About us - Organisation and purpose
Avenir Suisse was founded in 1999 by 14 internationally operating Swiss companies. As an independent think tank designed after the Anglo-Saxon model Avenir Suisse is involved in promoting the social and economic development of Switzerland. Avenir Suisse defines relevant issues at an early point in time and shows where action is required. The think tank adds new impulses to the discourse and offers possible solutions.
In order to carry out this task Avenir Suisse cooperates with scientific institutes inside and outside Switzerland, employs experts to carry out specific investigations and organises conferences and debates on various topics. By communicating the scientific results in clear cut terms to a larger public Avenir Suisse enhances the circulation of relevant facts and stimulates the public discourse.
On an international level Switzerland still finds itself in a good position. However, a substantial backlog demand nevertheless exists concerning a number of relevant problems. The economic «revitalisation» of Switzerland, promoted in the 1990s by businessmen and economists alike, remains an ongoing task. This task must be continued also within a changing environment. Here Avenir Suisse wants to contribute to the formation of new ideas concerning economics, politics and the society at large.
In contrast to for instance «economiesuisse», the Swiss Business Federation, the think tank Avenir Suisse does not participate in the lobbying process for new laws or election campaigns. Its focus is on new ideas and the agenda setting for the future. By communicating its scientific findings in understandable terms to the society at large Avenir Suisse closes the gap between science, business and politics.
Position
Avenir Suisse follows a liberal agenda and represents a market oriented position. The think tank works on the premise that as a rule market forces must be given as much space as possible to develop. Thus the think tank postulates that it can not be in the first place the task of the state to solve the problems on the agenda.
Avenir Suisse is independent in its work. The sponsoring companies have fixed their financial contributions to the think tank ahead, and the scientific counsel watches over the independence of the output and guarantees the quality of the products. Avenir Suisse does not oppose or back any political party in Switzerland, but is open towards all forces that constructively work on the issues of the future.
Organisation
The board is made up of 20-25 representatives of economy, science and public life. As the highest organ of Avenir Suisse the board elects the president and the members of the board, the chairpersons and members of all commissions and the director of Avenir Suisse. Furthermore it approves the budget as well as the annual report and the annual accounts.
The steering committee defines the broad thematic focus of the institution's activities and oversees the project portfolio. It is comprised of the president of the board, the chairpersons of the nominating committee, the finance and the program commission as well as the president of the foundation board.
The nominating committee selects suitable personalities for the board and the commissions and monitors their periods of office. The finance commission controls the budget and the accounts for the attention of the board. The program commission counsels the director and his team on the thematic focus of the activities and monitors and accompanies the project portfolio and its scientific quality.
The director carries the operative responsibility. He defines within the broad areas of interest the specific projects and coordinates the communication of the results to the public. Furthermore the director represents Avenir Suisse towards the public and the media, the political community, the business community, the university community and towards potential sponsors.
The operative team of Avenir Suisse is made up of academic project managers from the fields of economics, sociology and political science, supported by communication experts.
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