Last year, Suva insured persons reported around 495,000 accidents and occupational illnesses. The difference to the previous year is small, with an overall increase of 0.2%. Occupational accidents and illnesses fell by 3.7 percent to just under 180,000 cases. On the other hand, leisure accidents rose by 2.2 percent to around 298,000 cases. The number of accidents involving persons registered as unemployed and persons on IV measures increased by 10.9%. This can largely be explained by the higher number of unemployed persons compared to the previous year.

Proportion of accidents at work continues to fall

"The overall accident figures have remained practically stable compared to the previous year," says Alois Fässler, statistician at Suva. "The decline in occupational accidents is particularly pleasing." While accidents at work used to account for the majority of reported accidents, Suva has been registering significantly more accidents during leisure time than at work since the early 1990s. Last year, the ratio was 62 percent leisure accidents to 38 percent work accidents.

"Safety at work has increased significantly in recent decades, whether through continuous prevention work or the reduction in workplaces with a high accident risk, for example due to increasingly automated processes," says Alois Fässler. "Accident figures are higher in the leisure sector because people now invest more time in their active leisure time and outdoor activities."

These were the sports with the most accidents

Over the whole of 2024, Suva registered the most sports accidents while playing football (29,000 / 26 % of all sports accidents), skiing (14,000 / 13 %) and biking/mountain biking (5000 / 4.6 %). There are gender-specific differences. For men, the order of the most frequent sports accidents corresponds to the overall result (football (31 %), skiing (11 %), biking (5 %)), while for women most accidents occurred while skiing (19 %), followed by mountain hiking (8 %) and playing football (7 %, mainly among women under 30). The most common injuries were to the knees, ankles and shoulders.

Accident prevention pays off

In addition to human suffering, accidents also cause high costs. This is why prevention - alongside insurance and rehabilitation - is an important part of Suva's services. Suva offers various prevention programs and advice in the area of occupational and leisure safety, which help to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses. At the same time, the measures promote the safety culture in companies, raise awareness of dangers and motivate people to take personal responsibility.

Suva will present detailed information on the 2024 financial year and the impact of the current accident figures on premium development at its annual media conference on June 13, 2025 in Lucerne.

Source: www.suva.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/suva-unfallzahlen-bleiben-gesamthaft-stabil/

Cyber threats such as ransomware attacks and large-scale hacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, posing a significant risk to companies. At the same time, many companies do not know how powerful AI technology really is and are unaware of the potential damage that uncontrolled vulnerabilities can cause. This lack of awareness leaves companies vulnerable to critical security breaches. This is why the partnership between ITNB AG and Phoenix Technologies AG is more important than ever. It brings together cybersecurity expertise and AI security infrastructures to protect organizations through a fully integrated technology stack.

A sovereign alternative to non-European providers

As Swiss companies, Phoenix Technologies AG and ITNB AG adhere to the highest national and European security standards. Their solutions comply with the Swiss Data Protection Act (DPA) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the International AI Act. In addition, industry-specific requirements such as FINMA regulations for financial service providers are integrated, while companies are protected against the U.S. Cloud Act. This partnership offers a legally compliant, sovereign alternative to non-European cloud and AI services and ensures maximum data sovereignty.

Cross-industry solutions with the highest security standards

This partnership is aimed in particular at the healthcare, finance, hospitality, manufacturing and government sectors. The combination of AI, cloud and cyber security not only increases efficiency, but also improves protection against evolving cyber threats.

The most important solutions include:

• Consult-AI: A customized workshop with a structured framework and expert knowledge that unlocks the full potential of AI to revolutionize operations and strategy.
• Sovereign Concierge: A centralized portal that seamlessly connects stakeholders to the wealth of institutional knowledge within their organization, enabling better decision-making and efficiency.
• SOCki: An agnostic Security Operations Center (SOC) management platform that automates and coordinates tasks. SOCki integrates multiple cybersecurity sources, simplifies repetitive workflows and allows managers to focus on key priorities.

