A bank like Switzerland

Education is an important pillar of the Swiss economy and creates opportunities. That is why we are committed to strengthening vocational training and why we maintain partnerships with various universities and universities of applied sciences.

SwissSkills has been strengthening the image of vocational training since 1953. As main partner of the foundation and one of the largest training companies in Switzerland, we are committed to helping young people to develop their professional potential.

In association with ETH Zurich, we initiate various measures to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, thereby strengthening progress in the country. Our collaboration fosters national dialog between experts and launches initiatives to get children, young people and their parents or guardians interested in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

In association with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), we promote initiatives to make STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) more accessible to children. We also support numerous research projects that aim to strengthen Switzerland’s innovative strength and have an impact beyond the country’s borders.

The partnership with the University of St. Gallen focuses on promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and young talent. Our commitment is intended to strengthen the economy and to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs and managers to embrace innovative thinking and research.

The UBS Center for Economics in Society is affiliated with the Institute of Economics at the University of Zurich. This cooperative partnership aims to strengthen the Department of Economics’ leading position in Europe. In addition, the UBS Center builds a bridge between science, politics and the general public, and ensures the transfer of knowledge.

UBS has been committed to sport for decades – in particular as main partner of the Swiss Athletics association and the Swiss Football Association (SFV ASF) for all the men’s and women’s teams. A large part of our financial commitment goes toward promoting young talent. This allows us to establish the best possible conditions for the long-term success of talented young athletes. You can see what else we are actively involved in here.

As a main partner of the Swiss Football Association, we have been committed to Swiss football since 1993. Half of our financial commitment goes toward promoting young talent to lay the foundations for future success by supporting up-and-coming players and creating the best possible conditions for positive results in the long term. In line with UBS’s efforts to support athletes of all genders equally, the men’s and women’s teams receive the same bonuses.

The UBS Football Cup is the official Swiss school football championship organized by the Swiss Football Association (SFV ASF). Every year, UBS accompanies tens of thousands of girls and boys as they compete for the championship title. All the teams are happy, whoever wins – the focus is always on participation, friendships and fun.

The UBS Kids Cup inspires over 170,000 participants between the ages of seven and fifteen every year. After participating in competitions ranging from local qualifiers to cantonal finals, the best reach the grand final at Zurich’s Letzigrund stadium, where they can spend a day feeling like big athletics stars. Since 2011, we have been the name sponsor and supporter of the largest youth project in Swiss sport – to teach children and young people to enjoy exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Weltklasse Zürich delivers what its name promises: the world’s best athletes and the top stars of national athletics compete against each other, achieving top sporting performances and offering the audience a first-class show. As main partner of Weltklasse Zürich, we help generate great enthusiasm among fans every year.

Athletissima brings the best track and field athletes in the world to Lausanne, Switzerland. As main partner, we are delighted to see how this top-class sporting event attracts an enthusiastic audience to French-speaking Switzerland from all over the world each year.

In Switzerland, the period between Christmas and New Year has been reserved for ice hockey for decades. As the oldest team tournament in the world, the Spengler Cup Davos guarantees a unique spectacle that thrills fans, families and players alike. As a partner, UBS shares the public’s fascination for world-class ice hockey. It enhances the initiative with an attractive family offer in the stadium’s own UBS Family Sector and by promoting enthusiasm for sport among children

Successful entrepreneurship leads to more innovation and is a growth driver for the Swiss economy. Our involvement with local educational institutions (universities, higher education institutions and universities of applied sciences) strengthens dialog between research and business – with the aim of establishing Switzerland even more firmly as a top global location for innovation. Here is an overview of our partnerships.

As a founding partner of the Swiss Economic Forum (SEF), we work with the SEF to assist companies in their efforts to achieve sustainable growth. We also offer active support to young companies. In order to strengthen cross-industry dialog, more than 1,000 leaders from business, politics and science gather every year at the leading Swiss business conference initiated by the SEF.

