by ICC Switzerland
08/04/2025
Declining attractiveness of Switzerland as location for the Life Sciences industry
Today ICC Switzerland had the pleasure of being invited by Severin Schwan, Chairman Roche Group, to Basel.
During our visit, we were privileged to be personally welcomed by Severin Schwan. He took us on a tour of the new Pharma Research and Development Centre and gave us valuable insights into Roche's innovative and visionary workspace. Following the tour, Mr Schwan hosted a lunch where he shared his perspective on the declining attractiveness of Switzerland as a location for the Life Sciences industry. His remarks highlighted the challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of healthcare, both nationally and globally. The discussion developed into a fruitful exchange.
We thank our guests for joining us for this special Chairman's Lunch. And we thank the Roche Team for hosting such a flawless event.
21/03/2025
ICC Digital Standards Initiative - Roundtable
ICC Switzerland hosted on 21 March in Zurich a Digital Trade Roundtable with Pamela Mar, the Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative.
This Roundtable brought together swiss industry and government to review progress on the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and digital trade standards and then turned its attention to the situation in Switzerland. Swiss policy recognises the importance of the digital economy and provides a strong basis for aligning national law.
Other adoption challenges include standards alignment and concerns about digital trust and technologies for verification of data and identity. The group concluded that there is work to be done to advance legal reform and to engage businesses to take full advantages of digital trade.
We extend our appreciation to Pamela Mar for visiting us and sharing her expertise on this topic with us and our members.
03/03/2025
Visit to the Secretariat of the ICC Court of Arbitration ICC Italia & ICC Switzerland
Last week, ICC Switzerland and ICC Italia organised together a two-day visit to the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris.
The initiative, led by Barbara De Donno, Secretary General of ICC Italy, and Simon Gabriel, President of the Swiss Commission of Arbitration and ADR, saw the participation of over 70 professionals from the sector, including arbitrators, lawyers, academics, and business representatives.
The event was an important opportunity for discussion and in-depth exploration of the ICC arbitration mechanisms, offering participants the chance to engage directly with the Secretariat of the Court on current issues in the field of dispute resolution.
The event started on Thursday afternoon with a preparatory meeting where the delegation of ICC Switzerland and ICC Italia first met and came together to discuss key developments and best practices in arbitration.
The day concluded in a networking dinner at the Restaurant "Le Georges" on top of the Centre Pompidou which provided a relaxed setting for further exchanges of the delegation.
The core of the event was the meeting with the ICC Secretariat of the Court on Friday morning. The main goal was to explore the key issues related to the functioning of ICC arbitration, focusing on new trends and regulatory developments shaping the sector.
Thank you in particular to Claudia Salomon. President of the ICC Court for delivering a forceful and inspiring speech on the USPs of ICC arbitration: (i) 100 years of arbitration know how; (ii) safe enforcement of awards through scrutiny and (iii) unique international network through National Committees.
The visit concluded with a networking lunch at the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in the restaurant "Madame Brasserie", fostering connections and providing the opportunity to deepen the discussions of the Event in a unique setting.
The visit proved to be an enriching experience, strengthening professional networks and deepening knowledge of arbitration practices. We look forward to future events that continue this important dialogue.
A special thank goes to the Secretariat of the ICC Court for connecting and listening to the questions and needs of our delegation. Also, we warmly thank our colleagues from ICC Italia for helping us to bring this event together.