Nicolai Brignoli, CEO of ITNB AG, emphasizes "This partnership enables companies to use AI securely and in compliance with the GDPR. By combining our cybersecurity solutions with Phoenix's AI platforms, we are creating a future-proof, trustworthy alternative for companies with the highest data protection and compliance requirements."

Peter DeMeo, Chief Product Officer at Phoenix Technologies, adds: "Security, sovereignty and innovation must go hand in hand. By integrating ITNB's security mechanisms into our cloud and AI infrastructure, we enable companies to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence - without compromising on data protection or regulatory compliance."

Source: www.phoenix-technologies.ch

The spread and implementation of applications based on generative AI is increasing rapidly. While the majority of companies are already implementing a GenAI strategy, the goals they are pursuing differ significantly according to the ECI report. Companies want to use generative AI for more productivity, automation and innovation, but face major hurdles in the areas of data security, compliance and IT infrastructure modernization. In addition, 90 percent of respondents expect costs to rise due to the implementation of GenAI-supported and modern applications. At the same time, 70 percent of companies expect to achieve a positive return on investment from their GenAI projects in the next two to three years.

"Many organizations are reaching a tipping point in their GenAI implementations and deployments," said Lee Caswell, SVP, Product and Solutions Marketing at Nutanix. "This year's report brings to light details that are also being brought to us in customer conversations. These include challenges such as scaling GenAI workloads from development to production, but also new requirements that GenAI creates in terms of data governance, protection and transparency, as well as integration into existing IT infrastructures. In order for GenAI projects to be successfully amortized and profitable, companies should take a holistic approach to modernizing applications and infrastructures. They should also focus on containerization."

The key findings of the study include:

The containerization of applications is becoming the new infrastructure standard

Around 90 percent of companies report that at least some of their applications are now containerized. The rapidly increasing spread of new workloads such as GenAI-supported applications will further accelerate this development. 94 percent of respondents agree with the statement that their organizations are benefiting from the adoption of cloud-native applications and containers. Accordingly, this approach should be seen as the gold standard to enable seamless and secure access to data in hybrid and multicloud environments.

Distribution and implementation of GenAI applications continues to grow rapidly

More than 80 percent of the companies surveyed have already developed and adopted a GenAI strategy or are already implementing it. In contrast, only two percent have not yet started to plan a GenAI strategy at all. However, the associated objectives differ significantly. Most companies are convinced that GenAI solutions will help them to increase productivity and efficiency and raise the level of automation. The focus of the GenAI projects currently being implemented is on customer support and experience. However, companies want to prioritize GenAI applications in cybersecurity and data protection workloads in the near future.

The spread of GenAI challenges established standards for data security and protection

95% of respondents agree with the statement that GenAI will change the priorities of their companies and put security and data protection high on the agenda. In fact, more than 90 percent of companies cite data protection as a priority when implementing GenAI solutions. They are aware that security and data protection are key factors for GenAI success. However, no less than 95 percent of respondents believe their organization could do more to ensure the security of their GenAI models and applications. Security and privacy remain a major challenge for organizations looking to justify the deployment of new GenAI-based solutions and ensure compliance with existing security standards, as well as meet new requirements for data governance, protection and transparency.

GenAI scaling requires infrastructure modernization

The operation of cloud-native applications in large companies and corporations requires an infrastructure that can meet essential requirements such as security, data integrity and resilience. The new GenAI applications are no exception to this rule. Almost all respondents (98 percent) see scaling GenAI workloads from development to production as a challenge. However, the biggest challenge in scaling GenAI workloads from development to production is integration into the existing IT infrastructure. Accordingly, investments in IT infrastructure are the first priority to support GenAI.

