What Expedition Future does

Expedition Zukunft is a Swiss non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) founded in 2021 in Bern that designs and moderates collaborative political processes for policymakers and public stakeholders. The organization's stated mission is to address the structural failures of Switzerland's consensus-based political system in producing timely, ambitious solutions to complex societal challenges such as climate change, mobility, democracy, and STEM education. It serves Swiss parliamentarians (members of the National Council and Council of States), federal and cantonal administrators, academic researchers, business associations, and civil society organizations, bringing them together through structured multi-stakeholder workshops that produce concrete cross-party parliamentary motions.

The organization's core offering is the Policy Sprint, a structured workshop methodology adapted from the Governmentale Lernspirale (Governmental Learning Spiral) developed at the World Bank and OECD, combined with Design Thinking principles and backcasting methods. A typical Policy Sprint consists of one full-day and one half-day workshop plus shorter sessions (approximately 1.5-2 days total), and produces concrete, majority-capable parliamentary motions rather than reports or position papers. Supporting offerings include the Policy Sprint Playbook (a printed methodology guide), the Imaginarium (a laboratory for collaborative political visioning using speculative artifacts and AI-generated imagery), the Bootcamp (a 1-2 day course for newly elected parliamentarians), and Massgeschneiderte Prozesse (customized collaborative processes). The Policy Canvas is a proprietary visual tool used during sprints to define key aspects of a policy measure and plan implementation.

Expedition Zukunft operates on a non-profit funding model in which its programs are free for participants. Funding comes primarily from the Migros-Pionierfonds (Migros Pioneer Fund), which deploys approximately CHF 15 million annually across its entire portfolio. Additional thematic funding comes from Stiftung Mercator and Fondation Leenaards (for democracy programs), Stiftung 3FO (for new collaborative methods), and institutional partners such as ETH Zurich, the Hasler Foundation, and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (for the MINT-Kompetenzen Policy Sprint). The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: growth comes from demonstrated outcomes (14 cross-party motions filed, 7 successfully treated in Parliament, 10 Policy Sprints completed, approximately 700 total participants) and word-of-mouth within the Swiss political ecosystem.

Name

Expedition Future

Legal name

Expedition Zukunft

Website

https://expeditionzukunft.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Expedition Zukunft is a Swiss non-profit founded in 2021 in Bern that moderates the Policy Sprint, a structured multi-stakeholder workshop format bringing together Swiss parliamentarians, administrators, scientists, businesses, and civil society to develop cross-party parliamentary motions on complex policy challenges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collaborative Governance Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning (THAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Congresses (THAHAJAF)

Keywords

• Political process design
• Collaborative governance services
• Policy innovation workshops
• Democratic participation methods
• Stakeholder moderation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: Expedition Zukunft is a non-profit association funded primarily by foundation grants. The primary initial and ongoing funder is the Migros-Pionierfonds (Migros Pioneer Fund), a politically neutral Swiss organization that provides approximately 15 million CHF annually across its portfolio. Additional funding comes from Stiftung Mercator, Fondation Leenaards, and Stiftung 3FO for specific programs.
2. Project-Based Grants: Individual Policy Sprints and programs receive dedicated funding from specific foundation partners. For example, Stiftung Mercator supports Policy Sprints focused on democracy; Fondation Leenaards supports the democracy thematic area; Stiftung 3FO supports the development of new collaborative methods. ETH Zurich, Hasler Foundation, and Swiss Academy of Sciences co-fund the MINT-Kompetenzen Policy Sprint.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Expedition Zukunft designs and moderates collaborative political processes — primarily its signature "Policy Sprint" methodology — for Swiss parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and political stakeholders. It also produces a Policy Design Playbook, Imaginarium simulations, policy briefings, bootcamps, and customized political processes aimed at strengthening Swiss democracy by bringing innovation actors into dialogue with policymakers.

Product overview

Expedition Zukunft is a non-profit think-and-do tank that offers a suite of collaborative political innovation services. The core offering is the Policy Sprint, a structured workshop methodology that brings together parliamentarians, administration, science, business, and civil society to develop cross-party political measures. Supporting offerings include the Policy Sprint Playbook (methodology guide), the Imaginarium (future vision laboratory), the Bootcamp (new parliamentarian training), and customized process design. All offerings are grounded in the 'Gouvernementale Lernspirale' (Governmental Learning Spiral) methodology developed at the World Bank and OECD, adapted for the Swiss political context.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Policy Sprint: A collaborative workshop series that brings together decision-makers and key stakeholders to develop and implement effective and majority-capable political solutions.
• Policy Sprint Playbook
• Imaginarium
• Bootcamp

Products and services

• Policy Sprint (collaborative political process) A structured, moderated collaborative process designed and run by Expedition Zukunft for Swiss parliamentarians and political stakeholders to address complex political issues through multi-stakeholder engagement. Intended for parliamentary committees, parliamentary groups, and political associations seeking structured dialogue formats.
• Policy Design Playbook Open-source methodology documentation (book/online resource) explaining Expedition Zukunft's Policy Sprint approach. Made available to the public and to political actors who want to apply or learn from the methodology.
• Imaginarium A dedicated future-oriented dialogue format creating a "space for the future" in which citizens and parliamentarians can engage. Offered to political stakeholders as one of Expedition Zukunft's structured formats.
• Policy Briefings Public-facing briefing materials derived from Expedition Zukunft's Policy Sprints and analytical work, designed to inform parliamentarians and the broader public about policy topics.
• Bootcamp Intensive training/learning format associated with Expedition Zukunft's portfolio of political process design offerings.
• Customized political processes Bespoke collaborative process offerings tailored to individual political stakeholders, extending the core Policy Sprint methodology to client-specific contexts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 cross-party parliamentary motions submitted; 7 successfully treated in Parliament
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, supporting and minor.

