How We Work
Event Gallery Photos by André Hengst
ABOUT US
Asia Society Switzerland is an independent Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to Asia. Our mission is to foster Asia Competence and prepare Switzerland for a deeper and more sustainable engagement with Asia. Read more about Asia Competence here. We do this by providing strategic intelligence, education, and training on Asia, and by building and maintaining Asia-related communities and networks.
We are part of the global Asia Society network with 16 offices around the world, including 7 in Asia. Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III, and our global CEO is Kyung-wha Kang, the former Foreign Minister of South Korea. Our global network gives us unparalleled access to international speakers and experts on a broad range of Asia issues.
Asia Society Switzerland was founded in 2016 and is financed entirely out of Switzerland. We have a dedicated team of 7 people in Zurich, ensuring that our programs are relevant and tailored to a Swiss audience.
Asia Society Switzerland is committed to connect business, policy, and society, helping Switzerland to understand and engage with Asia and to navigate our shared futures.
HOW WE CREATE IMPACT
We shape the public discourse
We host 40+ events every year on a broad range of subjects, and publish key takeaways in videos, podcasts, and in writing. Our newsletter reaches 5000+ Asia-minded people in Switzerland. We also regularly make our experts available for conversations with media and government, and engage in policy advocacy to further the cause for Asia Competence.
We provide privileged insights to decision-makers
We host 10+ Executive Roundtables every year, featuring exclusive off-the-record conversations with leading experts from around the world.
We educate leaders on Asia
With our Asia NEXT program, we are offering structured educational content to foster Asia Competence of executives.
We support the next generation
Our Gen A program offers 25 students and young professionals an in-depth experience on Asia every year, and our student outreach ensures access to our program for the next generation.
We connect Asia-minded people and organizations in Switzerland
We have a thriving community of 500+ members, and partnerships with 20+ leading companies as well as ETH and University of Zurich. We also maintain active contact to government entities, foreign diplomats, think tanks, industry associations, NGOs and media to bring together the Asia conversation.
HOW WE ARE FUNDED
We are an independent, non-profit Swiss organization, financed entirely out of Switzerland. We are supported by generous donations of our Corporate Members, Patrons, as well as our Passport and General Members. A small amount of funds originates from event revenues.
Asia Society Switzerland dedicates these funds to further our critical mission of increasing Asia Competence in Switzerland. They are used to host public and private events in Switzerland, to build our community through get-togethers and gallery and museum tours, to run our educational initiative Gen A – Young Leadership Program, as well as the Curator Residency, to create and publish our extensive editorial work, and finance our day-to-day operations.
Support Us
As a private person, foundation, or company you can make a big difference. Our ongoing and envisioned projects and initiatives, all aimed at fostering Asia Competence in Switzerland, need your support. If you would like to contribute to our organization, you can sign up as an individual member, become a Patron of Asia Society Switzerland or register your company or organization as a Corporate Member. Thank you for your support!
Get to Know Us
Learn more about our mission, our value propositions, our partners and people.