News

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed an AI that could open up a new, cost-effective approach to identifying genetic perturbation patterns in cell images – potentially enabling the development of new drugs.

Switzerland hosted the second edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) between 13 and 14 May. The conference focused on the secure use of new digital technologies in development cooperation work, especially in the Global South. International Geneva served as a platform to bring together stakeholders from the cybersecurity and digital development sectors. The GC3B was also a key event of the inaugural Geneva Cyber Week.

On 12 May 2025 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended annex 1 of the ordinance on measures against Myanmar. The entries concerning 14 individuals have been modified. The measures come into force on 14 May 2025.

On 13 May, Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), will attend the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial conference in Berlin. Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will also attend. The conference will focus on issues in security policy and international cooperation on future peacekeeping activities. On the fringes of the conference, Mr Pfister will meet with German defence minister Boris Pistorius and Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto.

President Karin Keller-Sutter will represent Switzerland at the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Sunday, 18 May. She has already sent a letter of congratulations to the new head of the Catholic Church on behalf of the Federal Council.

Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly advantageous properties.

In 2024, 0.9% of the population said that they had performed digital platform services in the last 12 months. This is where the person performing a service is connected to a client via an internet platform. By type of activity, 0.2% of the population had undertaken digital platform employment in the narrower sense (taxi services, food delivery services, programming, etc.), 0.4% had rented out accommodation via an internet platform and 0.2% had sold goods that they intentionally collected, bought or produced for sale on an internet platform. These are the findings of the Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS) conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

In 2024, there were 47 075 farms in Switzerland, 1.3% fewer than the previous year. Organic farming also lost its momentum, with the number of organic farms ceasing to grow for the first time since 2010. Trends in livestock numbers varied. The number of dairy cows and pigs fell, while poultry numbers remained stable. These results are taken from the Farm Structure Survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The Swiss Confederation is offering a bond on a public tender system on 14.05.2025: 0.50%, maturity 28.05.2040 (new bond).

On 16 May, in the Albanian capital Tirana, President of the Swiss Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter will represent Switzerland at the sixth summit of the European Political Community. Heads of state and government from around 45 countries across the continent are expected to attend, along with representatives of EU institutions and other European organisations.

Mr Cassis received Liechtenstein's new deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, environment and culture, Sabine Monauni, for an official inaugural visit in Bern on Monday. Talks focused on the two countries' traditionally close bilateral relations, European policy, regional cooperation under the EU Strategy for the Alpine region (EUSALP), international issues and the current geopolitical context. The two ministers also signed a revised agreement on environmental levies.

At World Expo 2025 in Osaka (Japan), the Federal Institute of Metrology METAS and the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss will present the latest advances in pollen information in collaboration with Swisens AG. The exhibition stand in the Swiss pavilion will present the latest developments as well as the real-time pollen load measured at the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) in Tsukuba.