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In March representatives from different industries announced the founding of the Swiss Metaverse Association with the aim of establishing Switzerland as a global leader in the metaverse. Forty-seven organizations have joined forces to create a platform for exchanging ideas, testing concepts, and advocating for a favorable regulatory framework. The Metaverse Association is chaired by Tina Balzli, Partner and Head of Fintech & Blockchain at CMS Switzerland, and Alexandra Hofer, Senior Consultant at Furrerhugi.
The primary objective of the recently established association is to establish a comprehensive metaverse ecosystem and promote favorable framework conditions in Switzerland.
In the press release, Tina Balzli stated: "With this Association, we are laying important foundations to position Switzerland as an innovative and forward-looking location that enables metaverse projects. As an association, we network the relevant players, initiate projects, and promote dialogue and education".
Metaverse offers many opportunities and challenges, and the association is already planning future events. It has formed working groups to address specific issues in different areas, such as tech and infrastructure, industrial metaverse, tourism, sport and gaming, arts, culture, technology, insurance, tax and legal policy, and more. A white paper and a map of the Swiss Metaverse ecosystem will also be created. The first release of the Swiss Metaverse ecosystem was issued by Adello & Lab51 in 2022.
"With 47 founding members, the association has diverse expertise in very different areas - which adds a great value. Together, we can now help shape a future digital world that benefits everyone," says co-president Alexandra Hofer.
The initiative was launched by Lorenz Furrer, Managing Partner of Furrerhugi, along with Daniel Diemers, Partner at SNGLR Group. The 47 founding members include public institutions, banks, international companies, startups, universities, associations, and private individuals, such as Bern Expo, EY, Meta, Sunrise, Worldline Switzerland, the University of St. Gallen, and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
With the formation of the Swiss Metaverse Association, Switzerland is taking a significant step towards establishing itself on the Metaverse technology landscape. This initiative not only highlights the potential of the metaverse but also demonstrates the importance of collaboration among various sectors of society to ensure that Switzerland remains at the forefront of technological innovation.
As the metaverse continues to evolve, what impact do you think it will have on society, and what steps can we take to ensure that its development is ethical and equitable?