The spread of GenAI solutions requires changes in technology and personnel

For 52% of respondents, investment in IT training to support GenAI is essential. Similarly, 48 percent of respondents believe they need to hire new IT talent. There is no doubt that companies have an acute skills shortage and are competing for GenAI talent. However, the good news is that many teams are rising to the challenge and are looking to organically acquire and build the required AI knowledge and skills as part of normal work. According to this year's report, 53 percent of respondents believe GenAI offers them the opportunity to gradually develop into AI experts.

The study results and the complete seventh edition of the Enterprise Cloud Index are available on the Website available from Nutanix

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/genai-loest-modernisierungswelle-bei-applikationen-und-infrastrukturen-aus/

In everyday working life, you often notice that people react very differently to the same challenges and stresses. For example, while one employee immediately says "I can't do that" when faced with new tasks, another thinks "Wow, I can finally prove myself" and confidently sets off in search of suitable solutions to problems.

While one employee, for example, suffers burnout and falls ill for a longer period of time due to the "stressful working conditions", another occasionally complains "It's stressful", but then gets down to work full of enthusiasm and systematically completes the tasks at hand.

Resilience research is looking into why this is the case and has come to the conclusion that some people are more "resilient" than others. They have a "thicker skin", so to speak, when it comes to dealing with challenging situations. This is why stress seems to roll off them, while for others it leads to excessive demands

The eight characteristics of resilient employees

Resilience research shows that people with a high level of resilience generally have the following characteristics and personality traits:

• Positive thinking: Resilient people do not panic when faced with new challenges. Instead, they think: I'll manage somehow - even if I don't yet know how.
• Self-esteem: They believe in themselves and in what they can and do.
• Problem-solving ability: They think in a solution-oriented way and plan their future. They are not worried about the future.
• Personal responsibility: They take their lives and destiny into their own hands and do not allow themselves to be forced into a victim role.
• Self-efficacy: They initially accept (negative) things and circumstances as they are. But they don't leave them as they are: they change them.
• Social competence: They remain in dialog with their environment in times of stress. If necessary, they ask for support or organize it themselves.
• Mindfulness: They have a sense of themselves. They know what is (not) good for them and can sense when they are reaching their limits.
• Stress management strategies: They have developed strategies to ensure the necessary relaxation even in times of stress and, as far as possible, to maintain balance in their lives.

Becoming a resilient personality

Resilience research also shows that the skills and characteristics mentioned lie dormant in almost all people. However, without external support, they often find it difficult to activate them. This is because it requires awareness: How do I regularly react in certain situations? For example, when faced with new challenges? Or when important decisions need to be made? Or when the volume of work increases? Also: Why do I react this way and not differently?

Anyone can ask themselves these questions. But in fact, many do not. And if they do? Then they often don't find the right answers. For example, because they don't realize that they always react in a similar way in comparable situations. Or because their behavior seems so natural to them that they can't imagine reacting differently.

Recognize impending excessive demands at an early stage

This is why companies that want to support their employees in increasing their resilience often offer them appropriate seminars. They also often provide them with a coach in their day-to-day work to help them recognize and, if necessary, change their typical patterns of thought, behaviour and reaction to certain external stimuli.

Another aim of this support is to increase employees' self-awareness - in other words, their sensitivity to when they are about to find themselves in a situation that threatens to overtax them, for example. This is because they can usually take countermeasures and organize help, for example, to avoid "burning out" and thus burnout.

To the author:

Nikola Doll works as a management trainer and consultant with her husband Klaus Doll for the Doll Organizational Consulting. In addition, the qualified sociologist and social pedagogue accompanies highly committed people in their careers as a Coach in their personal development.

Venturelab has been selecting the Swiss national start-up team since 2006. As part of the Venture Leaders Roadshows, entrepreneurs meet investors, industry experts and potential customers in leading global technology centers such as Silicon Valley, Boston, Asia, Barcelona, Munich and London.

After reviewing nearly 200 applications, a panel of investors and technology experts selected ten startups to participate in the Venture Leaders Technology 2025 Roadshow to Silicon Valley. The roadshow offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to accelerate their expansion in the US and expand their professional network. They will benefit from pitch sessions with investors and workshops with industry leaders.

