Creation of a federal technology department.

The Swiss Confederation needs a federal technology department. Today, central tasks such as computer science, cybersecurity, information, data, and AI are spread across several departments—without clear responsibility. This weakens the strategic steering and the state's capacity to act. A technology department consolidates competencies, reduces redundancies, and strengthens security, sovereignty, and competitiveness in the digital age.

Problem

• Technology responsibility is fragmented within the federal government: computer …: Technology responsibility is fragmented within the federal government: computer science, data, information, AI, and cybersecurity are housed in different departments. This leads to unclear responsibil…
• Switzerland is lagging technologically. While other countries are deliberately i…: Switzerland is lagging technologically. While other countries are deliberately investing in AI and digital infrastructure, there is a lack of clear direction here, which increases dependence on foreig…
• Without clear responsibility, Switzerland remains reactive rather than shaping k…: Without clear responsibility, Switzerland remains reactive rather than shaping key technologies such as AI – with risks to competitiveness and digital sovereignty.
• Without technology competence at the leadership level, the state lacks the abili…: Without technology competence at the leadership level, the state lacks the ability to strategically manage digital risks and opportunities. A pattern that, in the private sector, has been proven to le…
• The federal government is heavily dependent on foreign providers for critical di…: The federal government is heavily dependent on foreign providers for critical digital infrastructure. Without in-house development competence, the ability to reduce dependencies and develop Switzerlan…

Solution

• The initiative establishes a federal technology department that consolidates com…: The initiative establishes a federal technology department that consolidates computer science, data, information, cybersecurity, and AI. This falls within the competence area of the Federal Council an…
• Anchor technology competence in the Federal Council: A member of the Federal Cou…: Anchor technology competence in the Federal Council: A member of the Federal Council explicitly takes responsibility for digitalization, AI, and cybersecurity—analogous to the CTO in successful compan…
• A central federal agency with overarching competencies approaches processes from…: A central federal agency with overarching competencies approaches processes from the ground up digitally. With its own software development and agile working methods, it digitizes the federal administ…
• Leadership positions in the federal administration require proven digital core c…: Leadership positions in the federal administration require proven digital core competencies. Only those who understand digital processes can take responsibility for and shape them.
• The federal government is creating a shared data exchange infrastructure modeled…: The federal government is creating a shared data exchange infrastructure modeled after Estonia’s X‑Road. All federal agencies are required to collect data once and share it via standardized interfaces…