Winners of the Sino-Swiss Business Awards pose for a group photo (COURTESY PHOTO) 

Sustainability holds the key to this year’s Sino-Swiss Business Awards, which was held in Beijing on October 21. 

“With their Chinese partners, Swiss companies’ expertise on climate change, water management, green finance and financial resilience can help them live up to the commitments of the Paris Agreement, and to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations,” Swiss Ambassador to China Bernardino Regazzoni said in his opening remarks at the fifth edition of the Sino-Swiss Business Awards. 

“The solutions they have developed are what we celebrate here today,” he said at the event, during which winners in eight categories were announced. The gala evening was attended by approximately 450 diplomatic, political and business dignitaries.  

Across the different categories, the awards celebrated the efforts of many Swiss and Chinese companies, particularly for their leadership, transparency and commitment to sustainable business practices. Companies also showcased their achievements and their high level of dedication to the Sino-Swiss business community, Swiss foreign trade, and the promotion of Switzerland in China and vice versa. 

Aligning with this year’s key focus on sustainability, low-pressure hydrogen storage startup Stor-H won the award for the Most Innovative Startup, with their efforts to promote clean energy and enable zero carbon mobility.  

The four winners of the sustainability awards were the biggest surprises of the night. Buhler won the award of Sustainable High-Tech and Financial Solutions. By taking actions along the whole value chain, Nestlé was the winner in the category of Sustainable Production and Supply Chain. The manufacturer of mountain spring beer Brauerei Locher received the award for Health and Environmental Responsibility, while the Swiss engineering giant ABB received the award for Social Responsibility, Diversity and Education. 

“China is the second largest market globally. We are currently building our new robotics factory in Shanghai, which will open in the first half of next year. At the China International Import Expo this year, our company will introduce new products such as a greenhouse gas emission detection system,” Lars Eckerlein, General Manager of ABB China Ltd., told Beijing Review. 

Producing innovative biomaterials for regeneration of bone, soft-tissue and cartilage, Geistlich Pharma once again won the award in the category of Outstanding Achievements of an SME (small and medium-sized enterprise), while Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals again received the award for Outstanding Achievements of an MNC (multinational corporation).  

The final star of the night was the award in the category of Best Chinese Innovator/Investor, which went to China Nobleness for its global cross-cultural education exchanges combining art and education.  

“Your flexibility and determination have kept the wheels turning during these unprecedented times, and for this you are the champions,” ZZ Zhang, Vice President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce (SwissCham) Beijing, said in congratulating the enterprises that have succeeded during the challenging times brought about by the global pandemic. 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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