Annual report 2025 | Bern Economic Development Agency
Simon Enderli, Head of the Bern Economic Development Agency, reflects on economic developments in 2025.
Editorial
Three questions for Dr Sebastian Friess, Head of the Office of Economic Affairs and Simon Enderli, Head of the Bern Economic Development Agency
In focus
The Canton of Bern strategically strengthens future-oriented industries and promotes sustainable economic growth. In 2025, we focused on the following key areas.
In 2025, the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina and the Canton of Bern signed a cooperation agreement to promote investment, exports, and technological exchange.
«Hello Business» is a bold communication campaign that welcomes audiences to the world of business and entrepreneurship and captures the vibrant link between people and enterprise.
The Women’s Euro 2025 was a real success, featuring exciting matches in packed stadiums and thousands of visitors enjoying everything the host cities had to offer. The Canton of Bern provided not just one, but two tournament venues in Bern and Thun.
The voucher program allowed us to provide rapid and efficient support to companies affected by U.S. tariffs, helping them launch projects in research and development and export promotion. More than 70 companies benefited.
The new Circular Economy and Innovation Unit at BEDA supports companies in unlocking the innovation potential of the circular economy.
In 2025, the Central Committee of the Swiss Football Association decided to establish its new headquarters, «Swiss Football Home», in Thun, positioning the city as the future hub of Swiss football.
Facts & figures 2025
The Bern Economic Development Agency is measured by the investment and employment initiated and created by Bern-based companies. It therefore constantly monitors the progression of the projects and companies funded and conducts reviews into the effects and benefits of its funding activities. The current review (for the 2016–2025 period) shows that the instruments used result in net income overall and ultimately also relieve the cash flow budget of the canton of Bern.
Its funding activities are based on four laws:
WFG: the Economic Development Act (WFG) allows contributions towards innovative projects by firms, start-ups and companies that choose to relocate to Bern.
NRP: the cantonal Investment Aid Law forms the basis for the funding of infrastructures and development projects under the New Regional Policy (NRP).
TEG: events and market cultivation in tourism are funded on the basis of the Tourism Development Act (TEG).
IFG: the Innovation Support Act (IFG) supports institutions involved in applied research and development.
Supported Projects
This section highlights a selection of projects supported directly or indirectly by the Bern Economic Development Agency in 2025.
WFG projects
Click on the image to learn more about the project.
Support for start-up OrthoSens, which develops battery-free sensors for real-time data collection from implants.
Support for expanding production capacity for a new series of measuring instruments for the semiconductor industry.
Support for an innovative project aimed at developing a mobile app to control machine tools via smartphone or tablet.
Support for the construction of a new facility and the establishment of an automated production line for magnetic and piezoelectric valves.
Investment in a fermentation facility at the Aarberg sugar factory to produce bio-based products.
Support for optimizing software for the intelligent control of energy and heating systems.
NRP projects
Click on the image to learn more about the project.
Support for Berner Bergbahnen in its strategic transformation toward future-ready business models. Study conducted in collaboration with the Wyss Academy for Nature and the University of Bern’s Research Unit in Tourism.
Support for the construction of the new Reka holiday village in Lenk in the Simmental region, strengthening Lenk’s position as a family-friendly, year-round destination.
Support for the regional initiative to establish the Emmental as an educational and travel destination for school groups. Its core element is a digital platform for planning school trips, excursions, and project weeks.
Support for the modernization and expansion of the Meiringen Cable Car Competence Center, which also serves as Switzerland’s national training center for cable car professionals.
Support for the regional initiative in the Oberaargau region that makes production processes, products, and vocational career pathways accessible and tangible to the public.
Support for the “BeCirc” project at Swiss Smart Factory Biel, Switzerland’s leading center for Industry 4.0 technologies. “BeCirc” helps SMEs develop circular production and business models.
TEG projects
Click on the image to learn more about the project.
Around 60 journalists from more than 30 countries presented their investigations at the True Story Festival, where the «True Story Award» was also presented. The festival strengthens Bern’s profile as a media hub.
Soirée Suisse 2025 was a diplomatic representation and networking event aimed at enhancing the international visibility of the Canton of Bern and strengthening strategic networks in politics, business, culture, and society.
Sponsoring projects
Click on the image to learn more about the project.
At its closing conference, the Innosuisse flagship project CircuBAT, led by Bern University of Applied Sciences, demonstrated how applied research can deliver innovative solutions for greater sustainability.
The Design Prize Switzerland honors ideas that view design as a cultural, economic, and social force. The winning projects demonstrate how design can reshape processes, challenge resource use, and open up new ways of living and working together.
The International Humanoid Forum 2025 focused on the practical application of humanoid robotics across industries. It was hosted by the Swiss Cobotics Competence Centre S3C and Swiss Smart Factory SSF at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne.
Our Team
Simon Enderli, Head of the Bern Economic Development Agency
Daniel Wüthrich, Vice-President Bern Economic Development Agency, Tourism and Regional Development
Jean-Philippe Devaux, Vice-President berninvest
Isabelle Berthold, Senior Project Manager
Manfred Böbner, Senior Project Manager
Ayşe Cirit, Senior Project Manager