When implementation of artificial intelligence rhymes with Switzerland.
For a long time considered a pillar of stability in Europe, Switzerland has also benefited from a reputation as a hearth of innovation. She knew how to capitalize on this aura, notably thanks to her precision watchmaking, her industrial excellence as well as by the quality of her pharmaceutical industry. Switzerland is today a discreet but influence in the field of technology and in particular in the implementation and use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Innovation is part of the DNA of Switzerland and its companies which, methodically, all year after year, of important sums in research and development (R&D). On average, nearly CHF 25 billion are invested each year including approximately 17 billion from private companies, which represents the equivalent of more than 3% of GDP. If the country is not considered a “Silicon Valley”, several of its companies are important players in innovation. ABB, Vat Group and Belimo perfectly illustrate the way AI is now found at the heart of innovation investments in Swiss companies, consolidating their role in the value chain of this rupture technology.
Portrait of a Swiss Swiss Technological Turn
ABB, the industrial giant, has been innovating for over 140 years, becoming the world leader in automation, robotic systems and electrification. The company incorporates AI into its solutions to optimize predictive maintenance, energy management and autonomy of industrial systems. Its ABB Ability platform is the spearhead: by combining AI and Cloud, it allows you to analyze in real time massive volumes of industrial data in order to anticipate breakdowns, reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency. Another example, data centers (data centers), essential at AI, represent 15% of new orders in the Electrification Division in 2024, or approximately CHF 2 billion. The AI here becomes a concrete lever for productivity, growth and profitability. But this innovation obviously requires significant investments. ABB has increased its R&D expenses by 40% since 2020, which reaching 4.5% of sales or CHF 1.2 billion in 2024.
Vat Group, a strategic link in the manufacture of semiconductors, is less known to the general public but just as essential. Vat Group is the world leader in vacuum valves used in the manufacture of semiconductors. This very technical area, requires precision and purity of the environment. AI is used here to simulate and speed up the development cycles of new vacuum solutions. Having 76% of market share in its segment, Vat Group is a key player in the semiconductor value chain, themselves essential to AI. The company devotes a significant part of its turnover to R&D (6% of sales or 12% of employees), which allows it to remain at the forefront of innovation.
Belimo, a key player for the energy efficiency of data centers, is specialist in servomotors, valves and sensors for the management of air and water flows in buildings, Belimo embodies the emergence of smart buildings. The company has integrated AI into its connected sensors to automatically improve thermal and energy comfort. Thanks to its predictive models, Belimo allows a significant reduction in energy consumption. 12% of its turnover now comes from data centers, a strategic segment with the explosion of cooling needs linked to the new IA chips. Belimo has an average annual growth of 10% of its turnover over 20 years and invests almost 8% of its R&D sales, proof of a robust and sustainable technological strategy.
An AI at the service of discreet but essential Swiss innovation.
ABB, Vat Group and Belimo perfectly illustrate a “Swiss” innovation model: pragmatic, industrial and turned towards efficiency and performance. These companies thus anchor AI in concrete applications, which transform both industry, energy, buildings and the global digital economy. The implementation of AI becomes essential for innovation, which in turn makes it possible to obtain increasingly productive R&D reinvestments. Switzerland, faithful to its precision heritage, gradually transforms this historic capital into a long -term competitive advantage.
