Swiss Financial Innovation Desk

Good news: The EIC Accelerator is back for Swiss startups as the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen just announced at the media conference with our Federal Council President Viola Amherd. Swiss startups can apply for 2.5 Mio. - 15 Mio. in grants & funding starting Jan 1st, 2025: https://lnkd.in/eUA4cWDg #innovation #startups #grants #EU #CH Frédéric Lauchenauer Andri Silberschmidt-Buhofer Marcel Dobler Judith Bellaiche Pascale Vonmont Ralph Mogicato Bolko Hohaus Gianmaria Sbetta Steffen Ehrhardt Urs Haeusler Gian Reto à Porta Silvan Krähenbühl Joëlle Stocker Cornelia Gut-Villa

#SwissHacks is back for its 2025 edition 🚀! After the resounding success of its first edition event in 2024, #SwissHacks returns next April (11-13) with even greater ambitions, celebrating Switzerland’s excellence as a global hub for finance, education, and entrepreneurship. This initiative of the Swiss Federal Administration is brought to life by the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) and powered by Tenity. #SwissHacks 2025 collaborates with leading industry players and beyond (#staytuned) to empower creative minds and work alongside pioneering innovators. A limited number of places remain for organizations eager to join this transformative event. More info there: https://lnkd.in/dqmJZFKK #SwissHacks 2025 welcomes students, developers, finance and banking experts, designers, marketers, and all innovation enthusiasts to pre-register for the 2025 hackathon (early birds). Want to join? https://lnkd.in/dRMZ-JVd For more details and inspiration from last year’s success, explore the SwissHacks website: https://www.swisshacks.com 📸: some souvenirs from previous edition. We can’t wait to share more with you! Eva Selamlar-Leuthold Jürg Wüst Vénusia Bertin André Lergier Andreas Iten Brigitta Gyoerfi, CFA Anna Spögler Luca Casuscelli Sofia O. #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #SwissHacks2025 #FromIdeaToImpact #FutureOfFinance

🧭 Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation: Your Navigator: Where did it all begin? Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) is curating its first collaborative study, set to be published in January 2025, with a clear objective: to provide a roadmap for the next decade of financial innovation. 💡but where did the idea come from? At the heart of this reflection is the Bank for International Settlements – BIS study “Finternet: The Financial System for the Future” by Agustín Carstens and Nandan Nilekani. This bold vision introduces the concept of a "Finternet" – an interconnected financial ecosystem designed to place individuals and businesses at the center of their financial lives. By evaluating groundbreaking technologies such as tokenization and unified ledgers, the study explores how to modernize and reshape the financial system to meet the demands of the future. 👉🏻  Why does this matter? Despite decades of technological progress, much of the financial system remains stuck in the past: slow transactions, fragmented processes, and high barriers to access. A future-ready financial system must be fast, secure, inclusive, and user-centric. Building on this inspiration, Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation: Your Navigator explores four key themes shaping the future of finance: ✨ Digital Trust ✨ Digital Assets ✨ Artificial Intelligence (AI) ✨ Quantum-Safe Technologies The theses explored in this report were discussed during thematic working sessions at our recent event, ReDesigning Financial Innovation, co-hosted with the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore alongside the Singapore FinTech Festival. These sessions were expertly led by Andreas Tölke, Head Fintech and Digital Trust by Swisscom and Daniel Säuberli, DIDAS President (Digital Trust), Max Stuedlein, Strategic Digital Asset Solutions at Sygnum Bank (Digital Assets), Dr. Sina Wulfmeyer, CDO at Unique and Jonathan Chan, Head Global Innovation at Julius Baer (AI), and Damir Bogdan, CEO at QuantumBasel (Quantum-Safe), uncovering key insights and challenges. 📸 The photos shared here capture moments from these dynamic discussions. 🚀 We can’t wait to share the results with you in 2025! 🔜 In the weeks ahead, we’ll be teasing some of the key insights and theses explored in the study. #StayTuned for a glimpse into the future of finance 🏁. 🙏🏻 A heartfelt thank you to all our partners and contributors who made this vision a reality. Together, we are shaping the pathway to a more innovative, inclusive, and resilient financial system. #Pathway2035 #financialinnovation #conciergingfinancialinnovation 

