State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

What State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI does

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI / SBFI) is the Swiss federal competence centre for education, research and innovation (BFI) policy, operating as a constituent secretariat within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF). It stewards the legal framework for Switzerland's entire BFI system, drafts the quadrennial BFI-Botschaft (the 2025-2028 dispatch was adopted by Parliament in autumn 2024), coordinates with all 26 cantons, runs the federal Maturität examination and other centralised services, manages recognition of foreign professional qualifications, and administers the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS) programme spanning 183 countries. Leadership is exercised by Staatssekretärin Martina Hirayama (in office since 1 January 2019) with three deputy/vice directors and departmental heads covering Vocational and Continuing Education, Universities and General Education, National Research and Innovation, International Programs and Organisations, Space, International Relations, Strategy and National Relations, and Resources.

SERI's operational footprint is policy and programme administration rather than commercial product delivery. Its service portfolio includes the BeCC/SUFI online portal for subject-oriented federal subsidies on preparatory courses (operated with SDBB/CSFO), anerkennung.swiss for recognition of foreign credentials, the Berufsverzeichnis directory of federally regulated professions, the ARAMIS federal research database, the LENA apprenticeship placement register, and the Federal Baccalaureate Examination services. Research funding flows through the NCCR programme (six new centres launched in 2026 with CHF 98 million of federal support over four years, plus a supplementary 2026 call for humanities and social sciences) and through principal institutions including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Innosuisse and the ETH Domain. International reach is delivered via the Swissnex global network, formal bilateral and multilateral agreements (EU framework programmes, ESA, OECD), and bilateral science diplomacy missions.

SERI's funding flows from federal budget appropriations via the BFI-Botschaft rather than commercial revenue, and its services are provided free of charge to users. It does not publish a consolidated revenue or operating budget figure, but proxies include CHF 98 million for the six new NCCRs over four years, approximately CHF 60 million per year channelled through Movetia for exchange and mobility programmes, and the disclosure that international cooperation absorbs roughly 20% of total federal BFI funding. The entity has no subsidiaries in the corporate sense but operates two affiliated programmes, Movetia (national exchange and mobility agency) and the Swissnex Network. Headcount is reported at 501-1000 employees.

Name

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

Legal name

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

Website

https://sbfi.admin.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SERI is the Swiss federal competence centre for education, research and innovation policy within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. It coordinates the BFI-Botschaft budget cycle, runs federal examinations, recognises foreign qualifications, manages the ESKAS scholarship programme across 183 countries, and operates the Swissnex global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal budget appropriations (BFI-Botschaft 2025–2028): Primary funding flows from the Swiss federal budget via the four-year Education, Research and Innovation Dispatch (BFI-Botschaft). Parliament approved the financial framework in autumn session 2024 covering 2025–2028. International cooperation (membership fees in international research organizations, EU framework programme participation) absorbs roughly 20% of all federal BFI funding.
2. Federal subsidies for Movetia exchange/mobility programmes: Federal financing of approximately CHF 60 million per year for the national agency Movetia to implement exchange and mobility programmes domestically and internationally.
3. Subject-oriented federal subsidies for preparatory courses: Direct federal financial support (subjektorientierte Finanzierung) to graduates of preparatory courses leading to federal examinations (Berufsprüfungen/höhere Fachprüfungen), administered through the SDBB/CFPO online portal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SERI (SBFI) is the Swiss federal competence centre for national and international education, research and innovation (BFI) policy. It delivers public services including recognition of foreign professional qualifications, federal subsidies for preparatory courses, the federal baccalaureate examinations, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS), the ARAMIS research database, and the National Research Priorities (NFS) funding programme, while also channelling Switzerland's participation in EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+) and operating the Swissnex global network.

Product overview

SERI (Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI) is the Swiss federal competence centre for national and international education, research and innovation policy. Its offering is a portfolio of public-sector services rather than a unified software platform, organised around four pillars: (1) education services such as Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications, Federal Subsidies for Preparatory Courses (BECC), the Federal Baccalaureate Examination services, and the Berufsverzeichnis directory; (2) research and innovation programmes including the National Research Priorities (NFS) and the ARAMIS research database; (3) the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS) and the Swissnex international network; and (4) information and communication channels comprising the E2 newsportal, the SBFI Mail monthly newsletter, and recurring publications such as 'Berufsbildung in der Schweiz' and 'Hochschulen und Forschung in der Schweiz'. These offerings sit alongside the agency's policy-setting role for the BFI area 2025–2028 and its participation in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and ESA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBFI Mail: Monthly newsletter published by SBFI in German, French, Italian and English with news and events from SBFI.
• E2
• Swissnex Network
• Movetia

