On March 9, 2023, Switzerland made a bold step toward embracing the metaverse’s potential with the launch of the Swiss Metaverse Association (Metassociation). Bringing together 47 founding members from business, academia, and government, the association aims to create a world-leading metaverse ecosystem in Switzerland, fostering innovation, collaboration, and future-oriented solutions.
Building a Visionary Metaverse Ecosystem
The Swiss Metaverse Association is committed to:
- I am advocating for favorable conditions in Switzerland to attract metaverse projects and create new business models, jobs, and companies.
- Promoting collaboration among key stakeholders to address challenges, explore opportunities, and create synergies in the metaverse space.
- They are educating and engaging the public, ensuring that the benefits of the metaverse are widely understood and accessible.
Co-chaired by Tina Balzli of CMS Switzerland and Alexandra Hofer of Furrerhugi, the association represents diverse expertise spanning finance, technology, culture, and education.
Addressing Opportunities and Challenges in the Metaverse
The Metassociation has identified several key priorities for advancing Switzerland’s role in the metaverse:
- Tax and Regulation: Exploring frameworks for fair and sustainable governance of the metaverse.
- Industrial Metaverse: Unleashing potential in manufacturing and industrial applications.
- Arts and Culture: Integrating creative expressions into digital spaces.
- Research and Education: Promoting academic exploration and innovative learning methods.
- Technology and Infrastructure: Ensuring robust digital infrastructure for seamless virtual experiences.
- Health, Tourism, and Sports: Exploring transformative applications across these sectors.
To guide these efforts, the association plans to create a Swiss Metaverse Ecosystem Map and publish a comprehensive white paper. Collaborative working groups will drive research and solutions to the emerging challenges and opportunities.
A Collaborative Effort with Industry Leaders
The association’s founding members include prominent organizations such as Meta, Swisscom, Ericsson, EY, Hochschule Luzern, Universität St. Gallen, and Richemont, alongside startups, academic institutions, and cultural organizations. This diverse membership ensures a holistic approach to developing a metaverse ecosystem that benefits all sectors.
Co-president Tina Balzli highlighted the importance of networking and collaboration, stating,
“With this association, we are laying the foundation to position Switzerland as an innovative and forward-looking location for metaverse projects.”
Co-president Alexandra Hofer echoed this sentiment,
The association’s diverse expertise adds great value. Together, we can shape a digital future that benefits everyone.
Driving Switzerland’s Global Leadership in the Metaverse
By proactively addressing the challenges and fostering collaboration, the Swiss Metaverse Association is poised to ensure that Switzerland becomes a global leader in metaverse innovation. The association represents a collective effort to build a future-ready digital world, from developing business models to supporting sustainable frameworks.
As board member Daniel Diemers of SNGLR Group noted,
We want to learn together, develop ideas, and ensure that Switzerland becomes one of the most attractive metaverse locations in the world.
