of the funds do not comment on the social aspect of sustainability at all. Governance criteria are found in almost two-thirds of real estate vehicles in Switzerland. In Germany, the four dimensions of sustainability are much more evenly represented than in Switzerland. 30 % to 40 % of the funds provide quantitative information on society, the environment and governance.

The economic aspect is mentioned by less than 10 % of the funds in both countries, but this is due to the fact that the economic indicators are integrated into the financial reporting.

Standards create comparability

The analysis underlines that ESG aspects are now firmly anchored in the annual report of most funds. However, transparency and level of detail still vary greatly. The use of reporting standards such as GRI or CSRD and benchmarks such as GRESB is proving to be key to ensuring consistent and comparable sustainability reporting within the asset class and across countries.

Environmental aspects such as CO2 emissions, energy consumption and targets towards net zero or limiting global warming remain the primary differentiators for sustainable real estate investments. In the future, key figures on gray energy, but also on economic and social fields of action, are likely to come more to the fore in reporting.

Source: www.pom.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/analyse-zur-esg-transparenz-von-77-immobilienfonds-aus-der-schweiz-und-deutschland/

1 AI agents for more personalization and efficiency

Predicting customer needs or recognizing and automatically solving potential problems in the company network: in 2025, AI will go from being a tool to an assistant. This is because instead of working reactively with user input, rules or data sets, agent-based AI works proactively. It continuously learns from ongoing processes and makes decisions with little or no human interaction. AI agents will soon be able to work together to map complex workflows and automate advanced business functions. For companies, this development means greater efficiency. However, it requires binding ethical guidelines to ensure fairness and transparency and to protect intellectual property.

2 AI-supported humanoids lead to new dynamics in the workplace

Humanoid, human-like robots with AI functions will be part of the workforce in our own companies as early as 2025. This will also result in new workplace dynamics: companies must ensure that their connectivity has low latency and sufficient throughput, for example. This is because the performance of humanoids depends on how well they can process and analyze data in real time. At the same time, companies must protect humanoids from cyberattacks and manipulation of their software and commands. Managers should also allay human employees' fears of losing their jobs.

3 AI increases the requirements for infrastructure and data provision

AI promises innovation. However, the further the development progresses, the higher the hurdles become: For example, the Cisco AI Readiness Index shows that only five percent of companies in Switzerland are able to exploit the full potential of AI-supported technologies. Strategic partners are needed to identify and prioritize AI use cases, train teams and modernize infrastructures. IT teams are challenged more than ever to optimize the management, hygiene, tagging and organization of data that is currently spread across multiple systems and locations.

4. new cyber threats and improved security through AI

In 2025, companies will need to improve their security measures to cope with new types of cyber attacks. These include Promt injection attacks that masquerade as legitimate user input in generative AI systems. With the advent of quantum computers, companies should also begin to introduce quantum-resistant security protocols to protect sensitive data. At the same time, social engineering and supply chain attacks are likely to increase due to increasing networking. Here again, AI can support human security teams, strengthen the network as a central defense system and consistently enforce policies.

5 AI reduces network outages

The continuous availability of the IT network is becoming increasingly important for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. The use of AI is promising to avoid manual misconfigurations and ensure uninterrupted operation. Intelligent tools can run automated workflows throughout the network lifecycle and provide traceability for every action. They revolutionize network management and assurance by learning from configurations and performing benchmarks.

6 AI requires new solutions for sustainability

AI consumes a lot of energy. In 2025, companies will therefore increasingly be looking for partners to realize their net-zero commitments and sustainability goals. However, AI can also play a decisive role in unlocking new potential in terms of energy savings: software-defined network technologies can be combined with an electrical energy system consisting of direct current microgrids (DC microgrids). This enables improved transparency of emissions as well as a platform for optimizing energy consumption, distribution and storage.

Source: www.cisco.com

The new COO of BDO Switzerland, Christoph Scholl, has been with BDO for over 20 years and will be responsible for IT, Information and Data Security, Project Management, People & Culture, Marketing & Business Development and Real Estate Management. With the newly created position of COO, BDO is bundling its management services under one management and thus strengthening cooperation between the divisions.

"Christoph Scholl combines many years of entrepreneurial know-how and proven management experience with a practical eye for efficiency and progress. He has not only made a significant contribution to his area of responsibility, but also to the strategy process and will play a key role in driving forward the further development of Management Services. I look forward to continuing our collaboration," says CEO Thomas Studhalter.