Products and services

• Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (Anerkennung von Berufsqualifikationen) Government service that lets qualified professionals have foreign credentials recognized in Switzerland; directs users to anerkennung.swiss and SERI's online portal for recognition or level confirmation procedures.
• BECC Online Portal — Federal Subsidies for Preparatory Courses Online portal operated with SDBB | CSFO allowing participants in preparatory courses for federal examinations to apply for federal subsidies (subject-oriented financing / subjektorientierte Finanzierung) and course providers to manage their offerings.
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS) Federal scholarship programme managed by the ESKAS commission awarding research and art scholarships to young foreign researchers and artists from approximately 183 countries to study at Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, ETHs and research institutes. Application is free of charge.
• Federal Baccalaureate Examination Services (Swiss Maturitätsprüfung, Passerelle, EBMP, Latinum Helveticum) Centralised examination services run by SERI, including the Swiss Baccalaureate Examination (Schweizer Maturitätsprüfung), the Passerelle supplementary examination, the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate Examination (EBMP), and the Latinum Helveticum.
• Berufsverzeichnis (Directory of Professions) Official directory of all federally regulated vocational education and training professions, listing initial vocational training programmes (Federal Certificate of Competence / Federal Attestation), higher vocational qualifications, and approved curricula of higher vocational schools.
• ARAMIS Research Database of the Swiss Confederation Federal research database managed by SERI providing information on publicly funded research projects in Switzerland.
• Swissnex Network Global Swiss network for education, research and innovation administered by SERI, supporting international networking and the exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent worldwide.
• National Research Priorities (Nationale Forschungsschwerpunkte / NFS) Federal funding programme promoting excellent long-term research in strategically important areas. Six new NFS were launched in 2026 with CHF 98 million in federal funding over four years, co-financed by universities and research institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six new NCCRs launched in 2026 with CHF 98 million of federal support over four years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bundespräsident Guy Parmelin (Federal Council) and USTR / United States trade and research partnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Federal President Parmelin leads an economic and science mission to the USA, Canada and Mexico from 29 June to 9 July 2026. Planned talks with the US Trade Representative (USTR) in the context of US tariff policy introduced in 2025, plus meetings with actors in AI, space and mobility, and bilateral talks with research institutions in Vancouver and President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico. SERI accompanies the science track.
• State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026On 12 March 2026 Vice-Minister Matsuo of METI and State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda of SECO signed a joint statement with SERI, affirming deepened bilateral economic relations and identifying cooperation in economic security, space, AI and quantum technologies, plus policy exchange and collaboration between businesses, start-ups and research institutions.
• Movetia (national agency for education exchange and mobility)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMovetia implements exchange and mobility programmes in all education areas under SERI, the Federal Office of Culture (BAK) and the Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV); annual federal funding ~CHF 60 million; VIZMB revision and total revision of foundation statutes on 19 June 2026 (effective 1 August 2026) strengthen governance and align with EU Erasmus+ requirements.
• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF/SNF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn 25 June 2026 the SNSF, on SERI's commission, launched a supplementary call for an additional National Centre of Competence in Research focused on humanities and social sciences, as part of the 2026 launch of six new NCCRs (medicine, climate, physics). Expression-of-interest deadline 1 September 2026; online information event 8 July 2026.
• ETH Domain institutes (ETH Zürich, EPFL, PSI, WSL, EMPA, Eawag)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERI oversees the ETH Domain via the Federal Council, the ETH Board and WBF; the Federal Council appointed the next president of ETH Zürich on 24 June 2026 and confirmed Martin Ackermann as Eawag director for a second term (2027–2030) on 27 May 2026. ETH Domain institutions jointly implement BFI-Botschaft measures in research and teaching.
• Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERI is the federal owner of Innosuisse; on 15 April 2026 the Federal Council approved Innosuisse's 2025 annual report confirming the agency achieved its strategic goals, with high demand particularly from SMEs.
• Swiss University Conference (SHK), universities, Fachhochschulen and Pädagogische HochschulencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERI works with SHK to steer project-bound contributions for university cooperation in doctoral education; the Federal Council adopted the Postulat 23.3960 report on 19 June 2026 confirming that the cooperation functions well. Project-bound support continues until end of 2026.
• European Commission (EU Framework Programmes)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitzerland and the EU initialled the EU programme agreement in Brussels on 2 April 2025, regulating Swiss participation in Horizon Europe, Euratom, ITER, Digital Europe, Erasmus+ and EU4Health; signing scheduled for November 2025; EU framework programme participation accounts for a significant share of international cooperation spending.
• Swissnex Network (global)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwissnex is SERI's global network for education, research and innovation, supporting international networking, talent exchange and Switzerland's positioning as an innovation hotspot. Operates as a separate social-media brand with LinkedIn and X accounts.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERI represents Switzerland in ESA; 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of ESA's founding convention, with celebrations held across member states. SERI's Space division handles Weltraumpolitik, Wissenschaft und Innovation Raumfahrt and Internationale Raumfahrtangelegenheiten.
• Swiss research institutions commissioned for the 2026 innovation study (FHNW, KOF Institute, EPFL, University of St. Gallen)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSERI commissioned a study by FHNW, KOF Institute, EPFL and the University of St. Gallen (published March 2026) examining innovation slowdown across six innovation-intensive sectors, identifying regulatory complexity, dynamic competition, SME digitalisation challenges and proposing nine policy measures including regulatory sandboxes and a national data strategy.
• Conférence suisse des directeurs cantonaux de l'instruction publique (EDK) and cantonal authoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDK remains represented in the Movetia foundation board to ensure the cantonal connection; SERI and EDK also jointly convene the follow-up roundtable on the 95%-Ziel conference (planned spring 2027). Cantonal Berufsinformationszentren and vocational offices (BIZ) channel apprenticeship placement.
• SDBB | CSFO (Schweizerisches Dienstleistungszentrum Berufsbildung)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSDBB/CSFO operates the SUFI/BeCC online portal that processes federal contributions to preparatory courses for federal examinations on behalf of SERI; contact address [email protected].
• Schweizerische Berufsbildungsämter-Konferenz (SBBK) and organisations of the working world (Organisationen der Arbeitswelt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBBK, SERI and the organisations of the working world co-organised the 95%-Ziel conference on 5 May 2026 in Bern; together they form the Verbundpartnerschaft of Swiss vocational education.
• Eidgenössische Stipendienkommission für ausländische Studierende (ESKAS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESKAS evaluates applications and awards Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to foreign researchers and artists on behalf of SERI; serves applicants from 183 countries.
• Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS) and gfs.bernminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBFS publishes the spatial distribution of upper-secondary qualifications and apprenticeship market statistics; gfs.bern runs the Nahtstellenbarometer survey on SERI's behalf (April and August each year).