FIND Workshop – Academia + FinTech + Innosuisse💡 On 16 October 2024, the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) hosted a workshop at the Bernerhof in Bern, bringing together academia, FinTech entrepreneurs, and Innosuisse. 🎯 The event aimed to raise awareness of Innosuisse’s support instruments for FinTech, encourage science-driven innovation within higher education, and share best practices to boost the growth of Switzerland's FinTech ecosystem. 🔎 The workshop was grounded in a key observation: very few FinTechs are represented in Innosuisse’s portfolio. In fact, out of 2'565 projects funded by Innosuisse between 2018 and 2024, only 40 were FinTech-related. ☝🏻This striking underrepresentation highlights the need for more targeted efforts to bridge the gap between FinTech startups, academia, and innovation funding opportunities. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions about Innosuisse’s funding structures and explored strategies to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry in the FinTech sector. 💡The workshop resulted in concrete recommendations for reinforcing Switzerland’s position as a leader in FinTech innovation. The Executive Summary and Workshop Report, detailing the discussions and key outcomes, are now available for download on our website. 👉 https://lnkd.in/esGySMz4 🧭 FIND and its workshop partners will continue to work individually and/or jointly on the actionable recommendations to make sure that there is ultimately a measurable increase of Fintech R&D transferred from our Swiss universities to the market. 👏🏼A special shoutout to our key note speakers: 🎤 Speakers (in order of appearance): - Tom Russi, Member of the Executive Commitee, Head of Project and Programme Funding Division by Innosuisse - Pascale Bruderer, Board Member ETH Board and Entrepreneur - Corinne Zellweger-Gutknecht, Professor of Private Law and Economic Law, University of Basel - Christian Grothoff, Professor of Computer Network Security, Berner Fachhochschule BFH 🤝And a big thank you to all participants for their valuable contributions: Innosuisse Gérald Walti, CFO Innosuisse Staatssekretariat für internationale Finanzfragen SIF Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary and Elio Guarino Swiss Financial Innovation Desk Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Justin Friedrich, André Lergier, Vénusia Bertin Academia/Fintechs/Students/Press: Bastian Benrath-Wright, Christian Busch, Daniel Capraro, Joëlle Gautier, Brigitta Gyoerfi, CFA, Johs. Hoehener, Tamara Koliada 🇺🇦, Christoph König, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Koye, Thomas Krapf, Olga Miler, Cecilia Molina, Joerg Osterrieder, Simon Perrelet, Florian Prantl, Claudia Schärer, Peter Schwendner, Walter Farkas, Florian Weigert, Anna Wisthoff #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #FutureOfFinance #fintech #innovation

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ReDesigning Financial Innovation: Retro 🎥 A look back in images at the event hosted by the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore on 5 November. A special feature by finance.swiss, presented by the talented Tanya König. 🎤 On the mic Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of FIND Frank Grütter, Swiss Ambassador Dr. Sina Wulfmeyer, CDO at Unique Maha El Dimachki, Head of Bank for International Settlements – BIS Innovation Hub Singapore Damir Bogdan, CEO of QuantumBasel Corp. David Birch, Global Thought Leader on Digital Finance. The event also marked the announcement of the upcoming publication  „Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation: Your Navigator”. #StayTuned for its release next year! #Pathway2035ForFinancialInnovation #ReDesigningFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #SFF2024

What a strong Swiss presence 🇨🇭in Singapore 🇸🇬 ! The team of the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk is honored and proud to be supporting Switzerland Global Enterprise and Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore’s Swiss Pavilion in Singapore FinTech Festival. Come visit us (Hall 5, Booth 5E-11)! #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #FutureOfFinance

ReDesigning Financial Innovation | Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore Event 🚀 What a night 💫! Yesterday in Singapore, visionaries, futurists, and thought leaders gathered to explore the future by ReDesigning Financial Innovation. Hosted in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore, the event was a resounding success! ⭐️ The evening began with the Thought Leaders Sessions, where global experts delved into key theses from the collaborative blueprint publication coordinated by FIND, Pathways 2035 for Financial Innovation: Your Navigator. #staytuned: the full insights will be available soon! Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk, alongside C Grisard Barbour and Johs. Hoehener from the organizing committee, introduced and concluded the sessions, setting a dynamic and insightful tone for the exchange of ideas. 💡The discussions sparked thought-provoking debates, with participants passionately exploring and debating not only today’s landscape but how we can anticipate future trends to build impactful and inclusive financial systems. Key themes included AI, Digital Trust, Digital Assets, and Quantum Safe technologies. 📯 The event continued with a VIP reception inaugurated by Mr. Frank Grütter, Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, followed by remarks from Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the State Secretariat for International Finance SIF. 🎤 We then enjoyed an exceptional fireside chat hosted by journalist Tanya König from finance.swiss, featuring: •Maha El Dimachki, Head of BIS Innovation Hub Singapore, •David Birch, Global Thought Leader on Digital Finance, •Damir Bogdan, CEO of QuantumBasel Corp. 🧭 Their brilliant insights were as inspiring as they were thought-provoking. While 2035 may still be on the far horizon, one thing is crystal clear: change is accelerating, and with converging technologies, we must stay prepared. ⭐️The evening concluded with a networking dinner, where conversations flowed, and connections were enriched in a lively and engaging atmosphere. 🚀 Tomorrow, during the Singapore FinTech Festival at the Switzerland Global Enterprise Swiss Pavilion (Hall 5, Booth 5E-11), Eva Selamlar-Leuthold will present a verbal teaser and background info about the publication. Come visit us! 🙏🏻 Our heartfelt gratitude to all partners and contributors who made this event possible! Partners ⭐️ Bridge Builders: Julius Baer Swisscom 💡Thought Leaders: Digital Asset DIDAS Center for Digital Trust (C4DT), EPFL Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) Luzerner Kantonalbank AG (LUKB) MME Legal | Tax | Compliance OpenWallet Foundation OpenWealth Association QuantumBasel Sygnum Bank ti&m Unique University of Bern University of Zurich ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences 🤝🏻Associates: CMTA Lenz & Staehelin SwissCham Singapore Zühlke Group #Pathway2035ForFinancialInnovation #ReDesigningFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #SFF2024

Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation: Your Navigator 🧭 In exactly one week, on November 5, we will dive into ReDesigning Financial Innovation at an exclusive event hosted by the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore. 📯 Opening the event will be Mr. Frank Grütter, Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, accompanied by Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the State Secretariat for International Finance SIF, and Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk. 🎤 We will be honored to host an exceptional fireside chat moderated by journalist Tanya König, featuring: • Maha El Dimachki, Head of Bank for International Settlements – BIS Innovation Hub Singapore • David Birch, thought leader in digital identity and digital money, author of Identity is the New Money • Damir Bogdan, CEO of QuantumBasel Corp. This gathering will reveal insights from a paper developed in collaboration with leading voices in finance, technology, academia, politics, and regulatory bodies – all working together to shape the Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation. The paper explores four key themes: Digital Trust, Digital Assets, AI, and Quantum Safe technologies. We can't wait to share our findings with you #staytuned! 🚀 The paper will be officially released in January 2025. 🙏🏻 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all partners and contributors who brought the Event ReDesigning Financial Innovation and the paper Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation to life. Partners ⭐️ Bridge Builders: Julius Baer Swisscom 💡Thought Leaders: Digital Asset DIDAS Center for Digital Trust (C4DT), EPFL Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) Luzerner Kantonalbank MME Legal | Tax | Compliance OpenWallet Foundation OpenWealth Association QuantumBasel Sygnum Bank ti&m Unique University of Bern University of Zurich ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences 🤝🏻Associates: CMTA Lenz & Staehelin SwissCham Singapore Zühlke Group 🚀FIND Team: Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of FIND Justin Friedrich, Analyst André Lergier, IT and Project Manager Vénusia Bertin, Community and Event Lead #Pathway2035ForFinancialInnovation #ReDesigningFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #DigitalAssets #DigitalTrust #AI #QuantumSafe #SFF2024

ReDesigning Financial Innovation 💡| Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore Launch Event 🚀 Financial innovation requires constant navigation through shifting realities in geography, society, technology, financial markets, and regulations. However, some fundamentals remain unchanged: basic human needs for security, convenience, entertainment, and recognition. 🧭 Together with a select group of international visionaries from finance, technology, academia, politics, and regulatory bodies, we gathered to define and shape the Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation. The outcome of these efforts will be published in a collaboratively written paper titled Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation, set to be published during the Singapore FinTech Festival. 🚀 To kick things off, we are organizing an exclusive (invite-only) pre-launch event in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore on the 5th of November titled: ReDesigning Financial Innovation. 💡This will be an opportunity to dive into current trends and the key drivers of ReDesigning Financial Innovation, aimed at creating a sustainable, collaborative, ethical, and user-centric world. The event will focus on four central themes: Digital Trust, Digital Assets, AI, and Quantum Safe, which are also the main pillars of our Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation paper. 📯 The event will be opened by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, Mr. Frank Grütter, followed by additional remarks from Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the State Secretariat for International Finance SIF and a primer from the paper by Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk. 🎤 We will then have the pleasure of hosting an exceptional fireside chat featuring: - Maha El Dimachki, Head of Bank for International Settlements – BIS Innovation Hub Singapore - David Birch, Thought Leader in digital identity and digital money, Author of Identity is the New Money - Damir Bogdan, CEO of QuantumBasel Corp. We can't wait to share more with you #staytuned! 🙏🏻 We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the partners who have made this event possible, as well as to everyone who has contributed their time and expertise to the development of the Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation paper. Partners ⭐️ Bridge Builders: Julius Baer Swisscom 💡Thought Leaders: Digital Asset DIDAS Center for Digital Trust (C4DT), EPFL Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) Luzerner Kantonalbank MME Legal | Tax | Compliance OpenWallet Foundation OpenWealth Association QuantumBasel Sygnum Bank ti&m Unique University of Basel University of Bern University of Zurich ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences 🤝🏻Associates: CMTA Lenz & Staehelin SwissCham Singapore Zühlke Group #Pathway2035ForFinancialInnovation #ReDesigningFinancialInnovation #FinancialInnovation #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #DigitalAssets #DigitalTrust #AI #QuantumSafe #SFF2024