40-year-old Christoph Scholl began his professional career in 2000 as an IT trainee at BDO in Solothurn and worked as a project manager and team leader for client IT until 2013, before being promoted to CIO in 2013. In 2023, he also took over as Head of People & Culture and Marketing & Business Development. Looking ahead to his new role, he says: "I am looking forward to working with my team to interlink the internal structures more closely and jointly develop solutions that will benefit our employees, the company and, last but not least, external stakeholders."

Christoph Scholl has held an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen since 2018, is active in politics and voluntary work in his home community of Selzach, is married and the father of three children. The appointment of Christoph Scholl as COO marks an important step in the transformation of the company's management. In his new role, he will continue to report to CEO Thomas Studhalter and will also join the Executive Board of BDO Switzerland.

Source: www.bdo.ch

While in Switzerland employers at SME level are protected by the Swiss Employer Award the Best Places to Work program focuses on companies that impress throughout Europe with innovative concepts. Both programs aim to identify and recognize outstanding workplaces - whether at a national or international level.

MSD tops the ranking of best employers

This year, MSD, a leading global pharmaceutical company, leads the ranking, followed by PPD Global and Novo Nordisk, both of which focus on the well-being and development of their employees. These companies were recognized for creating workplaces where employees are motivated to contribute to the company's mission and goals.  

Other outstanding companies in the ranking are Rebeldot, a leader in innovation and agility in the technology sector, and United Media Services, known for its employee-oriented leadership and workplace culture. Takeda, Pluxee and Dipharma are also ranked highly for their forward-thinking HR policies and strong corporate values.

The "Best Places to Work" certification program evaluated companies based on a number of criteria, including management effectiveness, employee engagement, workplace flexibility and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. The companies on the list are characterized by creating not only a productive but also a supportive environment in which employees feel supported, valued and able to thrive.

Best Places to Work: The 2024 ranking list

These are the 25 best employers in Europe for 2024 - including the Bossard Group in 19th place, a company with Swiss roots:

1. MSD
2. PPD Global
3. Novo Nordisk
4. Rebeldot
5. United Media Services
6. Takeda
7. Pluxee
8. Dipharma
9. RetuRo
10. Basware
11. Computacenter
12. Exness
13. Serving dish
14. Upp
15. Wisecom
16. Mladvisory
17. Forvis Mazars CEE
18. Olea Medical
19. Bossard
20. Mēness Aptieka
21. Conecta
22. Frime
23. Fortenova Grupa
24. Ruthmann
25. BlueLink

These companies are the best when it comes to creating an inspiring work environment that promotes the success and well-being of their employees. Through innovative approaches, these companies not only value the development of their teams, but also make a positive contribution to the overall corporate culture across Europe.

Source: www.bestplacestoworkfor.org

"PLM and AI form a symbiotic partnership in which both technologies reinforce each other. PLM provides the data and links it together. It is therefore essentially the basis for the use of AI. This is then able to evaluate and interpret the data," says Jens Rollenmüller, Regional Vice President at Aras. According to the digitalization expert, the potential of AI in the industrial environment can only be fully exploited by networking the most diverse areas along the product life cycle.

As a constantly updated digital image of the physical product, the 'digital thread' provides the necessary information for analysis and forms the basis for decisions. This development influences the entire production process - from manufacturing and design through to recycling. Rollenmüller: "With the help of innovative AI technologies, this creates a new generation of adaptive, self-learning and proactive PLM systems that enable companies to act more flexibly and efficiently."

The digital twin becomes an active advisor

The continuous input of data is important for a learning PLM system. This includes analyzing production data, checking supplier status, evaluating customer feedback and even comments on social media platforms can provide important information. The results flow into development or production processes as well as into precise sales forecasts. From the sum of the analyzed data, the software makes intelligent optimization suggestions and helps to place new products on the market in a targeted manner.

The digital twin accompanies the real product throughout its entire life cycle. It continuously collects data from both production and use by the customer and forwards the information to the underlying PLM or AI for analysis. The insights gained are automatically incorporated into new product generations. The result: faster development, lower costs, higher quality and better adaptation to customer requirements.

"With the Digital Thread, AI can track customer needs in real time and adapt product development accordingly. This makes hyper-personalization possible. Products adapt to individual needs almost in real time," says digitalization expert Rollenmüller.