• Stiftung MercatorflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThematic partner supporting Expedition Zukunft's Policy Sprints with a focus on democracy. Stiftung Mercator supports projects that strengthen Switzerland's democratic institutions, information and opinion formation, access to participation, and democratic solution-finding. Their support enables specific Policy Sprint programs on democratic innovation.
• Fondation LeenaardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the democracy thematic area. Fondation Leenaards promotes a solidarity-based and livable society in transition, supporting projects in culture, aging, science and health, sustainability, and media and democracy. Their partnership with Expedition Zukunft specifically supports the democracy Policy Sprint track.
• Stiftung 3FOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Expedition Zukunft in developing new collaborative methods for cross-party political vision development. Stiftung 3FO promotes cooperation and constructive conflict resolution, funding projects that enable people to handle conflicts peacefully and cooperatively in their work and living environments.
• ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder and participant in the MINT-Kompetenzen Policy Sprint. ETH Zurich contributed expertise on technological sovereignty, innovation capacity, and STEM education strategy. The sprint was commissioned jointly by ETH Zurich, Hasler Foundation, and the Swiss Academy of Sciences.
• Hasler Foundation (Hasler Stiftung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of the MINT-Kompetenzen Policy Sprint alongside ETH Zurich and Swiss Academy of Sciences. Hasler Foundation supports projects in digital sustainability and political processes related to technology policy.
• Swiss Academy of Sciences (Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder and active participant in the MINT-Kompetenzen Policy Sprint. The Academy is developing a national education strategy for STEM promotion, and the Policy Sprint is coordinated with this effort. SBFI and the Academy are actively involved as participants.
• Impact Hub BernminorOthersProvides co-working space at Spitalgasse 28 in Bern for Expedition Zukunft's headquarters. Impact Hub is a global network of innovation spaces supporting entrepreneurial and social innovation.
• Dezentrum (Think & Do Tank)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Expedition Zukunft on developing future vision post cards for the Policy Sprint on climate-neutral transport. Dezentrum contributed foresight expertise and helped develop five future mobility scenarios (Ascona, Bern, Genf, Safiental, Zumdorf) visualized as postcards.
• Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in the Lab for Political Visions on the future of mobility, exploring cross-border rail cooperation, unified European booking systems, and innovative mobility services. Young politicians from Switzerland and Austria participated alongside railway representatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Democracy International: European network advocating for binding referendums and democratic participation at European level. Operates as a cross-border civil society platform for democratic reform, comparable to Expedition Zukunft's political innovation mission.
• Stiftung neue verantwortung: Berlin-based think tank that develops forward-looking policy proposals on digitalization, AI, and democracy. Comparable as a policy innovation intermediary that convenes experts and policymakers to produce concrete recommendations.
• Dezentrum: Swiss think-and-do tank focused on future visioning and foresight methods. Collaborated with Expedition Zukunft on climate-neutral transport future scenarios, contributing scenario postcards and backcasting expertise. Most directly comparable Swiss peer in political foresight methodology.
• Mehr Demokratie e.V. German non-profit advocating direct democratic participation at municipal, state, and federal levels. Comparable as a civil society organization focused on democratic reform and citizen participation, with similar Swiss and European policy ambitions.
• Involve (UK): UK charity that designs and delivers public deliberation and participatory democracy processes. Comparable as a methodology developer for citizens' assemblies, deliberative polls, and policy participation formats. Direct peer in the deliberative democracy space.
• Das Progressive Zentrum: German think tank that organizes cross-ideological dialogue formats to develop progressive policy ideas. Operates with similar multi-stakeholder convening model and was co-developer of the Grundwertekommission and citizens' dialogue methodologies.

Emerging players

• Fondation Jean Monnet pour l'Europe: European foundation supporting democratic convergence and political innovation. Comparable in mission to support evidence-based and cross-party European policy development, though operating at supranational rather than national level.

Broad incumbents

• Innovation in Politics Institute: European-level organization that recognizes and supports political innovation, including the Innovation in Politics Awards that Expedition Zukunft won in 2023. Operates at EU level and convenes a broader network of political innovators across Europe.

Regional players

• Foraus (Forum Aussenpolitik): Swiss think tank on foreign policy that uses participatory formats to develop policy ideas. Comparable Swiss peer in the think-and-do tank space, though focused on foreign policy rather than domestic cross-party collaboration.
• smartvote / Politools: Swiss political participation platform that helps voters compare candidates and supports political organizations. Comparable as a Swiss-based political innovation organization, though primarily focused on election comparison rather than legislative co-creation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/75070431

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Expedition Future