Switzerland’s neutrality won’t protect itself. Will innovation?
At this year’s , General Sir Richard Barrons challenged Switzerland’s startup ecosystem to think beyond business as usual.
He reminded us that resilience is not guaranteed by neutrality alone: it’s built through innovation, collaboration, and a culture where every citizen, entrepreneur, and leader takes responsibility for the country’s future.
“Switzerland is a prosperous, democratic, and safe place but others may be jealous of it and want to harm it. Nobody else will protect your security, your prosperity, your values. You must do it yourselves.” — General Sir Richard Barrons
His message is a wake-up call: our startups are not just economic players, they are key to protecting Switzerland’s sovereignty and independence. Innovation is no longer optional; it’s a matter of strategic resilience.
General Barrons and Frank Floessel (Head of Entrepreneurship at ETH Zurich) discuss Switzerland’s neutrality and resilience, and the vital role of innovation in maintaining them. This conversation happened spontaneously during the startup days, with no script and no pre-alignments.
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