Swiss business forum highlights innovation and adaptation

Executives of top businesses from Switzerland gathered for a forum in Shanghai on May 15 to share insights on how "Swiss innovation" adapts for growth in China.

Organized by SwissCham Shanghai, the Swiss Business Forum 2025 included panel discussions, an exhibition and an exclusive roundtable discussion between government officials and business representatives.

Held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Sino-Swiss diplomatic relations, the event provided valuable insights for businesses in the two countries as the participants presented their ideas in six subforums.

Executives from Virtuarch, FESCO Adecco, Ivoclar and Hilti China exchanged insights on how to maintain world-class quality standards while adapting to a fast-paced and highly competitive local market.

The panelists emphasized that local leadership, government engagement and adaptive strategy are the keys to achieving sustainable growth in China.

In the session with a theme on consumption patterns in China, speakers from Switzerland Tourism, Givaudan, Sprezzatura Network, and Genuine E-Commerce Solutions pointed out that preferences of Chinese consumers are moving from mass consumption to personalized and emotional experiences.

The panelists highlighted the need for brands to engage through storytelling and cross-generational relevance.

Speakers from Logitech, On Running, PwC, United Grinding and IQAir examined how the "Swiss Made" label continues to serve as a hallmark of quality and trust in China's increasingly discerning market.

Speakers stated that authenticity, sustainability and value-based branding will keep the Swiss heritage positioning in China.

A panel of executives from Schindler, Buhler, Swissnex, and Lucerne University discussed how Swiss companies are driving industrial innovation through the internet of things, artificial intelligence and sustainable engineering. They emphasized the importance of smart factories and digital transformation for companies to stay competitive.

Fang Fang, global vice-president and China general manager at the Switzerland-based hearing solutions provider Sonova, told China Daily that innovation is the lifeblood of a business.

She said Sonova demonstrates innovation in not only products and solutions but also in how it brought the entire industry chain to China and how the company managed effective operations in the country.

The private roundtable discussion was joined by officials from Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (MOFCOM Shanghai), the Swiss Ambassador to China, and 15 Swiss companies. It serves as a communication platform between businesses and the local government.

According to data from SwissCham China, Shanghai ranks as the top Chinese city for Swiss corporate investment in terms of quantity and scale, with most Swiss companies choosing to establish their China headquarters there.

According to Fang, Sonova has been operating in China for over 20 years and set up its regional headquarters in Shanghai.

"Shanghai has the industrial concentration and talent for our business. In terms of appeal to foreign businesses, we can see that the city has a clear strategic direction and supporting policies aligned with it," said Fang.