International cooperation for innovations in the defence sector
In view of rapid technological developments, international cooperation is also gaining increasing relevance in the defence sector. In a complex geopolitical environment simultaneously characterised by exponential technological progress, generally speaking international assessment is that national solo efforts are only partially effective. Technological trends in the defence sector are difficult to understand in isolation and even more difficult to transpose into defence usage. On 27 November 2024, the Federal Council decided that Switzerland may participate in the Hub for EU Defence Innovation of the European Defence Agency. Switzerland has now been an official member since 1 January 2025. This enables it to be involved internationally in the area of innovation, such as the European Defence Innovation Days.
Jens Rehanek, Research and Innovation, and Anela Ziko, Staff, armasuisse Science and Technology
Switzerland has many strengths. These include the dual education system and its active democracy. Another is its innovation strength. Switzerland has been assessed as the most innovative economy in the world for fourteen years in succession. The Global Innovation Index (GII) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) came to this conclusion. Amongst other things, this might be due to its rather smaller size, as this is what effectively and strongly characterises the cooperation between industry, the administration and universities. However, innovation has long ceased to be restricted to only the private sector and has also penetrated the military sector. There are, of course, differences between these two areas.
Private sector innovation is primarily driven by the market and reacts to the demand of the civilian sector. The focus here is on rapid adjustments, competitiveness and access to financing and growth opportunities that promote innovations for the general market. Military innovation, on the other hand, is controlled by security policy requirements and is more focused on long-term technological developments that are necessary for defence applications. There is also enormous potential for technological and financial efficiency gain by creating common standards and synergies between the sectors, to reinforce technological sovereignty and innovation strength.
Increasing innovation activities within the DDPS innovation spaces
Since the introduction of the DDPS innovation spaces in 2020, the competence sector Science and Technology (S+T) of the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse has been working intensively on driving and implementing innovations for the Swiss Armed Forces as well as for the entire DDPS. These spaces can be used to develop new approaches and solutions for the areas of defence and security technologies, to close gaps in capability shortfalls. In particular, geopolitical tensions are driving the demand for new defence solutions.
For innovation expeditions to be successful, armasuisse requires the close cooperation of all stakeholders involved, including consumers, partners from the administration and if necessary industry and academia. Intensive cooperation is crucial from the beginning, to develop appropriate solutions. The common realisation of targets, and particularly the challenge of the consumer are the top priority here, so that a suitable solution can be developed successfully for the concrete requirements. These participating stakeholders usually come from Switzerland, but international partners are becoming more and more important. One of these is the European Defence Agency EDA.
Increased international cooperation
In 2012, Switzerland signed the Framework for Cooperation with the European Defence Agency. It thus gained access to activity areas of the EDA such as research and armament as well as training. Based on this agreement, Switzerland has been participating since then in numerous activities of the EDA, such as the Capability Technology Groups (CapTech). These Groups carry out research and technological activities according to the joint requirements for defence capabilities. Through close cooperation both at national and international level, we can meet the challenges of modern threats effectively and develop innovative solutions.
So that Switzerland can now also obtain access to technological defence innovations, Switzerland, represented by armasuisse Science and Technology, submitted a Letter of Intent at the end of 2023 for Switzerland’s accession to the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI). HEDI is the EDA’s programme for defence innovations and enables the member states to cooperate with each other in this area on a more intensified and simplified basis.
Switzerland can thus extend its research and international cooperation as well as introduce both academic and industrial innovations to support European instruments.
Based on the positive decision by the steering committee of the EDA in March 2024, employees from armasuisse were able to participate, for example, in Summer 2024 for the first time and without commitment as observers at the major REPMUS event. This annual test exercise in the area of unmanned and autonomous systems is organised and hosted by the Portuguese Navy, NATO and the Faculty for Engineering at the University of Porto. The European Defence Agency is also involved in the organisation, and it is carried out with the participation of foreign armed forces, universities and technological companies. Events like this promote joint dialogue, create understanding for intensified international cooperation and help to drive joint developments forward.
Switzerland takes part in the Hub for European Defence Innovation
Since 1 January 2025, Switzerland can also officially take part in the Hub for European Defence Innovation of the EDA. The Federal Council approved the resolution and commitments to such non-binding participation at its meeting of 27 November 2024. For Switzerland, this opens up new, previously inaccessible options for driving forward innovations on an international level in the defence sector. It now receives access to and exchange on a par with the expert network of the EDA regarding information on current technological developments and decisions, as well as equal access to the innovation activities of the Hub for European Defence Innovation. At the same time, Switzerland could also provide infrastructures for testing activities in the area of drones, robotics or autonomous systems, for example. One concrete example is the symposium Scout 25 planned in 2025 on the topic of modern battlefield reconnaissance and countermeasures. This event is organised by armasuisse Science and Technology – with the support of the Land Forces – and is also aimed at representatives of Hub for European Defence Innovation. As a HEDI member, a Swiss delegation took part for the first time in the European Defence Innovation Days (EDID) of the HEDI in May 2025, under the leadership of armasuisse Science and Technology. EDID is a unique platform for industry, defence, the administration and academia to exchange views on the latest innovation activities in the defence sector.
In addition, the Security-relevant Technology and Industry Base STIB can also be strengthened. With participation in the Hub for European Defence Innovation, Swiss companies can thus apply for projects and cooperations as well take part in international competitions and thus also expand their visibility at international level.
Participation in the HEDI also strengthens, not least, exchange and cooperation with EDA countries at technological level and with regard to joint innovations. In addition, Switzerland receives a right to speak out on strategic issues, such as the definition of areas in which innovative solutions should be sought or driven forward.
Switzerland’s accession to the HEDI is thus a further important step for maintaining cross-national cooperation and thus also security in Europe on a long-term basis.
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