Digital Switzerland Strategy 2020

The Digital Switzerland Strategy 2020 aims to guide Switzerland through the digital transformation, ensuring that everyone benefits from digital advancements. This strategy builds on Switzerland’s robust political system and innovative capability to enhance societal well-being and economic prosperity, aligning with the UN’s Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Purpose and Guiding Principles The strategy’s purpose is to leverage digital opportunities for the collective benefit of Swiss society and the economy. It emphasises inclusive and collaborative efforts involving federal, cantonal, municipal authorities, civil society, businesses, and the scientific community. The principles guiding the strategy include putting people at the forefront, providing room for digital development, facilitating structural change, and networking transformation processes.

Key Objectives The strategy outlines five primary objectives:

1. Enabling Equal Participation and Strengthening Solidarity: Ensuring that all inhabitants can participate in social, political, and economic life digitally, fostering social solidarity.
2. Guaranteeing Security, Trust, and Transparency: Protecting individuals in the digital world from abuse and unwarranted persecution while promoting transparent data services.
3. Continuing Digital Empowerment and Self-Determination: Strengthening digital skills and lifelong learning to enable active and self-reliant participation in digital life.
4. Ensuring Value Creation, Growth, and Prosperity: Optimising framework conditions to foster innovation and digital business models, thus enhancing economic growth and sustainability.
5. Reducing Environmental Footprint and Energy Consumption: Utilising digital technologies to achieve climate and environmental goals by reducing energy and material consumption.

Fields of Action The strategy identifies several critical areas for action:

1. Education, Research, and Innovation: Promoting lifelong learning, developing digital skills, and ensuring Switzerland remains a leader in digital technologies through robust research and innovation frameworks.
2. Infrastructure: Ensuring high-quality digital infrastructure to support various digital activities and services.
3. Security: Protecting individuals and organisations from digital threats and ensuring a secure digital environment.
4. Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, and Energy: Leveraging digital solutions to enhance environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.
5. Political Participation and E-Government: Facilitating electronic interactions between citizens, businesses, and the government to improve efficiency and accessibility.
6. Economy: Enhancing the digital economy by fostering innovation, supporting SMEs and startups, and ensuring competitive digital business models.
7. Data, Digital Content, and Artificial Intelligence: Promoting the availability, accessibility, and trustworthy use of data, and ensuring responsible and transparent AI applications.
8. Social Affairs, Healthcare, and Culture: Improving digital health services, facilitating cultural participation through digital channels, and ensuring social inclusion in the digital transformation.
9. International Commitment: Shaping international digital governance, promoting digital self-determination, and ensuring a safe and trustworthy cyberspace.

Implementation and Dialogue The implementation of the Digital Switzerland Strategy is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. Networking and cooperation among federal, cantonal, and municipal authorities, along with businesses, civil society, and academia, are crucial. The strategy includes an action plan that outlines specific measures for achieving its goals. This action plan is regularly updated and made publicly available, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in the implementation process.

The Federal Department of the Environment, Energy and Communications (DETEC) coordinated the implementation measures until the end of 2020, after which the Federal Chancellery took over the coordination role. The strategy emphasises continuous dialogue among stakeholders to anticipate future challenges and leverage digital opportunities effectively.