Innovation is crucial to Switzerland’s prosperity. Enthusiasm for science and entrepreneurship play a key role. This is precisely where the strategic partnership with ETH Zurich comes in. Together, we are enhancing the sustainable development of entrepreneurship and Switzerland’s innovative strength. We are also supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Thanks to our strategic partnership with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), we bring together research, established companies and start-ups. Cooperation between a wide range of sectors enables the creation of innovative solutions that have a positive impact on society and the environment. As part of this partnership, we are also launching initiatives that connect young entrepreneurs with potential investors.

“We inspire SMEs.” True to this motto, the Swiss Venture Club (SVC) has been presenting successful companies to the public for over 20 years. UBS supports the initiative and encourages companies in their quest for long-term growth. We engage in dialog with SMEs to find appropriate solutions to meet their individual needs.

The independent non-profit organization Young Enterprise Switzerland (YES) develops practice-oriented business and opinion educational programs for students. The aim is to give the next generation a better understanding of the interplay between the economy, society and the environment. Around 9,800 children and young people in over 400 schools from primary to upper secondary level learn to recognize economic relationships and act in an entrepreneurial manner every year.

Every year, the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award recognizes the most promising Swiss start-ups and scale-ups. The TOP 100 nomination gives young companies the visibility they deserve and helps them to find investors – both nationally and internationally. This commitment underlines UBS’s commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Switzerland.

As a supporter of the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation, we are committed to ensuring that research-intensive and technological innovations have the right financial basis. The initiative aims to sustainably improve the framework conditions for start-ups and scale-ups in the deep tech sector in order to strengthen Switzerland’s competitiveness in the long term.

Film festivals, performing arts or visual arts – Switzerland has a diverse creative landscape. We provide access to numerous exhibitions and events and invest in the promotion of culture in Switzerland with a variety of long-term commitments. You can find all our partnerships here.

Art is of outstanding importance for our society. It creates places for reflection on social developments and is a source of inspiration for new ideas. We are especially pleased to have supported Art Basel as a partner since 1994 and to have witnessed its impressive development into the leading world fair of the international art market.

The Locarno Film Festival is one of the most renowned film festivals in Europe. It attracts thousands of film enthusiasts to the screens every summer with its unique open-air flair. We have been sharing our passion for cinema as main partner since 1981. Visitors to the Piazza Grande decide which film will be awarded the “Prix du Public UBS” by casting their votes for the UBS audience award.

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) rapidly established itself as the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world and just as quickly made a name for itself internationally. As a partner, we not only seek to awaken the next generation’s passion for cinema with ZFF for Kids but also make an important contribution to the critical engagement of children and young people with film and media.

The Lucerne Festival is one of the highest profile international festivals for classical music. UBS has been a partner of the popular summer event for many years. As part of this long-standing commitment, it supports the concerts given by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the “Lakeside Symphony” public viewing of the opening concert. We also encourage highly talented musicians by awarding two prizes to young musicians.

Our aim is to connect people and support the common good in Switzerland. We have joined forces with partners and founded UBS Helpetica, a central platform for volunteer work, to contribute to a fairer society, a healthier environment and a flourishing economy. You will find an overview of our commitments here.

UBS Helpetica is a central platform for volunteer work in Switzerland. Doing good feels good – charitable organizations and people come together time and again in line with this motto. By continuously expanding our volunteer network, we are fulfilling our social responsibility and making a meaningful and sustainable contribution to the future of Switzerland.

Co-initiated by the Swiss State Secretariat for International Finance, the Point Zero Forum is designed for central bankers, regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, technology experts and investors from around the world. Participants discuss the latest developments in financial technology and the future of finance. UBS supports and pursues the common goal of advancing the global financial ecosystem.

Building Bridges is a joint initiative by the Swiss authorities, the financial industry, the United Nations and other international partners. The aim is to build a bridge to a global economic model that is both sustainable and ecologically responsible.

The Bluelion Tech for Impact Awards are aimed at European entrepreneurs whose technologies contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs). UBS is a partner and jury member of the competition, which attracts around 300 applicants every year. The start-up incubator offers young companies the ideal opportunity to strengthen their international presence, expand their reputation and enhance their network with impact investors at an early stage.