Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Chilly regards from Bern!

It’s still cold in Switzerland, but not to worry; the WEF elite in Davos won’t be negatively affected by the low temperatures, as they are likely enjoying the stunning Swiss views from their heated balconies in their luxury chalets. Meanwhile, Viola Amherd, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, acknowledged that the WEF elite are losing touch with the common folk.

Switzerland wants to become a leader in AI and AI governance, using Davos as the stage on which it reminds the world of its political, technological and humanitarian credentials. But the small Alpine country has struggled to roll out its e-voting platform for nearly 20 years. So where does that put the country in cybertech leadership?

All this in today’s briefing. But first let’s take a look at the news.

In the news: WEF is keeping Viola Amherd busy, Zurich airport sees many travellers and Swiss passport holders can now travel to China visa-free:

• Swiss president and EU Commission head meet in Davos: According to Amherd, the two politicians confirmed their intention to rapidly re-start negotiations on a package of agreements to regulate relations. However, they did not commit to a fixed timetable,
• Zurich airport sees 30% jump in passenger numbers in 2023: Switzerland’s biggest airport saw 28.9 million passengers pass through its doors in 2023, an increase of almost 30% year-on-year, but still 8% lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
• A Swiss research team from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology develop method to solder rather than stitch wounds: they say it could help to prevent life-threatening complications caused by leaking sutures.
• Swiss president calls for less elitist thinking at WEF: Amherd thus drew on the motto of this year’s WEF – “rebuilding trust” – which she said was not just a nice phrase but a blunt sign that mutual trust in the global community is in a bad way. “Parts of the population distrust all of us who are gathered here,” Amherd said in Davos.
• Swiss to be allowed to enter China visa-free: Switzerland will join a handful of European countries that China is granting visa-free access to visit.
• According to a Swiss study: bees themselves produce nutrients for their gut bacteria. This newly discovered mechanism could play a role in understanding how vulnerable bees are to climate change.
• Basel art museum rejects restitution claim for Henri Rousseau painting: The painting,  La muse inspirant son poète (The muse inspiring the poet), was acquired in 1940 and considered to be sold under duress. Talks are now underway for “fair and equitable” compensation.

Big bucks, big gulf: Davos elite and the divide from common folks

“Parts of the population distrust all of us who are gathered here,” said Viola Amherd in her opening speech today at the World Economic Forum.

If the elite are perceived as out of touch while many families can no longer afford to live, it damages trust in the global economy, Amherd told the crowd in Davos. She highlighted the conferences motto “rebuilding trust” in her speech. While she attended WEF in her role as Swiss president, she was not only speaking to her fellow state leaders in the crowd, but also the companies attending the conference.

The WEF guest list includes the top names in business, eager to look beyond the pandemic and economic troubles of the past three years. Companies who have a headquarters in Switzerland such as Novartis, UBS and Nestlé are present. Also in attendance are start-up founders and tech pioneers such as Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI, Andrew Ng, from DeepLearning.AI, and Jack Hidary, CEO of quantum computing start-up SandboxAQ.

With these big names comes big price tags. Daily newspaper 20Minuten toured one of the most exclusive luxury chalets that would be the temporary home for a certain unnamed president.

The chalet has several living rooms, an indoor pool and spa, comes with a private chef and the residents never have to worry about being cold: even the balconies are heated.  

While smoking is not allowed by the owners of the chalet, who live in the home when WEF is not in session, many delegations do not follow the no-smoking rule. “You can’t forbid the guests from smoking,” says house manager Julia BrinkmannExternal link. “People smoke all the time at meetings or indoors in the evening.”

So, what is to be done to compensate for the cigarette and cigar stench? All the carpets, sofas and other textile furniture will be cleaned and the wooden beams and walls will be sanded down. This at the expense of the delegation staying at the residence.

All that is sure to cost a pretty penny.

Switzerland’s digital dilemma: global ambitions, local lag

Switzerland wants to become a leader in AI and AI governance, using Davos as the stage on which it reminds the world of its reputation for neutrality, being the home for many multinational companies, as well as its technical expertise and humanitarian values.

But Switzerland has been attempting to roll out e-voting since 2004, nearly 20 years, and the progress has been slow. In general, Switzerland is lagging behind when it comes to digitalisation.

Ariane Rustichelli, director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), warns that the costs of the e-voting system could become more of a hurdle for the small Alpine country. “The biggest obstacle to the introduction of e-voting is not so much a confidence issue as the financing,” Rustichelli says to Let’s TalkExternal link, a SWI swissinch.ch debate webcast.

Similarly, the Swiss government wants to introduce a free, voluntary digital identity document. This will offer improved security and make it easier for the Swiss Abroad to exercise their political rights.

Nearly all European countries now offer digital identity solutions. The Swiss political system – with its direct democracy – partly explains why the country is lagging behind in this field, expert Lennig Pedron told Let’s Talk. Pedron is the executive director of Trust Valley, a cluster of excellence in digital trust and cybersecurity based in the Lake Geneva region.

A primary concern surrounding this technology is cybersecurity. The Swiss government has been hit by several cyberattacks in recent months, resulting in the publication of sensitive data on the darknet. Last May, 425,000 addresses of Swiss Abroad who subscribe to the magazine Swiss Review were stolen and published.

So where does that put the country in cybertech leadership?

As SWI swissinfo.ch journalists Jessica Davis Plüss and Sara Ibrahim write, “geopolitics have now entered the equation with countries aware that AI is more than just a technology: it is also a political and economic weapon”.

Back in the mountains of Davos, under this year’s theme, “Rebuilding Trust” it is a chance for WEF host, Switzerland, to show it can bridge divides and convince countries to take concrete actions for the responsible development of AI.

PLACEHOLDER