What we can learn from Switzerland in terms of digitalization and innovation

80% of all innovation projects fail. Yet over 80% could succeed—by following three simple principles inspired by Switzerland, the world champion of innovation.

Contents

(5min read)

• Three principles from Tolksdorf.digital for successful innovation and digitalization

• Switzerland as a role model

• The “Swiss method” applied to innovation and IT projects in SMEs, medium-sized companies, and family businesses

• Conclusion: Learning from Switzerland

• External evidence & background

Three principles from Tolksdorf.digital for successful Innovation and Digitalization

1. High-quality workmanship with high standards

Engineering unfolds its full potential when, as in Switzerland, it is combined with quality workmanship, clear values, and high standards.

What makes the difference in practice? Engineering with artificial intelligence used in quality-driven processes​ – for greater speed and effectiveness in gaining insights and finding solutions that really work for people.

2. Communication as the Key

Communication is a key part of digitalization:

• Sharing Information
• Building relationships
• Clarifying responsibilities

What Paul Watzlawick and Friedemann von Thun described in theory is being put into practice in Switzerland: innovation is more successful through structured participation, transparent processes, and genuine dialogue.

We therefore consciously focus on​ exchange with clarity, transparency, and equality in the experience of innovation.

3. Readyness for digitalization and innovation at any time, in any situation

Both must be possible even if they are not on the agenda or if you would rather be doing something else at that moment.

We all know this: “Now is not the right moment.” But innovation does not require the perfect moment—rather, it requires the willingness to start and persevere, even during difficult phases.

Switzerland as a role model

Switzerland has been living by these principles for decades. Not only is it stable and economically very successful, but it has also been considered the world champion of innovation for years.

• Values & Quality: Swiss products enjoy worldwide trust.
• Communication & Direct Democracy: From the outside, the voting process appears slow. In reality, the overall process is very fast and effective—because the results are supported by the majority and any objections or excuses have been resolved before implementation.
• Innovation ready to go at any time: Flexibility, team spirit, and practicality enable Switzerland to act at any time—even without perfect conditions.

The Results:

• The Swiss are among the happiest people in the world.
• The country is stable and highly innovative at the same time.
• Swiss team spirit is a factor for success that can be felt in business, society, and innovation.

The “Swiss method” applied to innovation and IT projects in SMEs, medium-sized companies, and family businesses

Federalism (cantons) and referendums → Participation in development

Diversity and decentralization make the country flexible and capable of action, and ensure widely accepted solutions at the local level through coordination. In projects, this means involving stakeholders and users at an early stage and creating acceptance.

“Takeing time to decide, implement quickly” → Quick check + consensus, then develop rapidly

Careful preparation before launch, speed in implementation: a quick check with consensus is all it takes, then things move forward quickly.

Conclusion: Learning from Switzerland

Digitalization and innovation require more than just technology. They require values backed by quality workmanship, clear communication, and the ability to get started at any time. With these three principles—learned from Switzerland, the world champion of innovation—over 80% of projects are successful.

External references & background information

1. Switzerland, world champion of innovation

• Switzerland once again ranks first among 133 economies surveyed in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024. wipo.int
• It has maintained this leading position for over a decade – 2024 was the 14th consecutive year. S-GE+2ige.ch+2
• The European Innovation Scoreboard also ranks Switzerland as an “innovation leader”; its performance is well above the EU average. European Commission

2. Studies on the failure of Innovation Projects

High figures regarding the failure of innovation or product development projects are circulating in literature and practice. 

• For example, it is reported that 95% of new products fail—an indication of how vastly expectations and implementation can diverge. MIT Professional Education
• Organizations such as OECD/OPSI also warn in their analyses that many innovation labs and projects fail due to methodological, organizational, or communication pitfalls. Observatory of Public Sector Innovation

Direct democracy in Switzerland

• Switzerland is often considered the “gold standard” of direct democracy, as citizens have extensive participation rights at the national, cantonal, and municipal levels. democracy.community+1

3. Watzlawick & Friedemann von Thun in communication theory

Both are central figures in modern communication theory.

• Watzlawick's axioms of communication are regularly presented and discussed in teaching modules on communication. Cloudinary
• The same applies to Friedemann von Thun's model: often referred to as the “communication square” or “four-ears model” in courses and curricula on psychology and communication. Cloudinary

4. Experience Innovation (TM) by Tolksdorf.digital

Experience Innovation tackles the unpredictability of the world with the motivating guiding principle of “if you like it, do it.” This enables teams to develop common goals, achieve them with a high degree of probability, and discover unexpected, often positive results along the way.

Learn more at Experience Innovation -> 7C-CI/CD process model for effective projects and processes.