Milestones of the new Data Use Act
The motion for a framework law on the secondary use of data is a milestone for data policy in Switzerland. The Swiss Data Alliance was significantly involved in its development at various points.
The Committee for Science, Education and Culture of the Council of States (WBK-S) met on June 20, 2022. At the invitation of Councillor of States Benedikt Würth (CVP/SG), Chairman of the Committee, the Swiss Data Alliance, the Swiss Competence Center for Social Sciences FORS and the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies in Switzerland Interpharma reported on the status and prospects of data policy in Switzerland. The presentation by André Golliez, President of the Swiss Data Alliance, can be found here. Interpharma was represented by Managing Director Dr. René Buholzer, FORS by Director Prof. Dr. Georg Lutz.
THE CREATION OF THE MOTION
Following this meeting, Benedikt Würth and Councillor of States Matthias Michel (FDP/ZG) jointly drafted a motion for a framework law on the secondary use of data. The two members of the Council of States received technical support from the Swiss Data Alliance and the office of the Parliamentary Group on Digital Sustainability (Parldigi). On August 22, 2022, the WBK-S submitted the motion and appointed Matthias Michel as rapporteur for this matter. On November 23, 2022, the Federal Council requested that the motion be accepted; on December 14, 2022, the Council of States followed this request without opposition and referred the matter, for which the Federal Chancellery is responsible, to the National Council.
The Committee for Science, Education and Culture of the Council of States of the National Council (WBK-N) will discuss the motion at its meeting on April 24, 2023. It is expected to be discussed in the National Council in May 2023 (special session) or June 2023 (summer session).
The Swiss Data Alliance would like to thank Matthias Michel and Benedikt Würth for this important initiative and is delighted that the Federal Council and the Council of States have approved it. We hope that the National Council will also adopt the motion and that the legislative process for the secondary use of data in Switzerland can be started as soon as possible.
GROUP OF EXPERTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
In order to make this implementation process as constructive as possible, the Swiss Data Alliance began forming a group of experts shortly after the motion was adopted. The aim of this group is to accompany and support the framework legislation with technical expertise from business, science and administration in a practice-oriented manner. The members of the expert group include the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), the Institute for Public Sector Transformation at Bern University of Applied Sciences, FORS and Interpharma. The kick-off meeting for the expert group took place in the presence of Council of States member Matthias Michel on January 17, 2023 in Bern.