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• OECD Directorate for Education and Skills: OECD directorate producing comparative education and skills policy analysis (PISA, AHELO). Comparable as a multilateral reference organisation whose indicators and frameworks guide SERI's BFI-Botschaft design and assessment.
• European Research Council (ERC): EU-level frontier research funding body under Horizon Europe. Comparable as a research funding entity whose grants and Switzerland's participation are administered in coordination with SERI, and whose funding volumes overlap with SERI's research priorities.

Direct peers

• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF): Germany's federal ministry for education and research. Direct international peer performing the same national competence-centre function for BFI policy as SERI, including research funding, international programme participation and higher-education governance.
• Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency): Swiss federal innovation agency owned by SERI under WBF. Closely comparable federal entity for innovation promotion, particularly SME-facing funding, with high strategic alignment with SERI's national research and innovation division.
• European Commission – DG EAC (Education, Youth, Sport and Culture): EU-level directorate responsible for education and culture policy. Comparable peer in shaping EU programme architecture (Erasmus+, EU4Health) that SERI channels into Switzerland, and negotiating counterpart agreements.
• Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (France): French ministry responsible for higher education and research. Direct international peer managing the same national competence-centre role over higher-education and research policy, including bilateral EU cooperation analogous to SERI.
• ETH Board (ETH-Rat): Swiss strategic governing body of the ETH Domain (ETH Zürich, EPFL, PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Comparable federal governance role for higher-education institutions, with appointment authority delegated by SERI via the Federal Council.
• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF/SNF): Switzerland's primary federal research funding body. Comparable as the federal-level research funding instrument commissioned by SERI to administer the NCCR programme and other competitive research grants.
• UK Department for Education: UK ministerial department responsible for education and skills. Comparable federal-level stewardship role over education policy, qualifications recognition and apprenticeship systems analogous to SERI's mandate.
• Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren (EDK): Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education. Domestic counterpart coordinating the 26 cantons on education policy; together with SERI forms the Verbundpartnerschaft governing vocational education and training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SBFI_CH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sbfi-sefri-seri
• Facebookfacebook.com/SBFI.SEFRI.SERI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bundesverwaltung

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI