On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the Swiss Commercial Association has organized the symposium entitled "New Work Experience" on September 1, 2023 (not to be confused with the Occasion NWX23 in Hamburg) was held. The event, which took place at Kraftwerk Zurich, offered a comprehensive insight into the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow's working world with five inspiring keynotes and a total of 14 interactive workshops. The keynote speeches formed the core of the symposium, highlighting the most important aspects of New Work - from the evolution of work and new work models, to talent development and meaningfulness. In a playful walk-in area, participants were also able to try out typewriters from different decades as well as ChatGPT.

Digital nomads, Gen Z and the changes in social interaction

Barbara Josef, Co-Founder 5-9 AG, kicked off the day's program with her keynote speech "New Work - New Deals": "Our society today is made up of generations who have the great privilege of doing something meaningful with their work, something that moves us forward as a society and something in which we can flourish." At various breakout sessions, participants gained in-depth insights into the different forms and perspectives of New Work.

Lorenz Ramseyer, President of Digital Nomads Switzerland, gave tips on digital nomadism in another keynote speech: "I have a bicycle route: from one benkli to the next. In between, I ride my bike and think about what I'm going to write in the next mail." In addition to digital nomads redefining the traditional concept of the workplace, the focus was equally on social changes and togetherness in the modern world of work. Katja Rost, Professor of Sociology and Private Lecturer in Economics, defined in her keynote: "New Work are concepts that enable flexible living by making the place of work or working hours more flexible. This brings advantages but also disadvantages." Keeping both in balance requires a good work culture, new forms of collaboration and leadership, and comprehensive health protection.

150 years of the Swiss Commercial Association

In keeping with the 150th anniversary, around 150 participants from various industries and disciplines were given an inspiring platform for the exchange of ideas and insights. The Swiss Commercial Association organized the symposium as part of its 150th anniversary. Christian Zünd and Sascha M. Burkhalter (CEO and future CEO of the Swiss Commercial Association) are convinced: "It is important to us to continue the 150-year history and to continue to actively shape the world of work - both in vocational training, in the social partnership and in politics."

Source: Commercial association 

In view of the current challenges in the area of climate change, the scarcity of resources and the transformation in energy supply, the teaching and research at the FHNW School of Engineering will be supplemented with the area of environment from the beginning of 2025. For this purpose, new courses of study will be created and the corresponding institutes and laboratory facilities will be built. From 2025, the name of the university will be "Hochschule für Technik und Umwelt FHNW".

Dr. Peter Flohr (56) graduated in aerospace engineering from the University of Stuttgart (Germany) in 1993 and obtained his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Cambridge (England) in 1998. From 1998 to 2020, he held various technical and management positions at ABB, Alstom, and General Electric, during which time he brought a large number of projects to success. Since 2020, Dr. Peter Flohr has been working at the ZHAW School of Engineering in Winterthur as a department head. In this role, he currently heads various institutes and degree programs and actively promotes strategic development projects as a member of the department management.

Dr. Peter Flohr will start at the FHNW on April 1, 2024 and will take over the strategic and operational management of the new School of Engineering and Environment FHNW as of Jan. 1, 2025. In his role as the new director, he will expand the university's regional and national network, lead the transformation of the university into the future School of Engineering and Environment UASNW, promote the associated positioning of the university and its education and training offerings, and share responsibility for the development of the UASNW as a member of the Executive Board of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland UASNW. Prof. Jürg Christener, who has been Director of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW since its foundation, will retire at the end of May 2024.

Source: FHNW

The Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey (GTTS) is an independent study commissioned by Equinix. It surveyed more than 2,900 IT decision-makers in various companies from around the world. This year's survey, in which IT executives from Switzerland also took part, discusses, among other things, what influence the further development of IT systems has on the size of IT teams. Specifically, the question was raised as to whether existing IT teams are capable of handling the new requirements. As IT systems become more complex, the threats they face also become more sophisticated. IT teams will need to improve their cybersecurity skills to protect the systems they manage. In short, the search for talent is intensifying.

