News

The National Armaments Director, Urs Loher, will meet with the Finnish Armaments Director, Olli Ruutu, for bilateral talks in Helsinki, Finland on 25 November 2025. The exchange will focus on current security and arms policy topics as well as possible cooperations in the armaments area.

Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has taken on new tasks in recent years and is investing in the digitalisation of its systems and processes. To this end, reserves were built up and operating expenditure was increased during periods of rising income up until 2023. Since income has grown less strongly since 2024 than in the preceding years, Swissmedic ended last year with a deficit of 23.4 million Swiss francs and is also budgeting for losses in the next few years. As a result, the reserves are declining faster than planned. To avoid structural deficits, Swissmedic is optimising the use of its resources.

For the entire Swiss economy (private and public sectors together), the gross median monthly wage for a full-time (100%) position was CHF 7024 in 2024. One in ten employees earned a low wage. The wage gap between men and women continues to narrow. Almost one in three employees (32.6%) received an annual bonus, averaging CHF 11 967. The wage pyramid remained relatively stable between 2008 and 2024. These are the initial findings of the Swiss Earnings Structure Survey 2024 conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

It is rare for satellites to return to Earth intact after their mission in space – one example is the European satellite EURECA. Empa researchers have studied the satellite using various non-destructive X-ray methods. These could be used in future in the development of reusable space technologies, as well as in aviation and the automotive industry.

Swiss hospital revenues rose by 3.6% between 2023 and 2024 to CHF 36.60 billion. Expenditure increased at a slower rate of 2.3%, to CHF 36.95 billion. This resulted in losses of CHF 347 million in 2024, an improvement on the CHF 777 million recorded in 2023. These are some of the results published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The likelihood of a managerial position in the workplace increases following graduation and remains stable at 40% four years after graduation. These are the results of the first Survey on Professional Education by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Optional auction date will be maintained.

From optical communications to quantum computing: Photonics is a key technology for the future. To strengthen the connection between research and industry, partners from both sectors, together with researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, have founded the Swiss PIC Technology Transfer Center. The festive inauguration took place on 24 November 2025 at the Park Innovaare site, with the opening of a manufacturing centre for the integration of light-based microchips.

Switzerland has been elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee by the General Assembly of States Parties. The 25th session took place today at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The seat is for the 2025-29 period. The election is part of Switzerland's long-standing commitment to protecting cultural and natural heritage in the face of today's challenges.

In the 3rd quarter 2025, total employment (excluding agriculture) in Switzerland rose by just 0.1% compared with the same quarter of the previous year (seasonally adjusted, –0.1% over previous quarter). Enterprises reported 10.5% fewer vacancies than a year earlier, and difficulties recruiting skilled workers have continued to decline. Employment prospects remained stable, despite enterprises’ muted expectations. These are some of the latest findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The share of rail in freight transport performance fell by 2.6% in 2024 compared with the previous year, resulting in the lowest level in fifteen years. Meanwhile, road freight transport increased by 1.4%. The share of rail within total freight transport thus fell by one percentage point to 37% (road: 63%). These are some of the findings from the Goods Transport Statistics produced by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, has just spent two days in East and Central Africa. Peace efforts to resolve the crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) formed the focal point of his visit to Kinshasa on Friday 21 November. On Thursday 20 November, Mr Cassis inaugurated the new Swiss embassy in Rwanda, a symbol of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries, and took part in the 46th Francophonie Ministerial Conference.