Investment Summit 2026: Global FDI in Motion

The program may still be subject to minor adjustments. Further speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.

SESSION 1: Opportunities and Risks for Switzerland Driven by Geopolitics, Regional Conflicts and the Global Footprint Decisions

Trade tensions, regional conflicts, and shifting alliances are changing how companies think about where they operate. Supply chains are being restructured, regional hubs are gaining importance, and the logic of where to place key functions is being questioned. So, what does this mean for Switzerland as a location? Is political stability still a differentiator? This panel brings together perspectives on how companies are making these decisions today and what Switzerland needs to offer to stay on the shortlist.

Speakers

• Senem Wicki, Future Strategist and Co-Founder, kühne wicki
• Andrea Clementi, Head of Swiss Business Hub Korea, S-GE
• Benno Keller, Director Corporate Development and Strategy, S-GE (Moderator)

SESSION 2: Costs, Talent and the AI-Driven Shift in Company Business Models

Companies are rethinking what they need from a location as AI changes how work gets done. Headcount models are evolving, skill requirements are shifting, and the relationship between cost and productivity is being redrawn. For Switzerland, a historically high-cost location, this raises real questions: Does AI change the value proposition? Which industries and functions are still a natural fit, and which ones are becoming harder to argue for? This panel takes a closer look at the pressures and opportunities, with a focus on what companies are actually experiencing on the ground.

Speakers

• Dominick Gorecky, Head of Swiss Smart Factory and Executive Board Member, Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne
• Christoph Besmer, Head Investment Promotion, Swiss Business Hub USA, S-GE (Moderator)

SESSION 3: AI and How Switzerland Gets Discovered by Algorithms

Switzerland has a strong innovation story, but is it being told in the right places and in the right way? As AI tools increasingly shape how companies research and evaluate locations early in the process, the question of visibility becomes as important as the substance behind it. This panel explores what it means for Switzerland to position itself as an innovation location in an environment where the first filter is often algorithmic. What does the Swiss ecosystem offer and how do we make sure the right companies find it?

Speakers

• Patrizia Bischof, Campaign Project Manager, Presence Switzerland
• Sirpa Tsimal, Director Global Marketing, S-GE (Moderator)

SESSION 4: Competing for Investment - Industrial Policies, Incentives and Site Development

The EU is reshaping the conditions for investment through large-scale industrial initiatives, strategic sovereignty frameworks, and targeted incentive programs. This is changing what investors expect and what locations need to offer. But winning investment is not only about national policy and bilateral agreements. It also comes down to whether a company can find the right site and build and develop what it needs. This panel brings together both perspectives: the macro question of how Switzerland's landscape and EU relationship hold up against competing regimes, and the practical reality of what economic development and site availability look like on the ground. Ultimately, a strong national pitch means little if the local conditions don't deliver.

Speakers

• Remo Daguati, President, Netzwerk Standort Schweiz and CEO, LOC
• Patrick Barbey, CEO, Innovaud
• Liv Minder, Director Global Consulting Investment Promotion, S-GE (Moderator)