Swiss IGF founds association for digital governance
For ten years, the Swiss Internet Governance Forum (Swiss IGF) has provided a platform for the exchange of information on digital policy issues. The initiative has now been given its own structure with the establishment of the "Swiss Internet & Digital Governance" association - supported by the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) and the Mercator Foundation Switzerland.
The Swiss IGF was founded in 2015 as the national platform of the global UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF). With an open approach, it brings together representatives from politics, business, science and civil society to discuss Switzerland's digital future. The topics range from cybersecurity and platform regulation to artificial intelligence - determined by a "Call for Issues" in which all interested parties can submit proposals.
By founding the association, the Swiss IGF aims to become more independent in organizational terms and more broadly based financially. The Mercator Foundation Switzerland is supporting the development of the new structure in the first three years with the aim of creating a structure that is supported by the community. "The aim of the funding is to ensure the financial and structural independence of the Swiss IGF in the long term. This is central to the credibility of the conference as a neutral platform for intersectoral, digital policy dialogue," says Riccardo Ramacci, Portfolio Manager Digitalization and Democracy at Mercator.
Bakom also remains involved: The Federal Office is continuing its patronage and will continue to contribute to the funding. "After ten years of successful informal development work, the time was ripe for this step," says Thomas Schneider, Deputy Director of OFCOM. The new set-up allows for even better involvement of the community as well as other projects in addition to the annual conference.
Nicolas Zahn, who has been a member of the Swiss IGF core team for some time, will take over as Managing Director. He is taking over the executive role from the previous co-secretaries Jacques Beglinger and Livia Walpen, who played a key role in establishing the platform. "The new structure will allow us to grow sustainably and further deepen this exchange by involving all stakeholder groups," says Zahn. "The goal for 2025 is clearly to establish this new structure and actively expand our membership base, also in order to expand and broaden the Board of Directors at the next General Assembly. Another important goal will be to develop a sustainable financing model."
The new association remains open to interested parties. The next General Assembly will take place in October 2025 as part of the Swiss IGF Conference and will provide an opportunity for active participation.
