Swiss Mobility Forum Kicks Off in Bern, Spotlight on Corporate Travel Demand Management

The inaugural Swiss Mobility Forum opened this morning (15 September 2026) at Bernexpo, bringing together more than 600 decision-makers from Swiss corporates, cantonal authorities and mobility-tech providers. Organised by the Federal Office of Energy in partnership with the Canton of Bern, the one-day conference focuses on practical strategies companies can deploy to cut commuting emissions, reduce travel costs and stay attractive to internationally mobile talent. Keynote panels highlighted how hybrid working and tighter ESG reporting are reshaping corporate travel policies. Speakers from Novartis and UBS shared case studies where ‘mobility budgets’—fixed allowances that employees can spend on public transport, rail passes, bikes or occasional car-sharing—have cut single-occupancy car trips by 25 % within 12 months. Zurich Insurance presented its decision-support tool that factors the climate impact of each trip into the approval workflow for client visits or short-term assignments. Start-ups showcased innovations ranging from MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) apps integrating SBB rail, local bus networks and micro-mobility, to AI-based parking-space optimisation that frees up urban land for housing. Several Swiss cantons announced pilot subsidies—up to CHF 500 000 per employer—for firms willing to implement certified travel-demand-management plans. For global mobility managers, the forum underscored a shift in Switzerland’s policy narrative: while the country remains highly open to foreign expertise, it expects employers to internalise the externalities of staff mobility, from CO₂ emissions to urban congestion. Participants were advised to align travel approval systems with the federal government’s 2030 Energy Strategy, which foresees a 40 % cut in commuter traffic emissions versus 2019 levels. A conference white paper, due in October, will distil best practices and propose a national label for ‘Sustainable Corporate Mobility’. Companies aiming to attract international assignees to Swiss hubs should monitor these developments, as future tax incentives may hinge on obtaining that label.