Digital and New Tech Policy Section

During the transitional phase, the new section will operate under the name Digital and New Tech Policy Section within the Prosperity and Sustainability Division.

This structural development reaffirms Switzerland's commitment to shaping the digital transformation in a responsible and innovative manner. Integrating digital policy expertise into a broader thematic structure makes it possible to exploit synergies more effectively and strengthen the cross-cutting nature of digitalisation and new technologies in international cooperation. 

The Digital and New Tech Policy Section is guided by the strategic priorities of the FDFA's Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27, in particular the thematic priority of democracy and governance, with a focus on new technologies and digital governance (objective 27).

• The section works on initiatives to promote open, inclusive and human rights-compliant digital governance at the international level and supports efforts to uphold democratic values in the digital space. A particular emphasis is placed on strengthening International Geneva both as a hub for digital governance and in the area of cyber resilience (digital host state). 
• In the area of regulation of new technologies, in particular AI, the section is involved in processes to develop responsible international regulations that facilitate innovation while ensuring ethical standards.
• Regarding digital sovereignty, the section is also involved in efforts to create trustworthy transnational data spaces based on the principle of digital self-determination.
• In the area of cybersecurity and international cooperation, the section coordinates its activities with the strategic objectives of the National Cyberstrategy and works on measures to strengthen digital International Geneva (M15), to develop international rules in cyberspace (M16) and to promote bilateral cooperation with strategic partners and international competence centres (M17).