The Venture Leaders program underlines Switzerland's strong presence as a world champion of innovation. The ten selected start-ups illustrate the country's leading role in various areas. These include secure communication, satellite optimization, AI-powered productivity tools and next-generation sensor technologies.

"The startups in the Venture Leaders Technology program are doing impressive work," says Stefan Steiner, Co-Managing Director at Venturelab. "By connecting with investors and industry experts, the startups gain valuable insights into the US market and key business perspectives to raise capital and grow internationally." Roberto Iannone, CEO of Zoundream and team captain of Venture Leaders Technology 2024, summarizes: "Fantastic insights into the Silicon Valley ecosystem, valuable investor contacts and exciting discussions - all in just one week. Absolutely worthwhile for any Swiss startup with global ambitions!"

This year's Venture Leaders Technology participants join an impressive list of alumni. They include start-ups such as Lemoptix and Composyt Light Labs (acquired by Intel), Faceshift (acquired by Apple), HouseTrip (acquired by TripAdvisor), Kooaba (acquired by Qualcomm), Dacuda (acquired by Magic Leap), Sevensense Robotics (acquired by ABB) and the Unicorns GetYourGuide and Scandit.

Experience innovation live

Take part in the February 19, 2025 to the team presentation and virtual pitch session and follow the Venture Leaders Technology Roadshow from April 6 to 11, 2025 on social media under the hashtag #VLeadersTech or on www.venture-leaders.ch/technology. The Venture Leaders Technology 2025 program is organized by Venturelab with the support of DPD, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Kellerhals Carrard, Rothschild & Co, Unicorn Anchor and the Canton of Vaud.

Venture Leaders Technology Startups 2025

Aurigin.ai (Zurich): Aurigin uses AI to detect tampered content and cryptographically signs content at the source to ensure trust in communications and public figures.

Brightside Technologies (Vaud): Brightside AI helps small and medium-sized businesses protect themselves against AI-powered cyberattacks with personalized threat detection and defense tools.

DAAV (Vaud): DAAV-air is an electric wheelchair that enables people with mobility impairments to move in all directions and in a wide variety of environments.

DPhi Space (Vaud): DPhi Space offers modular payload solutions - such as sensors, antennas or cameras - to optimize satellite resources and simplify access to space.

Hoshii (Basel): Hoshii bundles B2B wholesale communication in an AI-supported chat interface that integrates with key ERP and CRM systems.

Miraex (Vaud): Miraex develops photonic and quantum solutions for sensors, networks and computing and improves maintenance, cost reduction and productivity where electronics reach their limits.

Mondaic (Zurich): The ICT start-up Mondaic offers a powerful software suite for the analysis and simulation of waveform modeling.

Proud (Vaud): Proud develops sustainable diamond solutions for semiconductors, 5G, medical technology, quantum computing and aerospace.

Rapidata (Zurich): Rapidata provides scalable, human-verified data processing for AI through a global crowd network.

Viboo (Zurich): Viboo offers a cloud platform for optimizing the operational processes of IoT devices in buildings using AI-based methods.

More information

With Markus Kaegi, Isolutions will continue to drive forward the expansion of its cybersecurity offering. The focus will be on holistic and proactive protection for customers in the digital world. Cybersecurity will be greatly expanded in the two areas of Security Advisory Services and Cyber Defense Services. This appointment underlines the company's commitment to further strengthening the protection of its customers against increasingly complex threats in the digital world.

"We are delighted to welcome Markus to our team. With Markus, we are gaining a renowned cybersecurity specialist who will continue to develop the security portfolio in the interests of our customers. Markus will be responsible for the further development and expansion of the growing team of security specialists," says Josua Regez, CEO of Isolutions.

Markus Kaegi brings expertise in the field of cybersecurity and has more than 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of modern cybersecurity services. Previously, he held senior positions as Business Lead Cybersecurity and Lead Product Management at UMB, Swisscom and SIX, helping to develop innovative security solutions that protect both businesses and private customers from cyber threats.