The AI knows what makes the company tick

One example of the wide range of applications for AI-supported application systems is their use at marine specialist thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). There, internal processes are analyzed with software support with the aim of creating a digital image of the entire company. Dr. Kira Giesecke, Head of Value Chain Strategy at TKMS: "The possibilities we now have with Aras Innovator allow us to network information. Among other things, this enables us to teach AI what makes our company tick."

Source: www.aras.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/product-lifecycle-management-wird-zum-lernenden-system/

The Renault Trucks E-Tech D has successfully completed a long-distance journey of over 2,000 kilometers from Bad Salzuflen, North Rhine-Westphalia, to Hungary and back. The trip was carried out by Matthias Syrbe, dispatcher at Dachser, and his co-driver to transport furniture to Hungary for charitable purposes.

"We had doubts at first," reports Syrbe. "But with careful planning and the support of my co-driver, we successfully mastered the route. The battery-powered truck drove the entire route without any problems."

The biggest challenge was finding suitable charging stations along the route. However, thanks to modern apps and careful planning, the necessary charging stops could be made efficiently. A total of nine charging stops were required to successfully complete the route.

354 kilometers of driving in one go

"Once it got really tight. We had selected a charging point with a charging capacity of 330kW in advance. But on site, only 45kW of charging current was available. That completely disrupted our schedule. We aborted the charging process and looked for another charging point. Once there, the truck was too high for the new charging point - we had to leave with 10% of charge remaining. Eventually we found another charging point. There were still 2% left in the batteries - and we both panicked a little. But it all worked out, and this situation also had something good: "Because now we know that you can manage 354 kilometers with the electric truck when it really counts," Syrbe continues

Frederic Ruesche, Managing Director of Renault Trucks Germany, says: "This successful long-distance journey impressively demonstrates that our electric trucks are not only ideally suited for urban use, but also for longer distances. We are proud to be able to offer a sustainable and reliable transport solution with the Renault Trucks E-Tech D."

"It was great fun to be on the road electrically," summarizes Syrbe. "The battery-electric truck has shown that electric mobility is also possible over long distances."

Perfect for distribution transport

The Renault Trucks E-Tech D is specially designed for urban and regional distribution transport. With a gross vehicle weight of 16 tons and a battery capacity of 200 to 400 kWh, it offers a range that is sufficient for most distribution tasks. The electric vehicle from Renault is available in various body variants and is suitable for transporting both dry and refrigerated goods. It is also qualified for use in low-emission zones.

Source: www.renault-trucks.de

Founded on 1 January 2025, the Institute for Mental and Organizational Health (MOG) is dedicated to designing working conditions that promote health, supporting organizational change and strengthening resilience at an individual, team and organizational level. "Maintaining and promoting health in the world of work poses increasing challenges for organizations and society," says Prof. Dr. Tanja Manser, Director of the FHNW School of Applied Psychology. "By founding the new institute, we are supporting companies with scientifically sound, practical solutions and contributing to the strategic FHNW future field of Future Health with psychological expertise."

A strong foundation for the future

The FHNW School of Applied Psychology has proven expertise in the field of work and health. Together with their team, Michaela Knecht and Andreas Krause have been making an important contribution to the promotion of mental and organizational health for many years with pioneering research projects, practical advice and innovative teaching formats. This expertise forms the basis for further development and the establishment of new focal points in line with the needs of business and society.

Looking forward to new possibilities

The establishment of the institute opens up the opportunity to apply the expertise built up at the FHNW School of Applied Psychology in an even more targeted manner and to provide sustainable impetus for the working world of tomorrow. "We look forward to developing and testing new approaches to strengthening mental and organizational health together with partners from business, society and research," say Michaela Knecht and Andreas Krause.

Live, work and change healthily

The Institute for Mental and Organizational Health (MOG) focuses on three central fields of action that address the needs of the economy and society:

• Healthy living: Promoting a balance between work and private life and strengthening meaning and health in everyday life.
• Working healthily: Research and dissemination of occupational health management (OHM), analysis of psychosocial risks and resources at work as well as support for self-care and prevention of self-endangerment.
• Healthy change: Health-promoting support for change processes in organizations, especially when introducing new forms of work and collaboration.

Practical event "Future Health - the contribution of applied psychology", May 7, 2025, Olten

Experts from the Institute for Mental and Organizational Health will present innovative approaches to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and dynamic working environment. The focus is on solutions to promote resilience, mental health and sustainable performance in companies.

