News

From optical communications to quantum computing: Photonics is a key technology for the future. To strengthen the connection between research and industry, partners from both sectors, together with researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, have founded the Swiss PIC Technology Transfer Center. The festive inauguration took place on 24 November 2025 at the Park Innovaare site, with the opening of a manufacturing centre for the integration of light-based microchips.

Switzerland has been elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee by the General Assembly of States Parties. The 25th session took place today at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The seat is for the 2025-29 period. The election is part of Switzerland's long-standing commitment to protecting cultural and natural heritage in the face of today's challenges.

In the 3rd quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by just 0.1% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, –0.1% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 10.5% fewer vacancies than a year earlier, and difficulties recruiting skilled workers have continued to decline. Employment prospects remained stable, despite enterprises’ muted expectations. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The share of rail in freight transport performance fell by 2.6% in 2024 compared with the previous year, resulting in the lowest level in fifteen years. Meanwhile, road freight transport increased by 1.4%. The share of rail within total freight transport thus fell by one percentage point to 37% (road: 63%). These are some of the findings from the Goods Transport Statistics produced by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, has just spent two days in East and Central Africa. Peace efforts to resolve the crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) formed the focal point of his visit to Kinshasa on Friday 21 November. On Thursday 20 November, Mr Cassis inaugurated the new Swiss embassy in Rwanda, a symbol of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries, and took part in the 46th Francophonie Ministerial Conference.

The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) at the Federal Office of Police (fedpol) hosted the second international round table on underground banking in Bern on 20/21 November. Experts from around the world discussed new developments, positive investigation results and strategies for combating illicit financial flows.

The third meeting of the Swiss-British Joint Committee for Science and Innovation was held in London on 21 November 2025. The meeting was chaired by State Secretary Martina Hirayama and the British Director of International Research and Innovation, Adam Jackson, and served to assess and improve bilateral co-operation in research and innovation.

Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will represent the DDPS at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada from 21 to 23 November.

On 21 November 2025, the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) held the second roundtable on the topic of cash. Various issues relating to access to and acceptance of cash were discussed with representatives of the parties involved in the cash cycle. ‘The principles on adequate access to cash’ were also presented, along with initial thoughts on an initiative to optimise the access network throughout the Swiss financial centre. The aim of the cash roundtable is to debate with all stakeholders the changes observed in the cash cycle and their possible consequences.

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have clarified how spermine – a small molecule that regulates many processes in the body's cells – can guard against diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: it renders certain proteins harmless by acting a bit like cheese on noodles, making them clump together. This discovery could help combat such diseases. The study has now been published in the journal Nature Communications.

On 21 November 2025, Switzerland and Cyprus signed a framework agreement in Nicosia on the implementation of a bilateral migration cooperation programme. The agreement forms part of Switzerland's second contribution to selected EU member states. A budget of CHF 10 million has been allocated to support projects in the areas of accommodation, voluntary return and integration.

Fifteen recruits completed training as First-Person View drone pilots, in order to be subsequently deployed with the troops in a field experiment. In this context, they used their skills to support the development of operational procedures for attack drones. The training in Thun and the following field experiment in Bure further developed the skills of the Swiss Armed Forces in the area of drones und took place within the context of the Taskforce Drones with the participation of the Swiss Armed Forces, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse as well as with external partners.