The key findings of the GTTS 2023 regarding skilled workers are:

• Nearly two-thirds (66 %) of IT executives around the world expect to grow their technical teams in the next 12 months. In Switzerland, 60 % expect it.
• 57 % of IT decision makers said the size of their team has increased over the past two years. From Switzerland there were 46 %.
• Only 9 % of IT leaders expect their teams to shrink in the next 12 months. In Switzerland, there are 13 % after all.
• The survey shows that globally, IT technicians (53 %), cloud computing (40 %) and artificial intelligence/machine learning (37 %) are the top areas where new employees have been or will be hired. In Switzerland, the most important areas are: IT Technician (41 %), Data Protection (36 %) and Security Analyst (also 36 %).
• Conversely, IT executives are most likely to plan or have already made staff reductions in the focus areas of IT technicians (49 %), hardware engineering (25 %), and data analytics (24 %). In Switzerland, these are the areas of data analysis (37 %), compliance and IT technicians with 30 % each.
• Globally, the biggest skills challenge for the technology sector is the speed at which the technology industry is changing (45 % / 36% in Switzerland). Respondents also cited lack of available talent (36 % global and local each) and talent retention (36% global / 28 % in Switzerland) as challenges, followed by workforce expectations (33 % /. 34 % local) and people applying for jobs with the wrong qualifications (29 % /. even 35% in Switzerland).
• 82 % of global IT decision makers (73% in Switzerland) see improving cybersecurity as a top priority for their company's technology strategy. In this context, IT executives have already increased or plan to increase the number of security software developer positions (30 % / 25 % local), followed by jobs for security analysts (29 % / 36% in Switzerland) and safety engineers (26 % / 32 % local).

Roger Semprini, Managing Director Switzerland, Equinix, says: "The role of IT has changed from a back-end function to a critical business enabler. This has created an urgent need for IT professionals who not only have technical expertise, but also bring business acumen. Access to talent is now a critical issue in all industries and can even be a deciding factor in whether a company expands into a new market. HR organizations must be increasingly agile and growth-oriented in order to continuously provide dynamic solutions. A new approach to how we access and enable talent can be the competitive advantage."

Source: Equinix

This year, 352 students at FernUni Switzerland received their diploma - a record, according to the educational institute. FernUni Switzerland has been offering distance learning courses since 1992. The bachelor's and master's degree programs, as well as continuing education programs in the faculties of law, economics, mathematics and computer science, history and psychology, are based on internationally recognized research findings on scientifically and socially relevant topics and are taught using innovative digital teaching and learning technologies.

Canton Valais as a location for innovation

There is also a regional political aspect: for Yves Rey, Head of the Service for Higher Education, FernUni Schweiz plays an essential role in the future of the Canton of Valais: "For over 30 years, Valais has been in a constant state of change. Thanks in particular to our presence and distance learning universities and our research institutes, Valais is becoming an area of innovation with high added value. Our SMEs, SMIs or multinationals need the expertise of the students trained by FernUni Switzerland. Switzerland has very few resources; its greatest asset is its well-trained experts. It is up to all of us to work together to preserve and develop this important resource for the sustainable and democratic well-being of our society."

There are currently 2,270 students studying at FernUni Switzerland (as of August 2023), roughly the same number of students as at the same time last year. FernUni Switzerland starts this year's fall semester with 531 new students. Of these, 375 are starting a Bachelor's degree program, 71 a Master's degree program and 85 a continuing education program (including the "Admission 25+" program). The faculties of Psychology, Law and Economics recorded the highest number of new enrollments.

Master's program in economics enjoys great popularity

Since this fall semester, FernUni Switzerland offers the new Master's program "Master in Economics, Business and Data Analytics", for which 26 students have enrolled. This English-language master's program is a sound academic education that enables students to analyze and understand markets, organizations and decision-making processes.

Course Director Prof. Dr. Manuel Grieder is delighted about the great popularity and explains: "We have been able to inspire numerous students with different professional and personal backgrounds to take part in our brand new English-language Master's program in Business. FernUni Switzerland thrives on the interaction between lecturers and students, and I'm delighted that the joint learning journey is now about to begin."

Source and further information

The threat of cyber attacks is growing. Large companies are particularly affected: 45 percent of companies with over 250 employees have already been the victim of a cyber attack at least once. This is shown by the latest swissVR Monitor, a biannual survey conducted by the swissVR Board of Directors Association in cooperation with the auditing and consulting firm Deloitte Switzerland and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. For the study, 400 board members were surveyed on the focus topic of "cyber resilience".

In contrast to large companies, SMEs seem to be significantly less affected: Only 18 percent of companies with under 50 employees report a serious attack. The correlation between company size and the frequency of attacks is obvious: large companies are more exposed globally and offer cyber criminals larger attack surfaces. Another explanation for the supposedly lower level of concern among smaller companies is the partial lack of reporting of such incidents to the board of directors.

Business interruption is the most common consequence

Cyber attacks often have serious consequences for business operations. By far the most frequent consequence is a business interruption. This is the case for 42 percent of companies affected by a cyber attack (see chart 1). The operational processes of companies in the information and communications technology sector are particularly at risk. In this sector, 69 percent of those affected experienced a business interruption. Data leaks and malfunctions of products or services are also frequent consequences. In some cases, cyber attacks even have consequences outside the company itself: 11 percent of respondents complain of follow-up attacks on customers. Although the outflow of assets is rare, the financial consequences should not be underestimated. In addition to lost sales due to business interruptions, there is the threat of high follow-up costs, for example for the recovery of data.

Resilience to cyber attacks is gaining strongly in importance

The far-reaching consequences make it clear: every SME must deal with cyber risks. "The topic is now an integral part of good corporate governance. Fortunately, many companies have already recognized this. But there is definitely still potential. Our survey shows that cyber resilience is gaining strongly in importance across all industries. This must also be reflected in every company's risk management and strategy process," says Mirjam Durrer, a lecturer at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts at the Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ. Ninety-five percent of the board members surveyed believe that the importance of cyber resilience for their company has increased over the past three years. The majority even observe a strong increase, whereby the assessment depends significantly on the size of the company. Here, too, the correlation of size and threat level is reflected.

Cyber security is not yet a top priority everywhere

On the positive side, according to their own statements, boards of directors largely perform their duties with regard to cyber resilience. 85 percent of respondents affirm that their board follows trends and current developments in the area of cyber resilience (see chart 2). Eight out of ten boards also have a risk policy that addresses cyber threats. Nevertheless, there is a need for action, emphasizes Klaus Julisch, Head of Risk Advisory at Deloitte Switzerland: "Awareness of the risks is increasing, which is positive. Apart from that, the topic has not yet reached the boards of directors everywhere. Also, almost half of the companies lack a clear cyber strategy. Swiss companies and their boards of directors must therefore take even more responsibility with regard to cyber resilience."

Only one third rehearse the emergency

There is also room for improvement in emergency preparedness. Only one in three board members confirms that the board rehearses crisis management at least in part. The picture is somewhat better in the financial industry: around one in two companies in this sector conducts regular crisis training. In addition, the financial industry has the highest proportion of cyber insurance policies, at 58 percent.

There is also room for improvement in reporting to the board of directors: only about one-third of respondents are regularly informed by management about the top cyber risks or their own cyber strategy. A good half of the boards of directors receive reports on the general threat situation, current cyber attacks in the company or the need for action and investment to strengthen cyber resilience.

Source: Deloitte

Companies are increasingly confronted with new conditions and challenges: To be successful in the long term, they need to innovate, efficiently adapt new technologies and design strategic plans. The University of Lucerne now offers two new certificate courses that address the latest technological developments necessary for this.

The "CAS in Artificial Intelligence Management for Business Value" is a cooperation between the University of Lucerne and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In this course, participants learn how companies can use artificial intelligence to implement and manage technology and process innovations and thus achieve long-term competitive advantages. "Collaboration between humans and AI in the company will be indispensable in the future," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Jana Koehler, Professor of Computer Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

The "CAS in Behavioral and Neuroscience for Business" is dedicated to decision-making in business. In this course, managers and professionals learn behavioral and neuroscientific methods with which they can make better decisions for themselves, their team, and the company and thus be successful in the long term. This course takes place in cooperation with the Swiss consulting firm for neuromarketing, Zutt & Partner.