"Isolutions is a dynamic and modern company. I look forward to being part of this growing organization and making an active contribution to providing effective protection for Swiss companies," says Markus Kaegi about his new position, which he will take up on 1 January 2025.

Source: www.isolutions.ch

The economic environment is changing with climate change and increasing scarcity of resources. Innovative solutions in economic and regional development are needed to ensure quality of life and locational advantages. A recent study by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW shows that innovative strength increases when stakeholders network and exchange ideas.

Study author and co-organizer of the symposium Tina Haisch, Professor of Innovation and Space at the FHNW School of Business, says: "Innovation and sustainability in social, environmental and economic development is increasingly happening between sectors. The circular economy creates synergies between different needs and offers a way forward."

Change of perspective and exchange for more innovation

The event is aimed at three groups: Politics and administration (municipal to federal) and Swiss companies. With their focus on the long-term needs of society as a whole on the one hand and the requirements of environmental conditions on the other, politicians and administrators create the political framework conditions for economic and regional development. At the "Full Circle" symposium, they meet stakeholders from business, research, education and civil society. These players will present their individual needs and approaches.

Co-organizer Ralf Michel, lecturer at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel, is convinced: "Our speakers will present innovative changes of perspective and promising insights from their practice. Thanks to the interactive formats and opportunities for exchange, participants will delve deep into the aspects of sustainability and the circular economy and gain inspiration for their working environment."

International speakers and inspiring keynotes

The program deals with the topics of resource efficiency, climate protection and adaptation, circular innovations in the context of regulations and various sectors. Participants can expect a variety of exciting program items. These include thematic "deep dives" on selected key topics under the guidance of experts as well as keynote speeches by key players from research, regional development and business. A special highlight is the keynote speech by Lukas Bärfuss.

More information

The communications landscape has changed massively: Not only have social media and speed been changing factors, but new types of crises have also emerged - cyber and hacker attacks, for example. This often puts companies, the public sector and their management circles in difficult situations. In crisis situations in particular, it is crucial to react correctly. There are indeed examples from practice where, thanks to good communication, the bottom line is that the image wins despite many a mishap. However, the opposite is unfortunately becoming increasingly common.

Two experts who have been working on this topic for some time have now published a suitable guide: Stefan Häseli, the Swiss expert for credible communication, has once again teamed up with Mario Cortesi, press spokesman and well-known face of the Zurich city police. In their recently published book, they take the reader into the complex world of crisis communication. Theoretical principles are combined with practical application and case studies.

How can messages be designed to be clear and trustworthy? What role do honesty and transparency play? How do you deal with the increasing pace of communication and social media that put pressure on official channels? How do you meet the expectations of the public? And what to do with people who have become more thin-skinned and less loyal to companies and other institutions?

React confidently - especially in critical situations

The authors address these and similar questions and have created a guide with many suitable answers for effective communication in challenging times. From the initial response to a crisis to long-term reputation management: the book offers practical tips and strategies for acting confidently in critical moments. The case studies range from small company crises and corporate crises to major public scandals. It is not only the fire at Zurich railroad station or the train accident with injuries in Zurich-Oerlikon that are of interest. Companies in particular are affected by new forms of crisis and have to manage and articulate them both internally and externally. Such as the data theft and subsequent blackmail of a large industrial group, which narrowly avoided insolvency - thanks in part to well-crafted crisis communication.

This essential guide examines the psychology of crisis as well as the role of the media. It examines the importance of transparency and authenticity, consistency and empathy as well as clarity and accountability, and sensitizes readers to the need to understand communication strategies.

The book is aimed at communication managers, managing directors and CEOs, executives and senior managers, PR officers as well as public relations officers in administration and politics, in short: anyone interested in the mechanisms and challenges of crisis communication. The guide aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the complexity and importance of credible communication in crisis situations, while offering practical tools and techniques for its implementation.

Interdisciplinary approaches and global perspectives

Whether changing media landscape or new challenges and types of crisis, whether current case studies or advances in communication technology: these aspects find their place on the pages as well as new demands from the public, interdisciplinary approaches and global perspectives. In order to be fit for the crisis communication of the future, readers also learn from the past.

Cortesi and Häseli have been traveling together as a tandem for years, giving lectures and advising both companies and institutions in the field of crisis communication. This gave rise to the idea of combining their experience on the one hand and the wealth of theoretical knowledge they have acquired in the meantime into a practical and useful book. This guide thrives precisely on this crossover approach of the two experts with their different perspectives and experiences.

This is because the professional perspective is repeatedly supplemented by personal experience reports from communication experts who have worked in the hotspots of crisis communication for decades. Their stories offer valuable insights and make the abstract concepts tangible and understandable. The authors show how successful communication can defuse crisis situations or even turn them into opportunities.

Crisis communication practice book

Strategies for greater credibility, transparency and trust

Publisher Wiley-VCH, Weinheim

250 pages, hardcover

32.99 Euro | CHF 45.90

ISBN 978-3-527-51208-9

The next Seminar for crisis communication will take place in the Zurich region on July 2 and 3, 2025.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/effektive-kommunikation-in-herausfordernden-zeiten/

The new US President Donald Trump is sending out clear signals: taxes are to be cut, regulation streamlined and tariffs increased. The US president is calling on Europe to do more for security. Switzerland must navigate this challenging geopolitical and global economic environment in the best possible way and strengthen its own attractiveness. Today's annual media conference of the umbrella organization Economiesuisse is therefore dominated by major reform projects.

 "We have to overcome blockades and vested interests. In order to guarantee prosperity and security, we now need public spirit and courageous decisions," emphasizes Christoph Mäder, President of Economiesuisse. The federal finances are facing a test with the relief package. It is crucial for the economy that the financial budget is placed on a solid foundation in the long term. This is the only way to create scope for investing in security and defense capabilities.

European policy: domestic policy implementation is the crux of the matter

It is essential for Switzerland as a business location that the bilateral path with the European Union (EU) is stabilized. "We are convinced that the bilateral path is the tailor-made path for Switzerland: where we want market access or cooperation, we conclude agreements and agree on common rules. In those areas where we don't want agreements, we don't," says Monika Rühl, Chairwoman of the Executive Board. As far as the contents of the negotiated foreign policy package are known, an initial positive conclusion can be drawn on the package from a business perspective: By updating the existing internal market agreements, access to the EU internal market can be put on a solid footing in the long term.

Economiesuisse expressly welcomes the programs for cooperation in selected areas, particularly in research and development via Horizon Europe. The business community also welcomes the fact that the safeguard clause in the agreement on the free movement of persons has been specified. This forms the basis for being able to take measures in the event of serious problems. Now it is time for domestic policy implementation. The concrete proposals for the implementation of the agreement package are crucial for the final overall assessment of the package. These are not yet available. However, one thing is clear: the flexible labor market is not up for discussion.

Banking regulation: Together we are strong

Switzerland needs a strong UBS. The export industry depends on a global bank with an excellent international network to accompany, finance and support its business activities abroad. It is in everyone's interest that UBS is competitive. It would therefore be wrong to impose conditions on UBS that hinder its international competitiveness. However, this does not mean that the existing banking regulations do not need to be optimized.

It is important that the right thing is done and that action is taken where it is actually needed. The report of the Parliamentary Investigation Committee (PUK) has shown that the main problems were the inadequate management of Credit Suisse, FINMA's underutilized supervisory instruments and insufficient cooperation between the authorities. With regard to the regulatory framework, the business community believes that an internationally coordinated approach is key to ensuring the competitiveness of the financial center.

