Guild42

Abstract
The software engineering market is in flux: artificial intelligence, near- and offshoring, rising cost pressure, and structural shifts are increasingly reshaping Bern as a tech location. This panel discussion tackles a provocative question head-on: is software engineering in Bern facing decline, or are we witnessing a transformation?​

A short impulse talks from a representative of academia and a moderated panel discussion (about 50 minutes) will bring together diverse perspectives, including input from the audience. Panelists are expected to include big clients of engineering work; contractors with Swiss/Bernese engineering teams; companies using near-/offshoring models; and a Bern-based engineer working with AI agents.​

Key questions up for debate: Which activities will stay local and which won't? How is AI really changing collaboration and productivity? What skills will matter most going forward? And what does all this mean for Bern as a tech hub?​

Join to get a clear view on current market shifts, hear from multiple roles, connect with the local tech community, and help shape the conversation about the future of software engineering in Bern.​

The panel discussion will be held in German.​

Members of the Panel

Abstract
The e-ID is an official proof of identity issued by the state - designed to meet the highest standards of security, data protection, and trustworthiness. This presentation will give you an overview of the roles, components and technologies of the swiyu Trust Infrastructure operated by the Federal Government, before taking a closer look at how the state ensures ‘Trust by Design’ from a technological perspective.
The presentation will also outline the importance of developing the infrastructure open-source to further strengthen trust. As the e-ID is just one of many digital credentials that can be issued, stored and verified using the swiyu Trust Infrastructure, the presentation concludes with presenting the ambitions and activities to build an open-source community and flourishing ecosystem of private and public use cases.

Bio

Alexandra Höss is responsible for the product and technology strategy of the Swiss e-ID and Trust Infrastructure at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ). Before joining FOJ, Alexandra completed her PhD with a research focus on Managing Decentralized Digital Identities at the University of Luxembourg. During her doctoral studies she supported Luxembourg’s Ministry for Digitalisation on its projects related to digital identities.

André Kunz is responsible Open Source at the Federal Office of Justice. For over 15 years, he has been promoting open technologies, transparency and digital sovereignty – amongst other things, as a member of the management board at Puzzle ITC, as co-founder of the open-source solution “hitobito”, and as a board member of CH Open.