Source and further information: www.unilu.ch

If you're a homeowner or homeowner, have a prestigious job, and have friends or family members with solar panels, chances are you'll have some someday. The EPFL Technical University study found that a person is 89 % more likely to install solar panels if they know someone who has already done so. It is already known that this peer effect, also called social proximity, has an impact on consumers' purchasing decisions. However, the study found that another factor also plays a big role: the neighborhood effect, also called spatial proximity.

That is, in addition to the above factors, if you have a neighbor who has already installed solar panels on their roof, you probably have (with a dependent variable that increases statistically significantly by 0.5 units), especially if you speak the same language and live in the same community, as this facilitates the exchange of information between you and your neighbor. On the other hand, the study found that factors such as gender and stated environmental views did not have a significant effect. The study, recently published in the journal "Heliyon", is based on a survey of 1,125 people living in the Vaudois districts of Nyon and Jura-Nord.

Spatial and social proximity

The authors of the study state that the dissemination of information within a community can be an important driver for the energy transition and that spatial proximity should be considered alongside social proximity. They cite specific actions that policymakers can take, such as promoting local information campaigns by neighborhood associations, businesses involved in the energy transition, and people who already own solar systems. "Solar system owners are happy to share their experiences, how much electricity they generate per year and how much money they save," says Glòria Serra-Coch, an architect and doctoral student at EPFL's Laboratory for Human Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS) and lead author of the study. As part of her doctoral research, Serra-Coch is studying the mechanisms by which renewable energy technology is adopted in Switzerland.

The survey asked questions about the socioeconomic category of the respondents, as well as questions about whether they had installed solar panels, whether they were homeowners or renters, whether they knew someone who had installed solar panels, and if so, where that person lived, and whether that person had suggested that they also purchase solar panels. The results showed that 17.6 % of the respondents owned solar panels and 40.4 % of those people knew someone who did.

Solar cells are not only for the roof

The study also found that the installation of solar panels is related to residential density and the degree of urbanization. In other words, most solar installations in the region studied are located in urban areas. "Swiss legislation currently encourages the installation of solar panels on the roofs of single-family homes," Serra-Coch says. "As a result, only urban areas with a high percentage of home ownership can take full advantage of this renewable energy." She proposes more flexible policies to allow people who want to use clean power to do so by removing barriers for renters and residents of buildings that don't meet the required criteria. For example, solar panels don't have to be installed on rooftops, but can be placed elsewhere, which would encourage broader adoption.

"Our study shows that renewable energy should be promoted by trusted individuals who are part of a close circle - even geographically," Serra-Coch says. She believes that creating networks of people who are actively involved in energy issues can be a good way to encourage citizens to adopt new habits. These networks would likely be effective in other areas of sustainability as well, the authors say.

Source: Techexplore

The Corona pandemic has highlighted the limits of dependence on China and other countries in Asia as the "workbenches of Europe". And the Ukraine war also painfully highlights the vulnerability of supply chains for various industrial products. Therefore, other regions are increasingly coming into focus for sourcing and shoring activities, especially those that are closer and have great industrial and technological potential. Central Europe, with Poland as the largest economic location and a partner with which both trade and investment have grown dynamically in recent years, is thus also becoming increasingly interesting for Swiss companies. But in many respects it is still early days. The 3rd Polish Business and Technology Forum in Switzerland on September 18-19. in the Kursaal Bern wants to help build the necessary bridges.

Mrs. Ambassador Kozłowska, why was the Polish Business and Technology Forum established in Switzerland?

Iwona Kozłowska: The conference is intended to summarize our year-round work and show what we have achieved and the ways in which we can break new ground. I took the initiative right at the beginning of my mission as an ambassador, in the middle of the pandemic. So I'm kind of a "Corona Pandemic Ambassador."

How should we understand this?

Because despite the isolation and the strict measures, I managed to create a fantastic, future-oriented, efficient platform for bilateral, economic, but also technological, scientific and political cooperation. The idea was to create a platform that would first allow us to get to know each other, to diagnose our common potentials. I wanted to build a bridge between Switzerland and Poland. Building bridges is an important tool for me as an ambassador. The dynamics of global developments are so high that I thought to myself: I can't wait, I have to do something here and give my Swiss partners and my Polish colleagues a chance to meet and talk about possible forms of cooperation. In doing so, I hit the bull's eye. Because there was no comparable platform yet that could bring the two countries together.

