14th Swiss Green Economy Symposium: Take Action! Innovative. Resilient. Sustainable.
From September 1 to 4, 2026, Winterthur will host the 14th Swiss Green Economy Symposium—the most comprehensive conference on business and sustainability in Switzerland. The program features over 250 speakers, 15 innovation forums, and numerous networking opportunities.
Since 2013, the Swiss Green Economy Symposium (SGES) has been the most comprehensive conference on business and sustainability in Switzerland. Under the motto «Take Action! Innovative. Resilient. Sustainable.» the SGES team invites you to Winterthur from September 1–4, 2026—with the goal of working together to turn sustainability challenges into opportunities.
An inspiring two-and-a-half-day program
The symposium spans two and a half days and features a packed program: more than 250 speakers, two main programs, 15 in-depth innovation forums, company visits at two locations (SGEXperience), and a wide range of networking opportunities. The innovation forums are thematic conferences, each lasting three hours, that delve deeply into current sustainability topics.
Speakers include, among others, Prof. Dr. Julia Binder (Director of the Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business, IMD), Thomas Vellacott (CEO, WWF Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Regula Jöhl (Rector, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences), Markus Reubi (Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda, FDFA), and Dr. Roland Pfister (Delegate for National Economic Security, BWL).
Innovation Forums: In-Depth Knowledge
The Innovation Forums address practical topics and bring together stakeholders from business, academia, and government. Topics under discussion include sustainable urban development (IF.08 «Liveable Residential Areas»), strengthening supply chains and competitiveness in Switzerland as a production hub (IF.11), the international dissemination of sustainable innovations through intellectual property (IF.14), and the interplay of wood and concrete in sustainable construction (IF.16).
New: First Biodiversity Congress on September 4
On September 4, 2026, the first standalone biodiversity conference will take place. As part of the SGES’s commitment, this conference aims to provide a stronger platform for biodiversity. Through dialogue among leading figures from business, academia, politics, government, and NGOs, participants will discuss and develop solutions to current challenges.
Overview of the Process
The event kicks off on Tuesday, September 1, with company visits in the afternoon (SGEXperience) and an international pre-event at Zurich Airport. On Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3, the innovation exhibition begins at 7:15 a.m. each day; the main program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by 15 parallel innovation forums in the afternoon (2:00–5:00 p.m.) and a networking reception starting at 5:00 p.m. On Friday, September 4, the innovation exhibition runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the main program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and in the afternoon, two parallel innovation forums and an SGEXperience will take place before the networking reception begins at 4:30 p.m.
Further information and registration details can be found on the Swiss Green Economy Symposium website: www.sges.ch
