Swiss Stories

Data provided by the pedometer attached to the halter enables the behaviour of cows to be monitored on a tablet. ©Agroscope, Gabriela Brändle

Swiss Agriculture 4.0

Economics
Smart farming: digitalisation is about to revolutionise farming in Switzerland
GoGermany startup

20 promising Swiss startups

Economics

Switzerland may be a small country but its promising start-up scene has gained international recognition.
AlpTransit © AlpTransit Gotthard AG

The Swiss construction project of the century – linking northern and southern Europe

Economics
138 years after the completion of the legendary Gotthard railway tunnel – already a masterpiece in 1882 – a new milestone has been reached on the historic Gotthard route. The opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel on 4 September 2020 marks the completion of the construction project of the century – the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA), which forms the core of Europe's main north-south freight route extending from Rotterdam to Genoa. Following on from the Lötschberg and Gotthard base tunnels, this is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle to complete the flat-track rail link through the Alps.
SafeHost

Switzerland to become a secure haven for the world's data

Economics
Quality, stability, neutrality, confidentiality: The country is capitalising on its strengths and investing in the data-driven economy. The ambition is to become a peaceful haven for the storage of confidential physical and digital data for Swiss and international companies.
FREITAG © FREITAG/fluxif.com

Freitag: recycling with style

Economics
In the mid-1990s, two brothers from Zurich reinvented the bag, using recycled tarpaulins from lorries. Some 27 years and a string of innovative products later, FREITAG stores have sprung up in Berlin, Tokyo and many other cities, employing over 250 staff and drawing enthusiasts from around the world. What is FREITAG's recipe for success? Good ideas that capture the spirit of the age are naturally part of the equation, as is a holistic approach. The result is Swiss, environmentally friendly and uniquely recognisable around the world. An interview with Daniel Freitag at his office in Oerlikon.
“Mayaguana” bag © Exuma

Seven designers setting the style in Switzerland

Economics
The Swiss fashion and accessory scene has produced its fair share of designers, who are able to give expression to new and unexpected ideas. A passion for all things Swiss is driven by fashion events that put the spotlight on these designers’ craft and by the country’s art schools, which have become a true breeding ground for up-and-coming designers.

by Vanessa Hambaryan

Gottardo pocket knife

A Story of Swiss Precision

Economics
In celebration of the commitment to precision and the achievements that come with it, Victorinox has created the limited edition Gottardo pocket knife. 91 mm long, its blade shows the Gotthard mountain range and marks the tunnel from Erstfeld to Bodio.