Stefan Zwicky: "We are a great resource for internationalization"

An economic center to be promoted with the development of commercial relations between two countries, both near and far at the same time. It is the mission of Swiss Business Hub Italy, part of Consulate General of Switzerland in Milan and representative in Italy of the official agency for the promotion of investments and international trade Switzerland Global Enterprise, a key point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises from the Confederation and from Liechtenstein wishing to explore export opportunities in the Italian market, and at the same time a compass for Italian companies looking to Switzerland as an investment venue.

Stefan Zwicky, former regional manager Italy and Malta of the Swiss International Air Lines airline, has been Head of Swiss Business Hub Italy since 2016, and is the right person to give us a bird's eye view of the global network of S-GE branches scattered throughout all continents and their activities.

Twenty years of Swissnex, satisfaction and successful meetings

Stefan Zwicky, what are Swiss Business Hubs?
“Switzerland Global Enterprise is theofficial Swiss organization to promote the export projects of Swiss companies. At the same time it is the interlocutor for foreign companies that want to establish themselves in Switzerland; we are organized all over the world with the Swiss Business Hubs, which are a point of reference in internationalisation”.

How many Swiss Business Hubs are there overall?
“Currently there are 31 offices around the world, mostly in countries that have strong exchanges with the Switzerland. Among other things, the office in Italy was the first to be inaugurated”.

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Generally speaking, in what respect do you think Switzerland is undervalued as a business location?
“Entrepreneurs look at results and in general the industry is very well equipped to recognize opportunities. In the past perhaps the gaze often went towards distant markets, while today we see that the Switzerland it is an important partner with a GDP that is now within the G20 parameters”.

Biotech, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Industry 4.0, Robotics. Why is it possible in a small country like Switzerland to develop innovation networks that are more difficult to implement elsewhere?
“Teaming up established industrial players, emerging start-ups and research and development institutes pays off. Always. This team-up approach is now seen in many sectors. It is a paradigm shift that takes time and certain industries are more open than others”.

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What have been the results of your work so far?
“Our testimonials are entrepreneurs. Every year we have about two hundred business projects to which we try to give our support. It is clear that not all projects have the same maturity. Internationalization is a process, therefore it is necessary to invest in time, strategy and resources. We then organize sectoral events and activities such as this year's 'House of Switzerland' project in collaboration with Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Tourism, Pro Helvetia and various companies. Or annual formats such as the 'Swiss Fintech Day”, which are now a point of reference on the Italian agenda”.

In which areas is the report bearing the best fruit?
" Switzerland it is certainly well known for the sectors of life science, finance and precision mechanics. It is less known that the country has been at the top of the Global Innovation Index for the past ten years. This means that all sectors have a high level of innovation and competitiveness. Often these are very specialized niches, the so-called Swisstech, which we find in emerging technologies with a focus on sustainability".

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What is the idea of ​​the House of Switzerland in Milan and how was it conceived?
“The format is a communication platform of Presence Switzerland and is activated in conjunction with major events (such as, for example, Expo Dubai or the World Economic Forum) or in selected locations as was the case in Stuttgart in 2021 and Milan in 2022. Talking about a country at 360 degrees in a face-to-face way certainly creates a lot of interest, because meeting and discussing current issues (innovation, society, transport, digitization...) is an enrichment for everyone, including the organizers. The audience in Milan was fantastic and the six weeks of presence went by in an instant”.

Innovation and sustainability run between Zurich and Milan