Launched at our New Year’s Membership Reception in January 2025, Technology is the newest strategic focus of The British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce. As our members face rapid and often disruptive digital transformation, we responded by creating a dedicated events programme to provide members with a platform for engagement, helping them access cross-border expertise and stay ahead of change.

With the UK and Switzerland ranked in the world’s top five most innovative economies, the Chamber is uniquely positioned to act as a connector and enabler in this space. The Technology Programme complements our existing strengths in Finance and Life Sciences, both of which are increasingly shaped by AI and digital innovation.

Developed with intelligence from our annual member survey, the programme is designed to equip start-ups, SMEs, and multinationals with the knowledge and connections needed to harness emerging technologies. By facilitating collaboration between businesses, as well as between businesses and government, we aim to strengthen UK-Swiss tech exchange and trade, and ensure businesses see transformation not as a threat, but as a catalyst for growth.

We began by establishing a robust events programme in both Switzerland and the UK, with a clear focus on real-world business applications. In February 2025, the programme reached a milestone with our most in-demand and best-attended event to date: Practical Applications in AI in Finance, hosted in Zurich in partnership with Google. The event sold out quickly, attracting a diverse audience of 250 guests and highlighting the urgency of the AI conversation in financial services. Its success led to a follow-up event in London, co-organised with the Swiss Embassy. 

This laid the groundwork for the wider initiative. Technology now features across all areas of our work and is complementing our established strategic pillars of Financial Services and Life Sciences. In Finance, the AI event series has become a valued resource for members, showcasing real world applications across banking, asset management, compliance, and innovation teams.

In Life Sciences, our annual flagship event, New Frontiers in Healthcare, will feature a strong focus on tech-enabled healthcare, from AI in diagnostics to digital health equity. Two Medtech Summits in Zurich and London this autumn will connect Swiss health-tech start-ups with public funders, investors and innovation experts from both countries. These events are designed to drive real outcomes: access, capital, and collaboration. 

Building on this momentum, 2025 also saw a launch of our flagship Salon Series, an exclusive format designed to foster direct dialogue between business leaders and senior government representatives. In March 2025, James Clarke and Roger Gschwend, Chief Negotiators of the UK-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, met 13 senior executives for a high-level discussion on digital trade.

We are equally committed to preparing the next generation for the future of work and extended the Technology Programme to our Young Professionals Group, offering sessions on AI and digital upskilling, empowering emerging leaders to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.