Highlights A year in review

A year of strategic global engagement

GGBa representatives maintained a strong presence across a diverse set of international events in 2025, reinforcing Switzerland’s standing as a leading destination for innovation, collaboration, and business expansion. From Hello Tomorrow in Paris and XPONENTIAL Europe and MEDICA in Düsseldorf to GITEX in Berlin and it-sa in Nuremberg, among many others, the team engaged with key players in deep tech, autonomous systems, and digital security.

In life sciences, GGBa strengthened strategic relationships at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, the California Life Sciences Summit, Swiss Biotech Day in Basel, and the China Biomed Innovation Investment Conference. Additional visibility at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim and SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco further expanded outreach across health innovation and advanced technologies. In the cybersecurity field, GGBa also supported the organization of meetings for Unlimitrust and the Trust Valley ecosystem during the RSA Conference, helping facilitate connections with key industry actors.

Beyond trade shows and conferences, GGBa contributed to several targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening Switzerland’s international visibility and connectivity. These included the co-organization of an IMD Alumni evening in partnership with Innovaud, as well as support for the launch of the new direct air route between Geneva Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport operated by China Eastern Airlines. GGBa also collaborated closely with Swiss diplomatic representations abroad, including preparations with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Frankfurt for the official Swiss National Day celebrations on August 1.

Across these international settings, GGBa sustained its proactive approach to fostering connections, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for companies seeking to grow and innovate from a Swiss base.

Building Long-Term Partnerships Through Strategic Delegations

In 2025, GGBa placed particular emphasis on targeted international delegations designed to generate durable partnerships rather than short-term visibility. In January, the organisation co-hosted an international event in Florianópolis, in partnership with Swissnex in Brazil and Vesper Biotechnologies, creating a platform to explore concrete collaboration opportunities between the Swiss and Brazilian innovation ecosystems.

In November, GGBa participated in a high-level Swiss economic delegation to North Carolina at the invitation of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP). The visit brought together political, diplomatic, and economic representatives, positioning Western Switzerland within one of the United States’ most dynamic life sciences and technology clusters.

Beyond these missions, GGBa also facilitated several targeted exchanges aimed at strengthening ties with European innovation ecosystems. These included hosting a visit from the German business network Alphazirkel and supporting the organisation of a visit by an Austrian delegation focused on “Swiss Space Technologies & Innovation.”

GGBa also welcomed representatives from iPrint Institute during their visit to the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin, further expanding exchanges with stakeholders in advanced printing technologies.

Together, these initiatives reflect a deliberate approach: investing in relationships with regions that share strong sectoral complementarities and building the foundations for long-term cooperation in the years ahead.

A new successful podcast

In 2025, GGBa launched Getting Serious, a podcast designed to position Western Switzerland at the center of direct and substantive conversations about competitiveness, innovation, and global markets. Hosted by Woody Wade, the series features prominent voices such as André Hoffmann, Martin Naville, Isabelle Chappuis, Raphaël Domjan, Stéphane Garelli, Alexandre Edelmann, John Howe, Mathieu Jaton, Alisée de Tonnac, and Xavier Oberson, offering perspectives from business, sustainability, policy, and academia.

More than a communication initiative, the podcast serves as a strategic platform to amplify Switzerland’s strengths through authentic dialogue. To reach new and younger audiences, GGBa also launched a dedicated Instagram channel featuring short, dynamic clips from each episode, extending the podcast’s visibility beyond traditional economic promotion networks. Together, these initiatives reinforce GGBa’s role in shaping the international narrative around Western Switzerland.

Global Partnerships

In 2025, GGBa further expanded its international reach through targeted collaborations with strategic partners, amplifying the visibility of Western Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem. About Switzerland and SwissTech (Présence Suisse) supported the distribution of GGBa’s infographics across their platforms, while the Swiss Innovation Pavilion at the International Exhibition of Inventions printed and prominently displayed these materials on site, giving the region direct exposure to an international audience.

Cooperation with Invest in Switzerland (S-GE) enabled the promotion of the Fribourg Growth Hub video series to a broader global network. At the same time, GGBa intensified content and media partnerships with the magazine Professions Financières et de l’Économie, Pharmaboardroom, and VentureLab, further extending its reach and strengthening the dissemination of its key messages.

Additional outreach initiatives also helped broaden GGBa’s visibility in key international markets. This included the organization, by GGBa’s representative in China, of a visit to Switzerland for a major Chinese influencer, Travel With Yu, offering a unique opportunity to showcase Western Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem to a large digital audience.

Through these collaborations, GGBa reinforced its global positioning and ensured consistent visibility across institutional, diplomatic, and sector-specific channels.

Exploring new horizons during our annual training week

GGBa Week 2025 took place in the canton of Neuchâtel, bringing together GGBa representatives, cantonal delegates, and international partners for a week of strategic discussions and collaborative exchanges. This annual gathering provided an important opportunity to align on priorities, share market insights, and further strengthen coordination across Western Switzerland.

Through focused workshops, company visits, and open discussions, participants explored the canton’s unique strengths in science, technology, and advanced manufacturing. Inspiring exchanges with Neuchâtel Économie, along with visits to CSEM, Coworking Blockchain Neuchâtel, and Mikron Automation, highlighted the region’s innovation-driven ecosystem.

The GGBa Night was once again a highlight of the week. Held aboard the “Fribourg” on Lake Neuchâtel, the evening brought together key stakeholders to connect, exchange, and reinforce long-term partnerships. The event was made possible thanks to the support of State Councillors Florence Nater and Isabelle Moret, as well as our valued sponsors and partners, further strengthening the visibility and cohesion of the region’s economic promotion efforts.

A Scaled and Strategic Content Strategy

In 2025, GGBa significantly expanded its content output while sharpening its strategic focus. The monthly Top Stories newsletter on LinkedIn established itself as a key communication tool, highlighting major initiatives and developments across Western Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem.

Over the year, the team published more than 280 news articles and produced over 180 videos, showcasing companies, partners, institutions, and regional strengths. These included event coverage such as the “Inside” meetings organised by BioAlps, targeted thematic videos, the eight-episode Fribourg Growth Hub series, and ten episodes of the newly launched podcast.

A renewed Why Switzerland content series further strengthened GGBa’s narrative. Developed primarily as in-depth articles complementing existing factsheets, the series explored Switzerland’s competitive advantages by canton and by sector. Topics ranged from the structural foundations of Switzerland’s economic success to digital manufacturing in Fribourg, artificial intelligence in Western Switzerland, industrial competitiveness, and Neuchâtel’s evolution from watchmaking heritage to precision-driven innovation.

Together, these initiatives reflect a content strategy designed not only to inform but also to position Western Switzerland clearly and consistently in an increasingly competitive global landscape.