Published on 16 August 2023

Security-relevant Technology and Industry Base (STIB)

Infographic Security Relevant Technology and Industrial Base (STIB) — © DDPS

The STIB

A strong technological and industrial base is a component of armaments policy and thus also of security and defence policy in many nations. Switzerland in particular must take this aspect into consideration, because as a neutral nation which is not part of any defence alliance, it does not have any entitlement to military support by other nations. Research institutions and companies that have competencies, capabilities and capacities in the security and armaments industry in Switzerland form the STIB.

The STIB aims to contribute to reducing Switzerland’s dependencies on foreign countries in terms of armaments policy in defined areas. It should be able to ensure the central technological expertise and industrial capabilities for the Armed Forces and other institutions of national security in Switzerland with the required capacities.

Security-relevant economic activities

The security-relevant industrial sectors have been defined on the basis of the General Classification of the Economic Activities (NOGA). These essentially comprise the following business sectors:

• Information technology, information services
• Telecommunications Electronics, electrical engineering , optics
• Mechanical engineering
• Repair and installation of machines and equipment
• Metals, metal products
• Rubber and plastic products
• Chemical products
• Vehicle construction, automotive parts
• Aviation, (space transportation)
• Technical, physical and chemical analysis
• Research and development

Affiliation with such a branch of industry does not guarantee any entitlement to orders, funding or support services by the Swiss Confederation. Not everything which is basically designated as security-relevant is of equal significance for the DDPS. The economic activities have been prioritised differently for this reason. This prioritisation is an aid when using the control instruments to reinforce the STIB.

The Center of Excellence (CoE)

The CoE STIB coordinates the various instruments for steering and strengthening STIB and ensures its strategic orientation.

The CoE consists of employees of the different competence areas of armasuisse. They are the first contact persons in their areas of competence for questions concerning STIB in general or for specific questions related to STIB or the steering instruments.

Steering instruments

• Domestic procurement

  Armaments and civilian materials for the Armed Forces and other institutions of national security of the Swiss Confederation are procured in the areas of security-relevant focus technologies and industrial core skills, if possible within Switzerland.

• Offset business

  In order to support the preservation and development of security-relevant key technologies and industrial core capabilities and capacities in Switzerland, despite procurements abroad, armasuisse binds foreign armament suppliers to an industrial cooperation with the STIB from a procurement volume of 20 million Swiss Francs. This aims to reduce foreign dependency on defence in the area of security-relevant key technologies and to fortify the security of supply of the Swiss Armed Forces.

  • Offset business

• International cooperation

  Cooperation agreements with selected partners should enable Swiss companies to participate in international research projects and procurements as well as to access technologies and markets abroad. Specifically, this means that, for example, when concluding treaties or where armasuisse’s bilateral and multilateral cooperations are concerned, it is checked whether it is basically possible to include the STIB.

• Applied research

  With applied research, scientific and technical competences which are required to support the entire armament procedure can be further developed. To this end, the DDPS awards research contracts and uses the networks with universities, colleges, institutes, industry and the administration at home and abroad. If possible, research contracts will be awarded within Switzerland.

• Innovation promotion

  The intensified cooperation of the DDPS with the federal agencies entrusted with the innovation promotion and policy (such as Innosuisse) aims to create incentives to strengthen the STIB. In addition, new vessels are to be created in order to make better use of the innovative capability of the Swiss economy and to be able to focus on the needs of the Armed Forces.

• Information exchange with industry

  The DDPS maintains regular exchange with industry. This enables the STIB to focus on the future needs of the Armed Forces, to obtain current information on possible participation in international projects of armasuisse and to be informed on forthcoming changes in procurement relevant for them. In return, this exchange offers armasuisse the opportunity to become acquainted with new or previously unknown companies, as well as their competences and skills.

• Export control policy (Lead with SECO)

  An efficient STIB requires competitive framework conditions which enable the companies to also offer internationally competitive products and services.

  • Export Controls and Sanctions

• Documents

  • Infographic STIB

    Infographic STIB

    PDF700.33 kB16 October 2023

  • Security-relevant technologies

    List of Security relevant technologies

    PDF295.20 kB23 August 2023

  • Faktenblatt Capability Technology Areas der EVA

    Faktenblatt Capability Technology Areas der EVA

    PDF151.15 kB12 October 2022

  • Facsheet CoE STIB

    Facsheet CoE STIB

    PDF289.15 kB17 May 2022

• Links

  • How do I become a supplier
  • Swissmem
  • GRPM
  • ASIPRO

Technology and market monitoring

In 2018, self-registration in the STIB database was replaced by automated «Technology and Market Monitoring» (TMM). The data is collected via web crawlers which search publicly available sources such as the commercial register, company websites and social media channels. The data is scanned at regular intervals and updated monthly in TMM.

Thanks to TMM, companies can be found together with their information such as offered products, services and technologies. This enables companies to be visible both as potential (sub)suppliers as well as possible offset partners for procurements.