Zurich, Sept. 27 – Microsoft has once again been recognized as one of Switzerland’s most innovative companies in the annual «Top Innovative Companies 2025» ranking. Microsoft Switzerland convinced the jury across all three indicators – overall innovativeness, product innovation, and innovation culture – making it one of the leading companies in Switzerland.
Microsoft Switzerland ranks first in the «Electrical Engineering and Industrial Technology» sector and second in the overall ranking of international companies based in Switzerland.
Catrin Hinkel, CEO of Microsoft Switzerland, expressed pride in the award, emphasizing the company’s long-standing presence and strong relationships in the country. «We are very proud to receive this recognition. Microsoft has been firmly established in Switzerland for more than 30 years with close relationships to our over 50,000 customers and 4,600 partners. The award is a reflection of the impressive passion and innovative spirit of our employees in Switzerland,» Hinkel said.
In recent years, Microsoft Switzerland has established itself as a cross-industry pioneer in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, business and product solutions, and quantum computing. Hinkel emphasized the importance of innovation and the responsible use of technology, particularly in AI, which is developed based on principles of fairness, safety, and transparency.
«Our innovative strength comes with a responsibility: the ethical and responsible development of technologies like AI and a reasonable approach in using them are the top priorities for us. All our AI developments are based on the principles of fairness, safety, and transparency. AI should be and remain a co-pilot for society,» Hinkel added.
In addition to offering cutting-edge products and services, Microsoft cultivates an open and collaborative innovation culture both inside and outside the company and co-develops innovative solutions with its Swiss customers. This cultural transformation is driven by the passion and innovative spirit of its employees, fostering continuous improvement and creativity. Microsoft also collaborates closely with various civil and business initiatives to support start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises and aims to democratize access to innovative technologies like AI with its own skilling initiatives.
At present, Microsoft supports over 600 Swiss start-ups, fostering a mutually beneficial environment where both parties learn and grow together. Microsoft’s developer ecosystem supports local and global innovation, excelling in enterprise solutions, security, and developer tools. The company innovates through a customer-centric approach, incorporating client and partner feedback into product development to meet and exceed their needs and expectations.
About the methodology
Each year, Bilanz, PME, and Statista select the «Top Innovative Companies» in Switzerland based on surveys of innovation experts and employees in Switzerland, as well as objective criteria such as the number of patents and their technological relevance.
About Microsoft Switzerland
Microsoft operates four data centers in Switzerland, enabling customers to securely store data in the Microsoft Cloud. In close cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, Microsoft conducts research and development in its own Mixed Reality & AI Lab as well as in the Swiss Joint Research Center. In 2022, Microsoft Switzerland opened its Microsoft Innovation Hub at its new headquarters in The Circle at the Zurich Airport. This newly created space delivers immersive industry experiences and deep technical engagement focused on business outcomes for customers.
The company is governed by its 15 member Swiss Leadership Team, and has Catrin Hinkel, CEO of Microsoft Switzerland, at the helm since May 2021. Together, with over 1,000 colleagues working in Bern, Geneva, and Zurich, the team is highly committed to furthering impactful cloud transformation strategies and partnerships for customers in Switzerland.