Environmental responsibility initiative: a clear no

On February 9, the Swiss population will vote on the Young Greens' environmental responsibility initiative. If accepted, the consequences would be higher prices, consumption bans and comprehensive regulatory provisions. The initiative is one example among many others that demonstrate this: Instead of working on viable compromises, utopian goals are being set and Switzerland as a business location is being jeopardized. Economiesuisse clearly rejects the initiative and is campaigning for a "no" vote.

Source: www.economiesuisse.ch

For the implementation and further development of the Phoenix Award, the CHDU has been able to Renaissance Investment Foundation as a supporting partner organization.

The "Phoenix Award for Long-Term Swiss Entrepreneurship" has been presented annually since 2020. With its succession award, the CHDU honors Swiss SMEs that have mastered their succession planning for at least a century. Companies that have existed for such a long time have already had to overcome several crises such as world wars and economic crises and rise anew like the "Phoenix from the ashes". The focus as potential award winners is therefore on Swiss SMEs that have been entered in the Swiss commercial register for 100 years or are 100 years old in the respective year.

An expert jury and a jury advisory board with representatives from science, entrepreneurship and the media select up to three Phoenix Award winners from these companies each year in a multi-stage process. The evaluation focuses on the companies' ability to innovate and disrupt, their team performance and their contribution to society and the economy.

Apply now

Swiss SMEs that meet the following criteria can register now up to and including May 31, 2025 on the Website apply for the "Phoenix Award 2025":

• Founded in 1925
• Registered in the Swiss commercial register in 1925
• Celebrates a milestone birthday over 100, e.g. 110th, 125th, 200th etc.
• Swiss SME
• Independent of the Group or privately managed

Strong partnership

From this year onwards, the CHDU can count on proactive support for its succession award. "Positive examples of long-term entrepreneurship, as embodied by the winners of the Phoenix Award, are the best motivation and inspiration for entrepreneurs to arrange their succession for the continued existence of their own company. We are therefore delighted to have the Renaissance Investment Foundation on board as a partner organization that is as competent as it is committed to Swiss SMEs. Together, we are committed to the continuity and ongoing development of our succession prize," summarizes CHDU President Hans Jürg Domenig.

Andreas Camenzind of the Renaissance Investment Foundation underlines this with the following statement: "We have been investing in Swiss SMEs for over 25 years, thereby ensuring their succession under the motto Swiss capital for Swiss SMEs, as we are financed exclusively by pension funds. Companies with a long tradition play a very important role for Renaissance and the Swiss economy. Renaissance has holdings in three companies that are more than 100 years old. We therefore identify with the Phoenix Award for long-term Swiss entrepreneurship in a natural way."

More information

Since taking office in summer 2023, Alexander Fries has set a decisive course for the future of InnoQube:

• Opening of the InnoQube Innovation Center in Chur, a hub for technological excellence and sustainable innovation.
• Building a strategic networkwhich brings together start-ups, investors, companies and research institutions.
• Positioning of ConstructionTech as the core focus for transforming the construction and engineering industry in the long term.

"I am proud of how InnoQube has established itself as a driver of innovation in such a short space of time. It fills me with joy to continue to actively accompany the further development as a member of the Board of Directors, shareholder and head of the Startup Accelerator program. This step gives me the opportunity to focus on international projects and my family while a new leader continues to drive InnoQube's vision forward," says Alexander Fries.

New growth targets

InnoQube Switzerland is pursuing ambitious goals: The transformation of the construction and engineering industry through pioneering innovations such as digital twins, automation, circular economy and smart cities.

"Alex has created an impressive foundation on which we can continue to build. We would like to thank him for his exceptional contribution and are delighted that he will remain at our side as a shareholder and strategic partner," adds Chairman of the Board of Directors Franco Quinter.

The search for a new leader

InnoQube is looking for a dynamic leader who combines entrepreneurial thinking, an international network and in-depth expertise in ConstructionTech, fundraising and business management.

Applications for the position of CEO can be submitted until February 28, 2025.