Source: www.fhnw.ch

Success rate for phishing lures triples

Despite companies' repeated attempts to train their employees' security awareness, especially to avoid falling victim to phishing, corporate users clicked on phishing lures almost three times as often in 2024 as in 2023. More than eight out of every 1,000 users clicked on a phishing link each month. This is an increase of 190% compared to the previous year, when less than three in every thousand corporate users were victims of phishing attempts.

Where attackers host their malicious user data is also an element of social engineering. They want to host malicious content on platforms that the victims trust. These include popular cloud apps such as GitHub, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive. In 2024, 88% of organizations downloaded malicious content from popular cloud apps at least once a month.

The top target for phishing campaigns clicked on by users in 2024 were cloud applications, which accounted for more than a quarter of all phishing clicks at 27%. Among the cloud apps, Microsoft was by far the most frequently attacked brand with 42%. The attackers primarily targeted Microsoft Live and Microsoft 365 login information.

Personal apps blur the boundaries

The ubiquity of personal cloud apps in the enterprise has created an environment where employees knowingly or unknowingly use these apps to process or store sensitive data. This leads to a loss of organizational control over data and potential data breaches. The main personal apps that users send data to include cloud storage, webmail, GenAI, social media and personal calendar apps.deep

In 2024, 88% of all employees used personal cloud apps every month. More than one in four users (26%) uploaded, posted or otherwise sent data to personal apps. Sensitive data leaked via personal apps is at the top of the list for most organizations. The most common type of data breach involves regulated data (60%), which includes personal, financial or health data uploaded to personal apps. Other types of data affected by breaches include intellectual property (16%), source code (13%), passwords and keys (11%) and encrypted data (1%).

Growth trends for GenAI continue

In 2023, GenAI entered the world of work. The growing acceptance of GenAI apps by both companies and users - as well as the total volume of GenAI apps in use - continued until 2024:

• Organizational usage increased from 81% of companies using GenAI apps in 2023 to 94% in 2024. ChatGPT continues to be the most popular GenAI app and is used in 84% of companies.
• The proportion of employees using GenAI apps tripled from 2.6% to 7.8%. Retail and technology companies lead all industries with an average of more than 13 % of all employees using GenAI apps each month.
• Organizations now use an average of 9.6 GenAI apps, up from 7.6 a year ago. The top 25% of organizations now use at least 24 GenAI apps, while the bottom 25% use at most 4 GenAI apps.

Management of GenAI data risk

In 2024, GenAI apps became more and more commonplace in companies - 94 % are already using them. Nevertheless, it is clear that many companies are still in the early stages of setting up secure controls for GenAI and mitigating the associated data risks.

• 45% of companies use DLP to control the flow of data in GenAI apps. The acceptance of DLP for GenAI varies greatly depending on the industry. At 64 %, the telecommunications industry is in the lead.
• 34% of companies rely on real-time interactive user coaching to empower individuals to make appropriate and informed decisions.
• In 73% of the cases where users are warned of a potential violation of company law, they decide not to proceed based on the coaching information provided.
• 73% of companies block at least one GenAI app, with the number of blocked GenAI apps remaining constant from year to year at an average of 2.4.
• The number of apps blocked by the top 25% of all organizations blocking GenAI apps has more than doubled in the last year, from 6.3 apps to 14.6.

The most important findings for companies

Netskope recommends that organizations take the following steps to protect their environments:

• Users are bombarded with phishing links from all directions: Email, social media, ads in search engine results and across the web. In addition, genAI makes it easier for attackers to create convincing phishing links. This illustrates that it is not enough to rely on education alone to detect a phishing attempt. It must be accompanied by investment in modern data protection.
• Employees continue to accidentally or intentionally share files via their personal accounts. They include proprietary information in personal backups or use private app instances to take data with them when they leave the company. Regardless of intent, organizations should restrict access to apps with legitimate business purposes. They also need to set up a review and approval process for new apps and implement continuous monitoring. This should alert security experts if apps are misused or compromised.
• The trend of more and more companies and employees using GenAI will continue in 2025. GenAI is increasingly being used in the workplace. With the growing number of apps, controls are needed to ensure that only authorized apps are used. Companies should use modern data security to control data transfer to authorized apps. Real-time coaching helps employees make informed decisions when using GenAI apps. In addition, controls are needed to block unauthorized apps.

