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Q&A with Marcus Rothen, Head of the Economic, Finance, and Science & Innovation Department at the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK and BSCC UK Committee Member
BSCC: In what ways can The British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce UK Chapter provide support to Swiss and British businesses operating in the UK?
MR: I highly appreciate the collaboration and exchange with the BSCC and especially with my fellow UK Chapter colleagues in London. These exchanges – and the information shared – are invaluable for companies looking at the UK market, learning from their peers, helping them make informed decisions and adapting to regulatory changes. By providing a platform for exchanging such knowledge, The BSCC can also contribute to the broader business community, strengthening bilateral ties and enabling companies to thrive in a competitive environment. Often we forget, how much voluntary work happens behind the scenes in organisations like BSCC.
For our Swiss Business Hub UK (SBH UK), an important pillar of the Economic Department at the Embassy, this wealth of expertise is useful when working with Swiss SMEs or larger players seeking to expand into the UK. Especially with connecting businesses to legal advisors, tax consultants or market entry experts.
BSCC: Are there any UK-Swiss bilateral projects for 2025 that our members should be aware of and potentially involved in?
MR: In 2025, several exciting UK-Swiss bilateral projects are on the horizon, offering numerous opportunities for BSCC members to get involved. Some events planned include:
- the annual Soirée Suisse event, a prestigious gathering celebrating Swiss-UK relations;
- a Financial Innovation Forum that will focus on the latest developments and trends in fintech and financial services;
- a Security Symposium covering pressing topics in cybersecurity and space technology; and
- the traditional Christmas reception at the end of each year, organized by the SBH UK and BSCC.
Beyond these physical events, BSCC members are encouraged to join the SBH UK and Switzerland Global Enterprise’s industry webinars held throughout the year, which offer deep dives into sector-specific topics and international market insights. These projects present an ideal platform for BSCC members to stay informed, contribute to important bilateral discussions and explore new avenues for growth and partnership.
BSCC: What emerging trends in finance, science and technology should our members pay attention to in order to maintain their competitiveness in both markets?
MR: Financial and Professional Services remain high on the agenda of the BSCC, followed by Technology, Entrepreneurship and Life Sciences / Pharma. I can confirm this trend from a Swiss Embassy perspective as well. It is therefore not by chance that we are focusing on these areas with a Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Innovation signed in 2022, the Berne Financial Services Agreement (BFSA) signed in 2023 and the ongoing modernization of our existing Trade Agreement. The latter is the next decisive puzzle piece to complete the picture with important new chapters on services (including financial and professional services), digital trade and mobility. Not forgetting intellectual property rights that are important for both our life science industries and innovation in general.
I think it is wise that the BSCC wants to include more technology and innovation in its future event planning. The BSCC’s promising New Year Reception in January 2025 with Google as partner and both Ambassadors participating is a great starting point. Business is experiencing a revolution that will impact all aspects of operations from market intelligence to operations to cybersecurity. This is driven by AI models and the availability of data. In the short term, innovative software products and services based on conventional computing coming onto the market can unlock AI-based improvements. But over the next decade, quantum technologies will literally introduce a ‘quantum leap’ in computing power and cryptography for which businesses will need to prepare.
BSCC: Many members are eagerly awaiting the ratification process of the Berne Financial Services Agreement Could you explain the timelines and next steps?
MR: The Berne Financial Services Agreement (BFSA) requires approval by the parliaments of both countries before it can enter into force. At its meeting on 4 September 2024, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a dispatch on the approval of the BFSA. It will now follow the ordinary parliamentary procedure requiring the approval of both parliamentary chambers in Switzerland. As mentioned in a joint statement published in October, both finance ministries updated each other on the progress of their respective domestic implementation procedures, noting that the shared ambition is to complete the ratification of the BFSA as soon as possible and by the end of 2025 at the latest, with the Agreement entering into force shortly thereafter.
