On the 7th of Novemeber 2025, SINGA Switzerland organized the first National Conference on asylum and entrepreneurship in Biel, with the support from the State Secretary for Migration (SEM), the City of Biel, and the Cantonal Integration Program (PIC in french) of the Canton of Bern.

Over the course of a full day, more than 80 refugee entrepreneurs, economic actors, integration partners, institutional representatives and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem came together with a shared goal : to collaboratively build a more inclusive entrepreneurial model in Switzerland.

The program included institutional presentations, testimonials from entrepreneurs with an asylum experience, roundtable discussions, collaborative workshops, and networking opportunities (making ?). A day designed to move beyond observations and to generate concrete solutions.

Celebrating talents and changing the narratives around asylum

From the very first discussions, a shared observation established itself : the dominant narratives surrounding asylum remain still largely focused on the hardships and too often overlook the skills, expertise, and entrepreneurial potential of the people involved. Testimonials from entrepreneurs with migration backgrounds helped bring lived realities back into focus and reminded us that entrepreneurship in a context of exile is not an exception, but an economic, social, and human dynamic already present in Switzerland as elsewhere in Europe.

“I’m not starting a business to make money, but to offer my expertise and fulfill my dream.”

Through these testimonials, the conference helped shift the perspective on the experiences of exile : no longer viewed solely as integration paths, but also as creation, innovation, and economic contribution paths.

A morning session to discuss the challenges of inclusive entrepreneurship

The day began with welcoming remarks gathering the SEM, local officials, and several business partners committed to issues of inclusion and social innovation.

The morning plenary sessions then addressed several key areas :

• testimonials from entrepreneurs with experience of seeking asylum ;
• an overview of the European context through the Starting New program ;
• an analysis of the Swiss context provided by the University of Neuchâtel, the Federal Statistical Office, and SINGA Switzerland ;
• the administrative and legal challenges related to entrepreneurship among refugees.

A roundtable discussion bringing together incubators, associations, and economic development organizations allowed for the exchange of on-the-ground perspectives and the identification of several persistent structural barriers :

• difficulties in accessing financing ;
• administrative and regulatory barriers ;
• the lack of recognition of skills ;
• difficulties in accessing traditional entrepreneurial networks.

Action-oriented collaborative workshops

The afternoon was devoted to thematic workshops focused on discussion and collaborative planning, with the aim of turning observations into concrete courses of action. The discussions were organized around four main themes :

• Inclusive financing: how to facilitate access to banks, grants, foundations, and microcredit programs for refugee entrepreneurs ;
• Social assistance and entrepreneurship: better supporting project leaders through integration programs and strengthening information sharing among stakeholders ;
• The role of the ecosystem: encouraging the engagement of public authorities, incubators, and economic partners in supporting businesses led by refugees ;
• Business models and income: exploring the most suitable business models and funding sources, ranging from self-employment to cooperatives and crowdfunding.

Each participant took part in several workshops, guided by facilitators and field experts. The recommendations developed collectively were then presented at the end of the day to foster sharing, alignment, and ongoing dialogue !

Making inclusion a whole key economic issue

Beyond this inaugural edition, SINGA Switzerland aims to sustain this momentum over the long term and contributes to make inclusive entrepreneurship a true driver of economic development in Switzerland.

Several follow-up initiatives have already been announced :

• a series of interviews with cantonal integration officials starting in November 2025 ;
• a project supported by Innosuisse and carried out in partnership with the FHNW ;
• the publication of a report compiling the recommendations from the conference in early 2026 ;
• the organization of future local public events to strengthen collaboration between institutions, entrepreneurs, and economic actors.

The day concluded with a networking reception organized by Original Cooking, continuing the spirit of the conference: creating connections, fostering collaboration, and building bridges between the various stakeholders present.