"The common denominator for organizations working to secure the use of apps in the enterprise and mitigate the challenges of the threat landscape is the need for modern data security," says Ray Canzanese, Director of Netskope Threat Labs. "Gone are the days when data security was an afterthought. It needs to be seamlessly integrated into every aspect of an organization's operations. From defending against phishing to protecting personal apps to managing GenAI, data security is no longer just protection at the edge. It's a dynamic, proactive framework with real-time user coaching, DLP and app-specific controls to stay ahead of an ever-changing threat landscape."

The full Cloud and Threat Report: 2025 can be downloaded at here can be viewed here. More information on cloud-based threats and the latest insights from Netskope Threat Labs: Threat Research Hub from Netskope.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/phishing-klicks-haben-sich-im-jahr-2024-fast-verdreifacht/

"Selecta is ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for flexible, digital and sustainable catering solutions," says Beat Welti. "Our scalable catering solutions - from snacks to fresh meals as well as premium coffee and beverages - are equipped with smart technologies such as real-time sales data. This brings us closer to our customers and increases efficiency. My focus is on outstanding customer service. I will also expand strategic partnerships in the area of sustainable products and with institutional customers to secure our long-term growth."

Selecta, founded and established in Switzerland since 1957, has transformed itself in recent years from a traditional supplier of vending machines to a pioneer in the food tech sector. Micromarkets, smart fridges and 24/7 access to fresh food are just some of the advanced solutions the company offers today, both in Switzerland and in Europe. These innovations are aimed at large companies, SMEs and the public sector and significantly improve the catering offering for end consumers.

"I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Beat Welti, an expert with excellent knowledge of the Swiss consumer goods industry," says Christian Schmitz, CEO of the Selecta Group. "His extensive experience and in-depth industry knowledge will be an asset to us as we continue to drive forward our goals."

Source:  www.selecta.com

In today's dynamic business world, creativity and a positive corporate culture are key factors for the long-term success of a company. Studies show that companies that specifically promote these aspects are economically more successful and more competitive. A willingness to experiment, a long-term focus and an open communication culture make a significant contribution to a company's success. The effects of this are diverse and measurable. From increasing brand perception and opening up new markets to increasing efficiency through innovative processes - creative companies demonstrably achieve better results.

In order to shed light on the topic from different perspectives, personalities from various sectors - including energy, industry, banking and services - will share their experiences. Various companies will present their services at stands and former speakers as well as illustrious personalities from business and politics will also be present. Participants at the KMU Swiss Symposia appreciate the practical relevance and informal atmosphere.

The symposium schedule has been slightly adapted. Between the Baden Marketplace, which takes place beforehand, and the start of the symposium, participants will have the opportunity to visit a well-known company within walking distance of the event venue or exchange ideas with the exhibitors. This is in response to the desire for increased networking during the event.

Award for outstanding sustainable performance

The award presented in the last two years has been renamed the KMU Swiss Award and thus given a sharper definition. The award recognizes a Swiss company that has shown courage and commitment in ensuring the company's success for future generations. The jury selected a winner from five nominated companies. This very successful company - this much can already be revealed - will receive the KMU Swiss Award for consistently outstanding performance over many years before the symposium's closing drinks reception and will thus be duly celebrated.

Notable personalities

The following entrepreneurial personalities will make a lasting impression:

• Antje Kanngiesser, CEO Alpiq Group
• Chantal Moerker, owner of Inner Leadership
• Josef Ackermann, former Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank
• Stefan Wartmann, CEO Brugg Group
• Bernhard Emch, CEO Emch Aufzüge
• Willi Helbling, BPN Foundation
• Markus Schneider Mayor of Baden
• Moderator: Dr. Hugo Bigi

Tickets and further information: www.kmuswiss.ch

 

Automotive industry: The digital reinvention

The automotive industry is undergoing a technological upheaval. In view of the complex challenges - from electromobility and global competition to stricter regulatory requirements - AI is becoming an indispensable key technology. It is optimizing supply chains and production logistics while revolutionizing customer interaction.

A possible future scenario: in the future, car manufacturers could guide customers digitally through the entire production process of their vehicle - from the initial order to the so-called "marriage", where the chassis and drive are joined together in assembly. Crucial to this vision is a robust database in the cloud that enables a seamless exchange of information between systems and provides data in real time. Without this foundation, the use of AI threatens to remain inefficient and ineffective.

