Switzerland’s government has announced that the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND), established two years ago to promote fintech innovation, will be integrated into the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF).

Originally set up for a three-year pilot period, the government says high demand has prompted the change, taking effect from 1 September 2025.

The announcement, citing FIND’s participation in the Global Government Fintech Lab 2025 in Dublin, stated that “following a two-year pilot phase, the Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) will be transferred to the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) in an adapted form.”

“The experience gained during FIND’s first two years confirmed the considerable relevance of and high demand for this role with a view to ensuring successful financial innovation in Switzerland,”

the statement added.

“As it is the Federal Council’s stated objective for Switzerland to be one of the world’s leading locations in the area of digital financial services too, a specialist Innovation Desk unit will now be created within SIF.”

Launched as a “catalyst for any matters relating to financial innovation in Switzerland,” FIND has brought together projects, research, investors and authorities at national and international level, facilitating exchanges between stakeholders.

It stems from a 2022 Federal Council report on digital finance calling for a platform to support framework conditions for innovation and collaboration between the private sector and authorities.

As part of SIF’s internal restructuring, the Capital Markets and Infrastructure unit will be retitled “Markets and Innovation” and complemented by FIND as an Innovation Desk.

SIF Head of Capital Markets and Infrastructure Julie Tomka said her team is “growing and taking on new responsibilities” and added:

“It will be exciting to deepen our collaboration with the Swiss ecosystem and generate even more impact together.”

Deputy Head of Capital Markets and Infrastructure Nicolas Brügger will lead the Innovation Desk.

Tomka also paid tribute to FIND’s team, overseen by Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, for “valuable work in laying the foundations upon which we can build today.”

FIND’s 2025 annual report highlights initiatives including a 44-page Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation, Your Navigator guide, the second edition of SwissHacks, a fintech hackathon, and a 2025 Innovation Tour.

The team currently consists of Selamlar-Leuthold and three part-time colleagues.

In a LinkedIn post, FIND said: “Time to say goodbye… after two exciting years as a pilot project, the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk has successfully fulfilled its mission: connecting, inspiring and strengthening Switzerland’s financial innovation ecosystem.”

The government confirmed that established services and events, including the FIND Map and SwissHacks, will be retained, and parts of the FIND website will be integrated into SIF’s site.

“Inclusion and networking of the various stakeholders remains crucial and will also continue in an appropriate form with representatives from public authorities, academia and the private sector, under the leadership of SIF,”

the announcement added.

Featured image credit: Federal Department of Finance