News

As young people’s career aspirations change and more opt for general education pathways, companies in some sectors are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit apprentices. Researchers at the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET presented their trend report on current developments in the Swiss apprenticeship market today. Innovative vocational education and training (VET) projects were also recognised with the Enterprize 2026 awards at the national conference.

Life cycle assessment is used to quantify the environmental impact of products and services and forms an important basis for political decisions. However, the necessary data is always difficult to capture completely. A study by the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI now shows that four established hybrid methods can be reduced to just two: a first step towards open-source software that could enable such analyses even without in-depth mathematical knowledge.

New synthetic drugs pose considerable health risks – consumers cannot assess the consequences of taking them. To combat these designer drugs effectively, the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) is adding further substances to the Narcotics List Ordinance with effect from 10 November 2026. This makes them subject to the Narcotics Act: their manufacture, trade and use are illegal.

Malaria is supposed to be eradicated by 2030 – at least according to the WHO’s goals. But malaria-carrying mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to common insecticides. As part of the Innosuisse project MalCoFil, Empa researchers have now developed a liquid-core fiber that contains novel insecticides and is suitable for the production of long-lasting, insecticide-treated mosquito nets. They received support from two industry partners.

The Swiss Confederation is offering two bonds on a public tender system on 11.11.2026: 0.50%, maturity 27.05.2030 (reopening) and 0.50%, maturity 28.05.2040 (reopening).

Over 2 million people and more than 1 million vehicles cross the Swiss border every day. As it is not possible to monitor all movements with the resources available, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) carries out customs and border checks using a risk-based approach. Risk analysis helps the FOCBS to carry out the limited number of checks in a targeted and efficient manner. Since 2019, it has been centralised within the newly created Risk Analysis and Analytics Directorate (RAA DT) in Bern. This directorate will be disbanded on 1 May 2026, and the individual organisational units will be transferred to other directorates according to their functions. The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) examined whether the risk analysis is effective and supports the FOCBS’s self-imposed objective of becoming a data-driven agency. It concluded that the risk analyses continue to rely too heavily on individual experts' knowledge and not enough on data. The FOCBS should use the forthcoming reorganisation to systematically address shortcomings in impact measurement, organisational structure and role distribution.

Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of Switzerland Global Enterprise’s International Business Day 2026 - Check against delivery.

Switzerland is to provide the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with an additional CHF 4 million in aid for the evacuation and subsequent support of civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. The funds will mainly benefit people forced to leave their homes close to the front line due to the ongoing Russian attacks.

Bern, 9 November 2026 – From 9 November 2026, Swiss SMEs as well as Swiss and foreign transport companies that do not use commercial customs clearance software will be able to create transport declarations for commercial goods traffic free of charge using the “Declar” web application available in the ePortal. To use the application, registration as a commercial partner of the FOCBS with the role “Transport” is required.

Of those holding a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, 38% went on to obtain a tertiary-level qualification in the following 12 years. These results vary greatly according to the field of study in which the federal VET diploma is obtained as well as the characteristics of the enterprise and socioeconomic factors. In particular, the share of those obtaining a tertiary qualification exceeds 50% if at least one parent holds such a qualification themselves, but falls to just 27% if neither parent holds a post-compulsory qualification. These are the main findings of a new publication from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Between 4 and 6 November 2026, the OSCE chairman-in-office, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, visited the OSCE missions in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje. There, he met with the heads of mission and staff to gain an insight into their work on the ground and to reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to the region.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia from 4 to 6 November 2026. The trip focused on bilateral relations, economic perspectives and the promotion of peace, stability and security in the Western Balkans. In his capacity as chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Mr Cassis also visited the OSCE missions in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje.