Encouraging innovation

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) and IMD Business School rank Switzerland among the world’s most competitive nations. Regarding digital competitiveness, Switzerland is in the top ten according to IMD.
• The WEF Global Information Technology Report 2016 places Switzerland in the top ten in terms of technological readiness, thanks in part to substantial investment in digital networks.
• The Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) has examined, through a representative study entitled "Digital Pulse Check 4.0", the current status of digitalization within the Swiss banking sector. Most established banking institutions have recognized the signs of the times. They are digitalizing their existing services step by step or rethinking them from the customer’s point of view. COVID-19 has accentuated this change once again.
• In its "Survey on Digitalisation and Fintech at Swiss Banks 2019", published in August 2019, the Swiss National Bank points out that the banks view the digitalisation mainly as a source of opportunities, particularly with regard to cutting costs and improving service quality.
• The "2021 IFZ FinTech Study" places Geneva on the 4th position and confirms that Switzerland has evolved into a leading global FinTech hub.

Large financial centres today have vastly expanded their digital capacity. To remain competitive on an international scale, the Swiss banking industry needs a regulatory framework that supports the future evolution of technology.

In the United Kingdom, regulatory authorities have taken a proactive approach: the Financial Conduct Authority plays a key role in promoting economic development by supporting FinTech companies through its ‘innovation hub’ programme.

In Switzerland, the Federal Council has adopted a ‘Digital Switzerland Strategy’ calling for close cooperation among all economic sectors.  The FINMA, meanwhile, has decided to authorise online identification of banking clients, an important development for an international financial centre like Geneva, and one that is likely to benefit both retail banks and institutions specialising in wealth management.

To ensure the financial centre remains competitive and continues to innovate, government and political leaders must provide a determined regulatory impetus, in order to give Switzerland a legal framework that supports the development of FinTech and does not discourage innovation.