Introducing the FIND Map: Your Gateway to Switzerland’s Financial Innovation ecosystem

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The FIND Map is a dynamic tool connecting FinTechs, Financial Institutions, Academia, policymakers and other stakeholders. The FIND your Academia cluster is now live highlighting Swiss universities, their specialized centers/institutes and key academic professionals in financial innovation.

Adrian BruggmannInnovation Concierge & Economic Analyst

FIND Map

Imagine a dynamic landscape where the brightest minds and groundbreaking ventures in Swiss financial innovation converge. That's precisely what the FIND Map offers – a vibrant visualization connecting key players like FinTech pioneers, established financial institutions, insightful academics, cutting-edge technology providers, forward-thinking regulators and engaged policymakers, all working together to shape the future of finance.

Born from the collaborative spirit of the FIND Workshop – Academia + FinTech + Innosuisse held on 16 October 2024, the FIND Map directly addresses a crucial insight: the need to forge stronger research partnerships in FinTech innovation. Indeed, the recent KOF Study indicates a sharp decline in R&D collaborations in Switzerland and abroad for the latest period. Therefore, FIND aims to bridge the gap, seamlessly connecting the FinTech industry with the rich resources of Academia.

The FIND Map is an interactive online platform designed to visualize key players in our FIND ecosystem and allows a deep dive into core areas driving financial innovation, as featured in our growing FIND Library. Our interactive map is structured among the following vital clusters:

  • Academia: FIND your Academia Now Live! Explore Switzerland's leading universities and their specialized centers.

  • Innovation Hubs: (Coming Soon!) Discover the vibrant spaces fostering innovation.

  • Founders & Start-Ups: Connect with the next generation of financial disruptors.

  • Incumbents/Incubators & Accelerators: Engage with established players driving internal innovation.

  • Associations: Tap into valuable industry networks.

  • Authorities & Affiliated Institutions acting for Switzerland: Understand the regulatory landscape.

  • General Public: Stay informed about the evolution of financial innovation.

FIND Ecosystem

The FIND Map will be expanding to include clusters such as Innovation Hubs (Coming Soon!), Associations or Authorities & Affiliated Institutions acting for Switzerland. FIND prioritizes clusters for which we identify a market need. We may cooperate with private actors in the future to make the FIND Map more holistic aligned with the FIND Mandate.

The FIND Map goes beyond visualizing stakeholders. It allows a deep dive into our FIND Library topics. Our expanding FIND Library provides definitions, articles and the latest publications from the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk on these critical topics. Our library currently covers the following relevant topics for financial innovation:

FIND Topics

FIND your Academia

FIND your Academia is the first cluster on the FIND Map. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the financial innovation expertise within Switzerland's first-in-class academic institutions. This cluster features twelve Swiss universities and nine universities of applied science accredited by swissuniversities that actively contribute to financial innovation (excluding universities of teacher education and Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK).

Our meticulous approach ensures you find the perfect academic partner:

  1. Identifying Leading Centers/Institutes: We pinpointed the most relevant centers of competence (CoC) or institutes within each university through web-based research, showcasing the top-tier academic landscape. Our focus was on public institutions, distinct from dedicated Innovation Hubs.

  2. Connecting to Specific Expertise: To provide a concierge service, we further identified relevant CoCs or institutes aligned with financial innovation and our FIND Library topics. This allows you to target specific areas of academic strength within each university.

  3. Highlighting Key Academic Professionals: We've selected key academic professionals within these CoCs/institutes, highlighting their core competencies to help you find the right expertise.

  4. Concise Overviews and Library Topic Alignment: Each CoC/institute is briefly summarized, mapped for ease of navigation, and linked to a maximum of three relevant topics from our FIND Library.

Furthermore, FIND recognizes the importance of joint-academic institutes such as the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) and the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), which are also included. Our data, gathered in April 2025, will be regularly updated to ensure you have the most current information. We will communicate any major updates. Should you notice any information that requires correction, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stay tuned as we roll out further clusters, including FIND your Innovation Hubs and more! Your patience and curiosity are greatly appreciated as we continue to build this invaluable resource.

Start exploring FIND your Academia today and unlock the power of collaboration in Swiss financial innovation!

FAQ FIND MAP