Actually amazing, because the trade volume of Poland and Switzerland in 2020 was 2.5 billion US dollars, according to my information. Even if Poland is not Switzerland's largest trading partner, that is still a respectable volume. And with a population of almost 40 million people, the country is one of the larger economies in the EU. That is often forgotten, it seems to me.

This is so. According to the latest data, the volume of trade today is over 6 billion euros. Last year alone, exports from Poland to Switzerland increased by 25%. That is impressive. And exports from Switzerland to Poland have also increased by 18%. Poland is also one of the most attractive investment locations in the world today. In this respect, 2022 has also broken records. In Europe, we are now number 1.

To what do you attribute these growth rates? A catch-up effect after the Corona pandemic or the continuation of a sustainable development that actually started before?

There are many factors at play. The need for new suppliers was great, especially for small and medium-sized companies. But they all had to look for new business partners because those in Asia were blocked. So they looked in the closest places - Poland, for example, a country that is quickly accessible and well networked. The country is also strategically located at the interface between East and West, North and South. Poland is developing rapidly and very dynamically. Particularly as a result of the pandemic and now because of the Ukraine war, economic ecosystems have to be rebuilt and modified; alternatives are needed. But there is also the shortage of skilled workers, the transformation in the energy sector, environmental issues - and suddenly you realize that Switzerland and Poland are not so far apart after all and that the two countries have much more to offer each other besides imports and exports.

Skilled workers are certainly a sought-after resource that Swiss companies can find in Poland. But doesn't your country also suffer from a shortage of skilled workers?

Yes, we in Poland are affected by the shortage of skilled workers to the same extent as Switzerland. After all, we are still a developing economy, which means that Poland also needs the best people. And it is precisely the exchange of highly qualified specialists that we must also talk about in the context of economic development, so that we can find solutions together.

And what could be a possible solution?

I believe that many opportunities for our countries will arise from deeper scientific and economic cooperation. Because both countries have a shortage of skilled workers, we have to see where we can be complementary and also compatible, and not in competition. For example, there are Polish IT companies where the best people work for Swiss companies - and they stay in Poland. Many services can be offered directly from Polish locations. This is also useful for the internationalization of Polish companies. Internationalization means exchange, exchange means investment in Switzerland and in Poland. All this can help us to become more compatible. But to achieve this, we first have to talk to each other.

Are there already concrete examples of where this is working and companies from Switzerland and Poland are, as it were, cross-fertilizing each other?

There are. For example, Novartis also has a subsidiary in Poland and a Polish IT company works for this group. And there are other examples as well. It should also be mentioned that we recently opened an honorary consulate in Lugano. As Honorary Consul we were able to win Gian-Luca Lardi, the President of the Association of Master Builders, i.e. a representative of the construction industry, which is also important for Poland. And I hope that we will soon be able to open honorary consulates in the economic centers of Zurich and Geneva.

What does it look like for small and medium-sized enterprises? Or to put it another way: How should we imagine the SME economy in Poland? Where are the similarities with Switzerland?

Poland and Switzerland are very similar in this respect. The core and at the same time the driving force of the Polish economy is also formed by small and medium-sized enterprises, mostly family businesses. These are all still young companies, founded in the 1990s, i.e. during the transition phase from a planned to a free market economy. These family businesses are innovative and adaptable, and they have been one of the reasons why our economy has weathered the most formidable crises of the 21st century, including the financial crisis of 2008 and the pandemic. Poland was the country in the EU that suffered the least damage to its economy. This resulted from the flexibility of its SMEs. These cover various sectors of the economy. Because we are not focused on and dependent on a single economic sector, we were able to cope well with the pandemic. And the changeover to new working conditions also took place quickly.

The Corona pandemic and now the Ukraine war have had and continue to have a negative influence on economic relations. Apart from these influencing factors, where are other hurdles that perhaps still need to be removed in order to simplify relations between companies in Switzerland and Poland?

You'll have to ask the experts, and that's what we'll be talking about at the Forum. But, of course, it is much easier to cooperate if you belong to a common group. Poland is a member of the EU, Switzerland is not an EU country. This is indeed an obstacle. Of course, there are the bilateral agreements with the European Union in the economic sphere, which regulate trade. And just because Poland is not the most important trade partner of Switzerland - for example, compared to Germany or even Baden-Württemberg - this obstacle should not be weighted less. It is therefore to be hoped that the European Commission and Switzerland will find a solution to further regulate cooperation with the EU.

Of course, this shapes the political discussion. The same applies to the issue of immigration. Some people say that we need immigration, but the right people are not coming. Listening to you now, only the "right" people are coming from Poland?

It is difficult to say who are the "right" ones and who are the "wrong" ones. What we simply have to state: All member countries of the EU follow the same rules. It's like a football team; there, too, the game is played according to jointly established rules. So if you want to benefit from the European single market as a matter of course and have all the privileges like all the other member countries, you must also be prepared to share the costs, and not just engage in "cherry picking". Always making exceptions for Switzerland will become difficult at some point and is not fair. If you want to play along, then play by the same rules.

And Switzerland does too little of that?

Yes. Switzerland is very self-centered. But one must also admit: This results from its geopolitical and strategic position; it is a neutral country and a leader in many areas. As the most innovative country in the world, Switzerland brings in the best of the best. And in this respect, it is difficult to compete with Switzerland at all. When Polish scientists come to Switzerland, for example, they very rarely go back because they have very good working conditions here and a high standard of living. Switzerland has created this locational advantage for itself.

But what about compliance with the rules of the game within the EU? There are always countries that overstretch the Maastricht criteria, for example. Poland, for example, will have to incur massive debt to finance its military buildup, probably beyond the limits set in the Maastricht treaties.

Since the introduction of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) in 1997, the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) has actually been applied to each of the EU countries. However, due to the Corona pandemic, in 2020 the EU activated the so-called general escape clause, which allows member states to temporarily deviate from the requirements of the Pact in case of exceptional events. Due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the clause is valid until the end of 2023. As a result of the war in Ukraine, Poland has increased its defense spending to about 3 % of GDP. The deficit in 2024 will therefore be 3.7 % of GDP. Poland is seeking special treatment in the EU for this spending and already has the support of several countries. However, the issues of compliance in the relations between Switzerland and the EU, on the one hand, and the application of the SGP in the EU, on the other hand, should not be compared. Indeed, legislation based on the SGP contains some leeway for exceptional situations. International agreements, on the other hand, must be fully implemented in accordance with the provisions contained therein.

The so-called cohesion billion has also been a topic of discussion. With this Swiss contribution to selected EU members, money also flows from Switzerland to Poland. These funds are also intended as a kind of "development aid", so that economic and social inequalities can be reduced. How does Poland use these financial resources?

I am bothered by the term "development aid", because Poland is not a developing country. It is interesting that Switzerland is opening up a bit to the outside world and is no longer so self-centered. You can't look at other countries solely from the perspective of your own economic interests. Often, you don't know these countries or their potential. And then people believe that this one billion is necessary to level out these opportunities, to level out these differences in Europe. But these times are over. But to your question: Poland will receive 320 million euros of this billion. That sounds like a lot, but it is rather little in relation to the trade volume of 6 billion - and also little compared to the profit that Switzerland gets for itself from access to the European single market. Nevertheless, I see this money as an investment in the future of bilateral relations. It has to be seen in the context of economic and scientific cooperation. It is important that everyone benefits from joint projects and that we can create a new quality in our bilateral relations, for example through the exchange of new technologies and the transfer of know-how.

Where, for example?

In every area, such as vocational training. Switzerland is a successful model here. We in Poland are in the process of rebuilding our vocational training system, and we need the exchange with Switzerland. In this respect, I am very active and I am very happy that in this respect Poland also benefits from the Swiss Contribution. These funds can also finance partnerships between vocational schools, for example. It is important that Poland and Switzerland continue to move closer together here. Poland has a lot to offer in terms of research. In the discussions I have, I notice a great interest in exchanges with Poland. But the paths have not yet been properly opened up. I therefore hope that there will be a further opening for scientists and that many research projects can be financed, bilaterally or multilaterally - and this also with funds from other partners.

What is the importance of Poland for European research and development?