More information about the open CEO position and how to apply

The Swiss economy recorded a slowdown in growth of +0.8 % in 2023. This is due to the real appreciation of the Swiss franc in the past, weak foreign demand and the decline in investment. However, a gradual recovery in foreign demand, coupled with lower inflation and a looser monetary policy, should boost growth to +1.5 % in 2025. Growth will be supported by a strong structural foundation in private consumption. This includes a robust labor market and a more dynamic industrial sector.

However, the downside risks currently outweigh the upside potential, as uncertainty regarding international economic and trade policy is very high. It is worth noting that insolvencies in Switzerland are still increasing slightly and are at a historically high level. Following an increase in 2024, insolvencies are likely to stabilize in 2025 and then fall by -8 % in 2026.

Inflation within a manageable range

"Inflation is continuing to fall in Switzerland. This is even in the face of high service costs, which are exerting upward pressure on core inflation. On the one hand, the disinflationary trend is being supported by lower goods and energy prices, which were boosted by last year's nominal appreciation. On the other hand, this decline will be dampened by rising rents and persistently high service inflation," explains Jan Möllmann, CEO Allianz Trade Switzerland. "As wage growth has slowed, we expect the pressure on the services sector to ease in 2025. For this year, we expect an inflation rate of +0.9 %, followed by +1.1 % in 2026. This should keep inflation in Switzerland within a manageable range and below the central bank's target."

Structural deficit at the federal level

The federal government slipped into a slight structural deficit as both expenditure and revenue fell short of budget expectations in 2023. This resulted in a structural deficit of -0.5 % and a debt ratio of +17.8 % of GDP, which is very low by international standards. Cost-cutting measures in 2024 aimed to reduce the federal budget by CHF 2 billion per year. However, rising military expenditure, higher pension, survivors' and healthcare costs, expenditure in connection with the Ukraine conflict and climate protection are likely to push the deficit up further. Despite this, government debt is likely to remain stable at just under +14 % of GDP, with total government debt set to fall by 2025.

Very favorable business environment in Switzerland

The business environment in Switzerland is proving to be very strong. The country scores very well in the areas of regulatory quality, rule of law and control of corruption and also has a well-educated workforce. However, Switzerland could simplify the requirements for setting up new companies and the licensing system. Regulatory hurdles in the areas of energy, transport and electronic communications are higher than the OECD average, but trade barriers are low.

Country risk has improved significantly, but challenges loom

In 2024, global country risk improved significantly: 48 economies were upgraded and only 5 were downgraded. The positive trend of 2023 is now even more pronounced. Upgrades have more than doubled (+27) and downgrades remain stable (+1).

"The economies whose ratings were upgraded represent around 17 % of global GDP. The upgrades were mainly distributed among the emerging markets. Latin America was the most affected (13), followed by emerging Europe (10) and Asia-Pacific (9). Most of the downgrades were in the Middle East region, including Bahrain, Israel and Kuwait. This is due to ongoing supply chain tensions and crude oil prices below breakeven," says Luca Moneta. He is Senior Economist for Emerging Markets at Allianz Trade.

However, country risk remains heavily dependent on the geopolitical and financial tensions expected in the coming months. These could be exacerbated by the further materialization of downside risks.

"While the global economic outlook has improved thanks to slowing inflation, recovering credit flows and improved liquidity conditions, business conditions remain unfavorable in many low-income countries. At the same time, high-income economies face ongoing political uncertainty. Furthermore, we must not forget that two thirds of the country risk upgrades we made last year were based on short-term indicators. This suggests that these improvements are cyclical and potentially reversible. Against this backdrop, companies should be vigilant in their growth strategies in light of geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism. Supply chains are likely to become even more complex, making it all the more important to monitor country risk," says Aylin Somersan Coqui, CEO of Allianz Trade.

The complete Country Risk Atlas from Allianz Trade is available herecountries with upgrades and downgrades here.

Source: www.allianz-trade.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/allianz-trade-stufte-im-jahr-2024-48-laenderrisikobewertungen-herauf/