Digital Switzerland Strategy
The Digital Switzerland Strategy sets the guidelines for Switzerland’s digital transformation (see Ordinance on the Coordination of the Digital Transformation and ICT Steering in the Federal Administration). It is binding for the Federal Administration and serves as a guide for all other stakeholders involved in digitalisation.
Table of content
Vision
Switzerland consistently prioritises digital offerings for the benefit of everyone, regardless of gender, age or origin (digital first). It makes targeted use of the opportunities offered by sustainable digital transformation so that everyone benefits in the long run. Switzerland is one of the most digitally competitive and innovative countries in Europe.
Purpose
The aim is for the population as a whole to benefit from a digital transformation that is responsible and sustainable (ecologically, economically and socially). This is being driven forward jointly by the authorities at all federal levels, as well as by stakeholders from civil society, business, academia and politics. Gender equality is also taken into account.
The Federal Council identifies two or three focus themes to prioritise each year as a way of launching digital transformation topics. This focus is complemented by the action plan, with a webseite that provides an overview of activities in the area of digital transformation for the general public. In contrast to the annually changing focus themes, the vision and domains remain stable over several years.
The Digital Switzerland Strategy provides a overarching framework for the Digital Federal Administration Strategy, the Swiss eGovernment Strategy and various other sectoral strategies. It also helps Switzerland to achieve its climate and environmental goals and the sustainable development goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Digitalisation remains the responsibility of all the specialist organisations which have the lead in implementing the measures.
Focus themes
The focus themes form the starting point for new measures and Federal Council mandates, insofar as they fall under a federal remit. They are the subject of the meetings of the Digital Switzerland Advisory Committee, chaired by a member of the Federal Council, in which experts discuss the topic in depth. The Federal Council determines the new focus themes annually. The lead departments are responsible for their implementation.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence: Legal situation and the use of AI in the Federal Administration
Implementation of the approach chosen by the Federal Council for regulating artificial intelligence (AI). This approach ensures that basic rights, democracy and the rule of law are protected, while at the same time promoting Switzerland’s innovativeness and competitiveness. The aim is to create legal certainty. Efforts to promote the use of AI in the Federal Administration are also underway.
Lead: DETEC (OFCOM) in cooperation with the FDJP (Federal office of justice), the FDFA and the Federal Chancellery.
Information security and cyber security
Strengthening information security and cyber security for the whole of Switzerland
Information security will be strengthened in order to effectively protect Switzerland and its population. The focus is on raising awareness, applying protective measures in everyday life and ensuring that the Administration is ready to act in the event of an emergency or disaster. These security measures will also benefit cantonal and communal administrations. Furthermore, the new structures for information security and cyber security are to be established.
Lead: DDPS (National Cyber Security Centre and the State Secretariat for Security Policy)
Open Source
Promoting the use of Open Source Software in the Federal Administration
The Federal Administration will actively publish and promote the use of Open Source Software (OSS) in order to increase transparency, security and innovation in IT systems and to strengthen the digital sovereignty of the Administration. At the same time, the exchange of knowledge and cooperation with the national and international open source community will be intensified, enabling Switzerland to play a pioneering role and strengthen its digital sovereignty.
Lead: FCh (Digital Transformation and ICT Steering Sector).
Domains with indicators
The Digital Switzerland Strategy is structured around five long-term domains. These domains are based on the EU’s Digital Compass. Focus themes and measures are each assigned to a domain. This structure is intended to create a clear overview of activities that are important for a digital Switzerland. The Federal Council measures progress in each domain according to two indicators. The ten indicators were defined at the outset. They are reviewed on an ongoing basis and adjusted if necessary. Where possible, the values are compared against international benchmarks.
Education and skills
People, businesses and public authorities have sufficient skills to make the most of new technologies and are able to evaluate them critically.
Security and trust
People in Switzerland can move around safely in the digital environment; privacy is protected.
Framework conditions
Businesses and society can rely on a reliable and advantageous framework for the digital environment.
Infrastructure
Public authorities promote and operate reliable and resilient physical and digital infrastructure.
Digital public services
Public authorities offer their services digitally as standard (digital first); they are user oriented and barrier free.
Action plan
The action plan forms part of the Digital Switzerland Strategy. It defines the relevant measures and provides an overview of the status of their implementation. Measures are specific, time-limited programmes, projects or initiatives taken by internal or external stakeholders. They make a significant contribution to Switzerland’s digital transformation. Their progress is continuously updated by the lead stakeholders and published as an overview on www.digital.swiss.
Responsibilities and implementation
The Federal Chancellery’s Digital Transformation and ICT Steering Sector (DTI) is responsible for the ongoing development, coordination, communication and monitoring of the Digital Switzerland strategy. It reports annually to the Federal Council on the progress of the strategy and draws up proposals for new focus themes in close cooperation with the departments. The respective lead stakeholders are responsible for implementing the individual measures and provide the DTI Sector with regular progress reports.