Poland has built the third largest research network in Europe. Switzerland is the most innovative country in the world, and we have the ambition to get to the top as well. We are therefore focusing on the exchange of scientists and technology transfer. We have a lot to offer Europe. Polish scientists and researchers have been making great contributions to international research projects for years. This is particularly visible in Switzerland. Because ultimately, we want to develop Europe as a strong innovation and business location together with Poland and Switzerland. We should start from this perspective. We all belong to the European family and are all affected by the same global problems and challenges. We must solve these together - you cannot solve a major global problem alone.

Further information and registration possibilities for the 3rd Polish Business and Technology Forum in Switzerland is available here.

 

About the person

Iwona Kozłowska has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein since 2020. She started her diplomatic career in 1999 as Deputy Director of the Polish Institute Berlin. In 2001-2005 she worked as an expert on Western Europe and the Weimar Triangle in the Foreign Policy Department of the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland, after which she moved to the European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Section for German-speaking Countries). From 2007 to 2012 she worked as 1st Counsellor in the Political Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin, which she headed in 2011. In 2012-2014 she was the Deputy Director of the Office of the Government Commissioner for International Dialogue in the Prime Minister's Office. From 2014 to 2020, she worked again at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she held the posts of section head, deputy director and finally director in the Department for Cooperation with Poles Abroad.

The Internet provider iWay is taking over all Internet and TV customers from Energie Wasser Bern (ewb). In view of the current major challenges on the energy markets, the energy provider is focusing on its core business in the telecom sector and will no longer offer its own Internet and TV services from August 14, 2023. "With our long-standing partner iWay, we have found an optimal successor solution with a good price-performance ratio and personal service," says Lukas Zellweger, the Product Manager responsible at ewb. "iWay has been responsible for Internet access and personal support for customers since the launch of ewb.INTERNET and ewb.TV in 2015. So for customers, continuity of services is guaranteed." iWay CEO Markus Vetterli adds: "By taking over ewb's Internet and TV customers, we can expand our customer base in Berne. In return, customers will not incur any additional expense by switching to iWay." Those who agree to the migration will each be given a monthly fee by ewb and by iWay." The switch will take place on October 4, 2023.

iWay is currently sailing on a wave of success. Just recently, the SME was rated best in class in three categories in the Telekom rating of "Bilanz". This year, for example, readers of the business magazine voted the company the best provider for private and corporate customers in the cloud services category and the best TV provider for private customers. In addition, iWay was able to hold its own in the highly competitive business customer market in the categories ISP & Corporate Networks and Datacenter in an excellent second place and once again relegate its market competitors to the back ranks.

Source and further information

Work motivation has reached a new low: only 17 % of all employees are still highly motivated, says a study published as recently as the end of May 2023 Job Study. The decline is worrying, because two years ago it was 28 % of all employees. Companies cannot afford to ignore this alarm signal; after all, productivity suffers from a lack of motivation, and so does the company's overall success. Other threatening phenomena such as Quiet Quitting, or Bare-Minimum, the reduction of work performance to the absolute minimum, are also forcing managers to think about new strategies. It's clear that something needs to be done to motivate corporate workforces to perform at their best again. Here are my four steps that will quickly get companies out of the motivation hole:

1. empathic feedback: synchronous or asynchronous

One of the keys to job satisfaction and well-being is empathetic feedback. This doesn't mean the usual once-a-year staff appraisal. On the contrary, regular feedback is needed. While 1:1 phone calls or video conferences might be too intense for, say, weekly or bi-weekly feedback testimonials, digital feedback tools can help provide authentic feedback at specific rhythms. Because regular feedback makes employees feel respected and valued, and that provides the crucial motivation boost!

2. lead by example

According to Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer, "Setting an example is not the most important way to influence others. It is the only one." Research supports this statement, showing that people are mostly motivated by the successes of those around them. Ergo, the more we are surrounded by high-performing people, the more we are inspired by their ideas and drive. With this in mind, companies need to focus on recognizing and retaining their top talent accordingly. Special programs for top talents, an active learning environment, access to challenging assignments and new, meaningful tasks are the keys to seeing and seizing one's own opportunities for advancement and thus to boosting motivation.

