Highlights A year in review
A busy year of events
Last year, our reps attended a wide variety of events. They were present at Vivatech and Techinnov in Paris, Health Valley Event in the Netherlands, Medica trade Fair in Germany, Photonics and Swiss Alumni in San Francisco, Xponential 2022 in Orlando, US Pharma and Biotech Summit in NYC, Biopharm America and The Medtech Conference in Boston, and many more. Additionally, the investment roadshows organized by our significant partner, the Swiss Business Hub India, covered the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, and offered the opportunity to connect with other professionals. All in all, it was a busy and productive year for our reps, as they worked hard to represent Western Switzerland and connect with key players.
A successful (maskless) training week
GGBa Training Week 2022 took place from August 21-27 in Geneva and continued to provide a valuable platform for the exchange of updates, ideas, and best practices among all stakeholders involved in promoting Western Switzerland as a premier business destination. GGBa Night, which took place during the training week at Geneva Airport’s Le Chef restaurant was also successful. This year’s event was larger and more comprehensive, with a diverse range of visits, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help attendees deepen their knowledge and skills in a variety of areas related to business development and promotion.
Webinars
In February, GGBa organized, along with Jetro, the webinar “Innovation and digital health in Western Switzerland”, to showcase the digital health ecosystem in Switzerland. In April, GGBa organized a webinar ‘Looking for a sustainable option to attract, grow and retain talent? The example of Switzerland’. Hosted by Marjorie Hamelin, Director USA, GGBa, and featuring guest speakers Monica Cohen-Dumani (Partner, International Tax Services Lead EMEA, PwC), Jean-Baptiste (JB) Olagne (Client Engagement Director, Michael Page Group), and Derek Hydon (President, MaCher USA), this webinar offered busy entrepreneurs some resources to help them learn more about their options for a successful hiring process. In November for the second time in the year, GGBa and Jetro organized the webinar entitled “Swiss Open Innovation Online Seminar: Hydrogen in Western Switzerland” to present the hydrogen sector in Switzerland and the business opportunities it represents for Japanese companies interested in Swiss Innovation.
New team members
In 2022, GGBa welcomed new team members: Malcolm Wade, as head of communications following Elisa Nessi’s departure in June after 7 years of dedicated service to the agency. In addition, the communications team grew with the arrival of new 6-month rolling interns as part of the department’s strategy to continually refresh, create and strengthen communication efforts. GGBa also welcomed Thiago Cruz Silveira as Director for the Brazilian market, taking over from Hamilton Belizario who retired after 11 years as Director Brazil. Thiago is a highly skilled professional with a wealth of experience in business development and market expansion.
Regular news updates & articles
GGBa keeps its network informed about the latest investments, events, and economic developments in Western Switzerland through articles and newsletters. Last year, over 200 news items were published on GGBa’s website, the news ticker of Switzerland Global Enterprise, and various social media platforms. In addition to these news articles, GGBa published 11 in-depth articles, and 2 themed minisites on investinswitzerland.com
New « What Is » video series
The new “What Is” video series is a showcase of key players from various industries in Western Switzerland. These institutions have made a significant impact on the global reputation and influence of the region. By highlighting their respective mission, the “What Is” series aims to give recognition to the innovative institutions and organizations that contribute to the global success of Western Switzerland and the vital role they play in shaping the region’s reputation and influence.
New “Why Switzerland” blog
GGBa has recently launched a new blog called “Why Switzerland” that explores the political, economic, and social dynamics of the country. These articles provide insight into the inner workings of Switzerland and shed light on the various factors that contribute to its success and stability. Each article is accompanied by an infographic that summarizes the key elements of the article, making it easy for readers to understand and retain the information. The “Why Switzerland” blog is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the country and its unique character.