Redefining Prosperity: Kicking off the Swiss Impact & Prosperity Initiative at Davos

In a world increasingly defined by complex challenges, the need to rethink how we measure progress has never been more urgent. During the 2025 World Economic Forum’s week in Davos, B Lab Switzerland in collaboration with InTent hosted the inaugural Beyond GDP Forum at the SDG Tent, bringing together over 180 leaders and experts to kick off the Swiss Impact & Prosperity Initiative (SIPI). This initiative represents a bold step toward redefining prosperity by moving beyond GDP (gross domestic product) as the sole measure of national success.

Introducing the Swiss Impact & Prosperity Initiative (SIPI)

For decades, Switzerland has stood for economic strength and innovation. However, traditional reliance on GDP overlooks critical dimensions of prosperity, including environmental sustainability, societal well-being, and equity. SIPI challenges this outdated paradigm by offering a transformative framework that holistically measures a nation’s success.

Key Features of SIPI

Comprehensive Metrics

SIPI combines economic, environmental, social, and human indicators to offer a complete view of prosperity, addressing issues like resource depletion and social inequities.

Collaborative Design

Created with input from businesses, academia, public agencies, and NGOs, SIPI is inclusive and relevant.

Phased Implementation

SIPI rolls out in three phases: stakeholder consultations, pilot programs, and nationwide deployment.

Transparency

SIPI provides accessible, unbiased data, offering a replicable model for other countries.

At its core, SIPI tackles the scattered ways we measure success, offering clear insights and a unified approach to drive meaningful change.

Why Switzerland is ready to lead

Switzerland’s long-term orientation, pragmatic approach, and deep commitment to sustainability make it an ideal leader for redefining prosperity. With emissions from Swiss economic activities extending far beyond its borders, SIPI also highlights the country’s global responsibility to act. 

Insights from the Beyond GDP panel

The Beyond GDP Forum exemplified the spirit of collaboration central to SIPI. A high-impact panel, moderated by David Bach (President, IMD), explored the transformative potential of measuring prosperity beyond GDP. Panellists shared a common understanding: if we don’t have the right information, we cannot act. As outlined by Jonathan Normand (Founder & CEO, B Lab Switzerland), figures and metrics are the lenses through which we view the world—but which figures are available, and which ones should we be following? These critical questions underpin the development of SIPI, driving home the importance of actionable, relevant data to address the challenges of our time.

Sandrine Dixson-Declève (Co-President, Club of Rome) highlighted this issue, stating:

Her comment underscores the urgency of creating accessible and unbiased frameworks that empower collective action, rather than concentrating control in a few entities.

Building on this, the panellists all agreed that a new framework should move away from reporting objectives, ensuring it becomes more accessible to all stakeholders, including – and with special focus on – SMEs. Achieving this requires simplicity. Ambassador Andrea Rauber Saxer (SECO) pointed out that the majority of companies in Switzerland are SMEs, which often lack the resources to handle complex reporting systems. She emphasized that measurements must be straightforward to ensure that businesses of all sizes can participate effectively. This approach would promote inclusivity and ensure broad adoption of the new framework.

Driving SIPI Forward: Key Takeaways from the Discussions

  1. Broadening the Conversation – Building on the panel, attendees stressed the idea of inclusivity, and the need to include voices from outside the sustainability community, including skeptics and those with differing viewpoints. 
  2. Harnessing Data Effectively – There was also a consensus between the attendees and the panellists on the fact  that the necessary data is already available but needs to be better utilized. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral (President, EPFL) noted that “data is power,” and Stephanie Hart (EVP, Nestlé) emphasized the importance of ensuring data accuracy to build trust.
  3. Crafting a Strong Narrative – Accurate data alone isn’t enough. As Sandrine Dixson-Declève observed, many people no longer trust data-driven decision-making. SIPI must focus on creating a clear, engaging narrative that educates and inspires action across all sectors.

Looking Ahead: The Path to SIPI’s Launch

The Swiss Impact & Prosperity Initiative’s framework will evolve through rigorous stakeholder engagement and scientific validation, ensuring its metrics resonate locally and globally. By Q3 2025, SIPI should be ready for broader implementation, positioning Switzerland as a global exemplar in sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

 

 

As Jonathan Normand, CEO of B Lab Switzerland, noted, ‘Once again this year, the global risk report has confirmed that, alongside inequality, technological risks, misinformation or conflicts of interest, the most important structural risks are environmental. And this is precisely what we need to address. We need to ask ourselves how we can move from reactive measures to proactive solutions.”

 

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