With the Export Award, Switzerland Global Enterprise honors internationally active companies with an impressive expansion strategy and innovative approach to market cultivation. The Export Award 2024 will be presented to a Swiss or Liechtenstein company at a ceremony on the occasion of the International Trade Forum on April 23, 2024, at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.
Prize and advantages
Export Award Prize and Advantages
The candidates of the competition benefit from attractive advantages:
All applicants (with complete submitted application documents)
- 1 free ticket to the International Trade Forum
All finalists and the winner
- Free Gold Membership in Switzerland Global Enterprise for one year
- Export Services Vouchers for a new market launch worth 1 x CHF 5,000 (winner) and 2 x CHF 1,000 (finalists)*
- Trophy or certificate presented by the Chairwoman of Switzerland Global Enterprise, Ruth Metzler-Arnold
- 4 x free tickets for the International Trade Forum for your employees or customers
- Use of the “Export Award” label and communications tools (finalist films, press releases etc.)
*From the market analysis for your target destination to specific country information and detailed analysis of the competition, the vouchers for services from Switzerland Global Enterprise offer you everything you need to successfully tap into a new market.
Application process
Transparent application process
All applications received will be examined in a multi-stage process and assessed by an independent jury of experts.
- January 12, 2024 Deadline for applications
- January 23, 2024 Preliminary judging, selection of the six nominees
- February 09, 2024 Main judging, presentation of the nominees to the jury
- April 23, 2024 Award Ceremony at the International Trade Forum in Zürich
The jury will not only assess the implementation of classic export, but also the general expertise of Swiss companies with regard to integration in global value chains; for example by networking with international suppliers or opening a branch in the target market. The focus here is on the choice of foreign markets, which hurdles have been overcome on entry, and how the company has positioned itself in the individual countries or regions.
Export Award Jury
The volunteer and independent jury is made up of renowned figures from the worlds of business, academia and media within Switzerland:
Jury President: Ralph Siegl
Markus Diem Meier
Martin Naville
Emanuel Probst
Winfried Ruigrok
Nicola Thibaudeau
Franziska Tschudi Sauber
Monika Walser
Hall of fame
Hall of fame
The Export Award celebrates the successful internationalization of Swiss and Liechtenstein companies, and shows how they have successfully positioned themselves in the global economy.
Winner Export Award 2023: Megasol Energie AG: Fast international growth
Megasol is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar modules and intelligent mounting systems, offering sound advice and smart complete solutions from a single source. Founded in 1993, Switzerland’s largest solar manufacturer has been shaping the Swiss and international markets for decades. The photovoltaic solar modules and components are developed and manufactured at the Deitingen (Solothurn) production site with 155 employees. The company is particularly successful in the rapidly growing segment of building-integrated photovoltaics. Megasol is the only manufacturer in the world that can supply any panel in all sizes, shapes, colours, glass surfaces, structures and outputs. The company has also become an innovative leader in an extremely dynamic industry through active research and development activities. Since entering the German market in 2012, Megasol has increasingly shifted its sales activities abroad and has so far implemented over 100,000 projects in more than 30 countries. The export share has reached 85% and is expected to rise to over 90%.
Finalists 2024
Finalists 2024
Lombardi – Swiss engineering to combat climate change
The Lombardi Group, based in Giubiasco (Canton of Ticino), provides engineering services for demanding transport, underground and water-related infrastructures, focusing on renewable energy. Leveraging the expertise it has acquired by building Alpine hydropower plants and long transalpine railway tunnels in Switzerland, it exports this around the globe while maintaining its core engineering services from Switzerland, even for orders from far-flung markets. This enables the SME to successfully compete on a global scale and exhibit strong organic growth.
NÜSSLI – temporary structures from Switzerland for the global stage
The NÜSSLI Group from Hüttwilen (Canton of Thurgau) creates 1,500 temporary stages, grandstands and pavilions every year. Its structures can be found at many of the major business, cultural and sporting events around the world. Its export share has been steadily increasing since the company was established in 1941. Today, it sits at 60 percent and is expected to rise to 80 percent by 2027. The structures are set up and dismantled swiftly and highly professionally – just a few days after a gig, there is no visible trace of it left. As a result, NÜSSLI’s temporary structures are a good example of sustainable economic activity.
Xovis – measuring people flows around the world with Swiss precision
Since its establishment in 2008, Xovis AG has become a global leader in intelligent people flow management. 300,000 Xovis sensors are in use in airports, retail, transport and smart buildings around the world. Xovis high-precision sensors detect the presence and movement of people, and use artificial intelligence to determine characteristics such as gender, position, and direction of vision. This technology enables people flows to be analyzed and optimized in real-time.
