In an increasingly uncertain international environment, the question of how to create a reliable and innovation-friendly regulatory framework is gaining importance. The first edition of the SwissHoldings Legal Talks, held on March 26, 2026, in Bern, focused on the topic “The Legal Environment as a Location Factor: Targeted Reforms for a Competitive Switzerland.” Legal certainty is a central prerequisite for investment, innovation, and long-term location decisions.
With the Legal Talks, SwissHoldings has launched a new series of events that examine key legal and regulatory location issues early on and discuss them from various perspectives. In doing so, it provides impetus for practical, competitive framework conditions. The event kicked off with a keynote speech by Prof Dr Reto Föllmi (University of St. Gallen), who emphasized the importance of stable institutional frameworks for economic openness and long-term investments. This was followed by two panel discussions. While one panel addressed the role of digitalization in reducing bureaucracy, the other panel focused on the question of which concrete levers can contribute to strengthening legal certainty in Switzerland.
Keynote Speech by Prof Dr Reto Föllmi
Legal Certainty as the Foundation for Investment
During the panel discussion, it became clear that for internationally active companies, legal certainty primarily means predictability and stability in the regulatory framework—key prerequisites for investment and innovation. Prof Dr Andreas Bohrer, President of SwissHoldings and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Lonza Group, outlined what is needed: “Clear, reliable, and practical rules that give companies long-term predictability are crucial.” New rules should only be created where there is an actual need. What matters here is not the regulatory intent, but above all the actual impact of the regulation in practice.
On the panel from left to right: National Councillor Patricia von Falkenstein, Dr Ronald Indergand, Prof Dr Andreas Bohrer, Prof Dr Peter Hettich, Felix Küng
Self-Regulation and Collaboration
Self-regulation can play an important role in developing practical, flexible solutions and avoiding detailed government control. Companies possess the necessary expertise and practical experience to design effective rules while simultaneously securing the freedom required for innovation and competitiveness.
A key takeaway from the Legal Talks is that good regulation can only emerge through close collaboration between politics, administration, and the business community. SwissHoldings aims to foster precisely this dialogue and contribute to further strengthening Switzerland as a business location through reliable and practical framework conditions.
Contact
Felix Küng | Head Legal | +41 (0)31 356 68 64