3. abolish dull routine work and remove the fear of innovation

Pointless searches for files, dull routine tasks or jumping between materials located in different places cost employees a lot of time and nerves. But the tedious sifting through folder structures and documents has come to an end, as has the time-consuming jumping between different tools and platforms: Smart, AI-supported search tools such as the new Dropbox Dash now provide a remedy. If you let automated systems take care of recurring routines, you gain time for new, exciting tasks. Increasing work efficiency and motivation are directly noticeable results.

4. purpose as a motivation booster

For young people in particular, their own purpose is much more than just a buzzword. Studies According to an impressive 72 % of Gen Z are looking for a deeper meaning in their work. Companies must meet this need by consciously living their values and mission instead of just talking about them. Above all, they should give their employees sufficient room to participate, because this can result in a sustainable motivation boost for the entire workforce. Clear communication and skillful leadership are then needed to connect individual strands into a big whole. Only then can all employees join in and perceive themselves as a meaningful part of the company's future.

My conclusion

The company's success is in our hands! With just a few decisive steps, we can sustainably increase the motivation and productivity of our employees. Now it's time to set an example with full motivation in order to actively shape the working world of tomorrow - knowing about the potential of new technologies and with a clear purpose.

 

Author:

Laura Ryan is vice president of global HRBP teams for the content collaboration platform Dropbox, where she has been working since 2015.   

Swiss companies striving for global expansion will have a new opportunity from September 4, 2023: The Swiss USAccelerator program will be launched at the Center for Innovation and Digitalization (ZID) in Bernapark in Deisswil, Bern. The ZID offers young companies, startups and SMEs a dynamic environment for creative exchange and innovative work processes. The launch of the new program therefore fits with ZID's ambition to create impulses for innovations that develop into successful business models in the long term.

Facilitate access to the USA market

The SWISS USAccelerator program has its primary focus on the United States - one of the world's most important markets for companies. The program was launched with the aim of offering concrete support for companies wishing to venture into international markets. A key feature of the program is the provision of valuable resources and networks that facilitate the expansion process and save participating companies valuable time.

To date, many Swiss startups and SMEs have not yet exploited their full potential on a global scale. Experts agree that being limited to the German-speaking region can be an obstacle to their long-term success. It is therefore essential to overcome this seemingly risky challenge by providing targeted support. This is exactly where the Swiss USAccelerator comes in. It was developed to remove these hurdles and provide Swiss startups and SMEs with the opportunity to realize their full market potential and gain a foothold in global markets. "The importance of collaboration between service providers on both sides of the Atlantic and knowledge transfer cannot be overstated. These collaborations play a critical role in supporting participating companies and their successful expansion into global markets," says Kaspar Zimmerli, one of the program's key leaders.

Milestone for Swiss startup and SME scene

The official launch of the USAccelerator program marks a significant milestone in the further development of the Swiss startup and SME scene, according to the company. With this program, a new era of opportunities is dawning, enabling companies to go beyond their previous boundaries and achieve their goals on an international level, according to the statement.

The kick-off event of the USAccelerator program will take place on September 4 from 4:30 - 6 pm. The event promises an inspiring program of presentations, discussions and networking opportunities to provide participating companies with the best possible start to their expansion journey.

More information

The 2023 edition of the Continuing Education Industry Monitor shows: In recent years, training providers have mastered the integration of digital technologies into teaching and thus created a new reality. At the end of 2019, almost all of them were still relying on face-to-face teaching, but then quickly switched to online courses in 2020 due to the pandemic.

New situation for education providers

Currently, the combination of online and face-to-face instruction dominates today's training practice. But the training industry is already facing new challenges: The explosive growth of artificial intelligence as well as trends such as flexibilization are once again demanding reactions and adjustments from continuing education providers. The shortage of skilled workers is also currently occupying continuing education institutions.

Together with a change in registration behavior and strong (international) competition, continuing education providers are facing major challenges. This is the result of the annual SVEB industry monitor report. The report focuses in particular on the economic situation, supply, demand and staffing levels.

Tougher competition

The survey results show a slightly positive trend for the industry development in 2022 and equally positive expectations for the current year 2023. The respondents currently see the greatest challenge in the intensified competition, which is driven by international online offerings, among other things.

This year's report is based on information from 447 continuing education organizations that participated in the online survey between April and May 2023. With the industry monitor, SVEB is building up a systematic observation of the continuing education industry.

Source: SVEB