09 Mar 2026
The School of Management Fribourg, one of the main sponsors of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026, presents key findings related to Switzerland from the global report From Uncertainty to Opportunity. These findings are presented by Maya Dougoud, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences at the School of Management Fribourg (co-author of the report, member of GEM GERA and Team Leader of GEM Switzerland).
Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty and pressure on household incomes, Switzerland continues to demonstrate the strength of its entrepreneurial ecosystem while also revealing structural signals that warrant strategic attention.
Switzerland remains among Europe’s frontrunners
Ranked among the world’s high-income economies, Switzerland is positioned among the top two European countries for access to entrepreneurial finance and ranks third in Europe for entrepreneurial sustainability. These results confirm the strength of Switzerland’s framework conditions: institutional stability, a high-performing financial system, access to capital, strong integration of ESG criteria and a well-established academic ecosystem. While the report highlights that only 16 of the 53 countries analysed offer an entrepreneurial environment considered ‘adequate or better’ by experts, Switzerland is among the economies providing conditions that are particularly favourable. Its sustainability performance is especially noteworthy, with 84% of entrepreneurs reporting that they incorporate social or environmental considerations into their strategic decisions. Switzerland stands out in this regard by strongly embedding climate and societal objectives within its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Entrepreneurial momentum: a solid foundation, sustainability under pressure
However, the report highlights a structural tension observed in the majority of economies, which is that early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) significantly exceeds the rate of established business ownership (EBO). Switzerland is no exception to this trend. While business creation remains robust among high-income economies, the gap between new ventures and established businesses reveals challenges related to long-term viability, growth and succession. This situation is unfolding in a context where, globally, 32 out of 48 economies recorded more declines than increases in household incomes in 2025, a sign that even the most advanced economies are feeling the effects of geopolitical and economic pressures. For Switzerland, this translates into tangible challenges, such as SME succession, start-up consolidation, financing growth phases and the ability to adapt rapidly to international shocks.
Artificial intelligence: a comparative advantage requiring strategic vigilance
The GEM 2025/2026 report highlights that the adoption of AI remains uneven worldwide. In several European economies, fewer than one third of new entrepreneurs think that AI will become a central factor in their business activities. Switzerland benefits from a comparative advantage thanks to its scientific excellence, technology clusters and innovation ecosystem. However, the report emphasises that the main global barriers remain access to technology funding and specialised skills. The question is therefore no longer whether AI will transform the economy, but how quickly SMEs will be able to integrate it.
Greater international visibility
The publication of the report received extensive coverage, notably from Forbes, which highlighted that in many countries, entrepreneurship is becoming a direct response to economic uncertainty. At the launch of the international report in Monterrey, Mexico, Switzerland was strongly represented despite a challenging context, demonstrating its continued commitment to global dialogue pertaining to innovation and economic resilience.
A pivotal moment for Switzerland
The 2025/2026 data confirms that Switzerland remains one of Europe’s strongest entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly in terms of financing and sustainability. However, they also show that a strong economy is not an economy immune to disruption. The gap between start-ups and established businesses, international pressures and the challenges associated with digital transformation require a coherent strategic vision. For the School of Management Fribourg, these findings call for simultaneous efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship education, support business succession, improve access to growth capital and promote the responsible integration of artificial intelligence. In a world where uncertainty is becoming structural, entrepreneurship is no longer a peripheral indicator of dynamism; it is a central driver of competitiveness, sustainability and economic sovereignty.
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)