Chemical industry: sustainability meets efficiency

The chemical industry is facing complex challenges: high energy costs, strict environmental regulations and enormous global pressure to innovate. This is where AI unfolds its enormous potential by setting the course for more sustainable processes and radically optimizing the use of resources.

Predictive maintenance is a particularly promising field of application. AI can be used to identify potential machine problems at an early stage, prevent unplanned downtime and plan repairs with precision. A prime example is the company Noble Plastics: the system uses AI-supported analyses of tool wear data to provide precise warnings for optimal maintenance. This prevents faulty products and simultaneously reduces costs through smarter planning.

Mechanical engineering: digitalization as a lifeline

One of the biggest challenges in mechanical engineering is still dormant: the sluggish digitalization of many production facilities. Many companies still work with isolated systems or rely on paper-based processes - a situation that makes the introduction of modern technologies much more difficult.

AI can build the crucial bridge here by automating processes, shortening development times and increasing product quality. Simulations and data-based models are used to make processes more efficient and generate more precise results that secure real competitive advantages.

The example of Bosch shows what successful AI integration can look like: In a service center with over 200,000 customer inquiries a year, AI-based systems provide lightning-fast answers and solutions to highly complex problems. This significantly increases the quality of interaction between customers and the company.

Energy sector: AI as an accelerator of the energy transition

The energy sector is facing huge challenges that require a far-reaching transformation. Regulatory uncertainties, fluctuating supply security and the immense pressure to decarbonize call for innovative solutions. This is precisely where AI is becoming a key technology: it enables more precise control of energy flows, accelerates the expansion of renewable energies and optimizes existing grids with a level of efficiency that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Construction industry: autonomous systems conquer major projects

A pioneering example of the transformative power of AI can be found in the construction industry in China. There, a highway was built fully automatically over 160 kilometers - a flagship project that impressively demonstrates the possibilities of autonomous systems in combination with AI. The development is convincing proof that AI technologies can be used in both small and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Cloud technology: the invisible foundation for AI success

Irrespective of specific industries, the cloud is proving to be a decisive success factor for AI applications. It creates the technological infrastructure for storing and processing huge amounts of data and forms the basis for real-time applications. Whether in the supply chain, customer service or product development - without the cloud, AI projects often remain piecemeal.

Western Digital provides a meaningful practical example: AI is used there to predict the arrival times of deliveries with precise accuracy. The real-time data makes it possible to make subsequent processes such as resource planning and transportation management significantly more efficient. Such applications vividly illustrate how the combination of cloud and AI can sustainably increase the competitiveness of companies.

Looking to the future: AI as an indispensable corporate strategy

Although AI has already become the standard in many areas, the real revolution is yet to come. The automotive industry is already experimenting with AI-controlled design processes for new hybrid drives. In the chemical industry, intelligent systems are being used to achieve ambitious sustainability targets. The mechanical engineering industry is using AI to navigate complex global supply chains.

In 2025, AI will no longer be just one option among many. Rather, it will become a central component of any corporate strategy that is geared towards long-term success and competitiveness. Those who do not invest in AI technologies and the necessary cloud infrastructure now risk being left behind.

Unmistakable message: the AI revolution cannot be stopped - it is already in full swing.

Source: www.oracle.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/ki-revolutioniert-industrien-fuenf-branchentrends-fuer-2025/

A new Swiss start-up record is set with 52,978 new companies founded. This represents growth of 2.6% compared to the previous record year of 2023. Simon May, Co-Managing Director of the IFJ, explains: "The continuous increase in company start-ups reflects the desire of many people for professional self-realization and independence. In particular, the increase in part-time self-employment offers many founders the opportunity to take the step into self-employment with little risk." Switzerland also offers various government and private sector support services to help founders on their way to starting their own business.

Positive effects for the Swiss economy

Rising numbers of start-ups are not only an indicator of the entrepreneurial spirit in Switzerland, but also have far-reaching consequences for the economy. They create new jobs, promote competition and drive innovation. According to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024, Switzerland remains the undisputed leader in innovation in Europe. The increasing dynamism in the start-up scene strengthens the foundations of the Swiss economy and shows that Switzerland remains a highly competitive location. "A strong start-up engine is a key factor for a resilient and innovative economy," emphasizes May.

The start-up statistics in detail

It is also interesting to note that in both record years, significantly more companies were founded at the beginning and end of the year. And that the two record years were evenly matched in terms of the number of start-ups per quarter. A more detailed look at the figures for 2024 further illustrates the attractiveness and potential of Switzerland as a start-up location.

Positive start-up mood prevails in the major regions

In 2024, Southwestern Switzerland (+6.3%) is the major region with the strongest growth in new start-ups. Espace Mittelland (+3.4%) and Ticino (+3.0%) also recorded significant growth compared to the same period of the previous year. Moderate growth was recorded in the regions of Central Switzerland (+2.0%), Zurich (+1.2%) and Eastern Switzerland (+1.1%). Northwestern Switzerland was the only region to record a decrease of -1.0%.

Cantons with a high start-up

In 19 cantons, the number of new start-ups increased in 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year. These are currently the cantons with a growth in Swiss company formations: Appenzell Innerrhoden (+25.0%), Uri (+13.1%), Appenzell Ausserrhoden (+12.8%), Fribourg (+11.5%), Valais (+10.7%), Zug (+6.0%), Vaud (+5.5%), St. Gallen (+5.1%), Geneva (+4.7%), Obwalden (+4.1%), Glarus (+3.2%), Ticino (+3.0%), Bern (+2.6%), Nidwalden (+1.3%), Zurich (+1.2%), Jura (+1.1%), Schwyz (+0.6%), Aargau (+0.5%) and Neuchâtel (+0.1%).

Fewer start-ups are currently being founded in these cantons

The cantons with a slight percentage drop are Basel-Stadt (-0.8%), Graubünden (-0.8%), Solothurn (-1.9%), Lucerne (-3.0%), Schaffhausen (-4.1%), Basel-Landschaft (-4.9%) and Thurgau (-7.6%).

Legal forms in comparison

In Switzerland, sole proprietorships are the fastest-growing legal form in 2024, with growth of +3.4% compared to the same period last year. The public limited company (AG) follows with solid growth of +2.4%, while the limited liability company (GmbH) grew by +1.5% and remains the most popular legal form for start-ups. The equally relevant legal form of general partnership recorded a decline of -1.2%.

Comparison of the last 10 years

With the new foundation record, the year 2024 shows a very positive trend. On average over the last 10 years, 46,552 new companies were entered in the Swiss commercial register each year. With 52,978 new start-ups, 2024 recorded the highest level and, at +13.8 %, is well above the average of previous years.

The most start-ups are in these sectors

The three sectors that made it onto the podium this year are crafts (5,555 start-ups), consulting (5,256 start-ups) and real estate (4,883 start-ups). They are closely followed by retail (4,585 start-ups) and B2B & B2C services (4,379 start-ups). However, it is interesting to note that the Swiss start-up landscape is very diverse with the 21 sectors assigned in our study. With 5,555 new registrations, the most successful sector, crafts, only accounts for 10.4% total start-ups and illustrates the diversity of the start-up landscape.

Swiss founders break the start-up record again

The current figures for 2024 confirm this: Switzerland remains a first-class location for young companies and start-ups. The strength of the Swiss economy and its innovative power are demonstrated by a new national record for company start-ups. Despite global uncertainties, the number of start-ups increased significantly and even surpassed the previous record year of 2023.

Simon May explains: "This new start-up record illustrates the entrepreneurial spirit in Switzerland and the high willingness to realize one's own dreams and take entrepreneurial risks in a relatively stable national environment. The importance of start-ups for a well-functioning economy is also illustrated by the latest figures from the FSO. Every year, 8% of all Swiss companies are newly founded. More than every 10th employee works in a company that is less than 10 years old. The increasing number of start-ups contributes significantly to the creation of new jobs and to Switzerland's economic resilience. With a stable political system, first-class infrastructure and targeted support programs, Switzerland can look back on another successful year."

Although the financing volume for technology-based start-ups is still below the record levels of 2021 and 2022, there are various positive signs. These include rising investment in the biotech and medtech sectors, an increasing number of funding initiatives and the fact that Horizon Europe will once again be open to Swiss investments from January 2025. This underlines Switzerland's leading position in the global innovation environment.

The prospects for 2025 are promising. The digital transformation with artificial intelligence and the strong entrepreneurial spirit are continuing to stimulate the Swiss economy.

Source: www.ifj.ch