The American Swiss Foundation (ASF) brought together government officials, education leaders, business executives and civil society representatives at Harvard Graduate School of Education on October 15, 2026, for its Innovation Forum: Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow. The event examined how the United States and Switzerland can prepare workers for changing labour market demands, with discussions covering artificial intelligence, education-to-employment pathways, private-sector talent development and local workforce innovation.

ASF Innovation Forum Explores AI, Education and Workforce Development

Preparing workers for a technology-driven economy requires closer coordination between employers, educational institutions and government agencies. As artificial intelligence reshapes job requirements and businesses face changing skills demands, workforce development strategies are increasingly focused on connecting education with practical employment opportunities.

These issues were at the centre of the American Swiss Foundation’s Innovation Forum: Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow, held on October 15, 2026, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The event brought together leaders from the United States and Switzerland to discuss how public institutions, businesses and local governments can prepare the next generation of workers. Its programme featured five panel discussions covering emerging technologies, education reform, private-sector talent development, municipal leadership and the future of education.

The forum also reinforced the foundation’s focus on strengthening cooperation between the two countries through professional dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

AI and emerging technologies reshape workforce priorities

The opening panel, AI, Emerging Technologies, and the Workforce of Tomorrow, examined how technological developments are changing the capabilities workers and employers need.

Taylor Stockton, chief innovation officer at the U.S. Department of Labor, participated in the discussion, which was moderated by Kirsten Detrick, chief representative USA at Basel Area Business & Innovation.

Artificial intelligence is creating new requirements across professional roles, from technical and analytical capabilities to the ability to work alongside automated systems. For employers, this raises questions about how quickly existing workforces can adapt and whether education and training programmes are keeping pace with changing job requirements.

The discussion placed these challenges within a broader workforce development context, where collaboration between government and business can help identify emerging skills needs and support workers through economic and technological transitions.

Connecting education with employment opportunities

The second panel, From Classroom to Career: How States Are Building the Workforce of Tomorrow, focused on the relationship between education systems and labour market requirements.

Moderated by former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift, the discussion featured Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones, and Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman.

The panel explored how state-level policymakers can strengthen pathways between classroom learning and employment. This includes aligning educational programmes with the capabilities employers require and making career preparation more responsive to regional economic conditions.

For HR and workforce leaders, the education-to-employment connection is particularly important as organisations compete for workers with specialised technical, digital and professional skills.

Closer coordination between education agencies, employers and workforce development organisations can help reduce gaps between training and job requirements. It can also support alternative career pathways for people entering the workforce or transitioning between occupations.

Businesses take a larger role in talent development

The third panel, Private-Sector Leadership and Workforce Innovation, examined how employers can contribute to developing talent and preparing workers for emerging opportunities.

The discussion was moderated by Philippe Roesle, CEO and consul of Swissnex in Boston and New York. Panellists included Stephanie Fink, head of HR Operations, Total Rewards and HR Business Partner at CRISPR Therapeutics; Shay Robinson, head of U.S. Partnerships and Early Careers at Aon; and Kevin Kerls, site head of Lonza Portsmouth at Lonza.

The participation of leaders from biotechnology, professional services and life sciences manufacturing brought different industry perspectives to the workforce discussion.

For employers, talent development increasingly involves more than recruiting people with existing qualifications. Early-career programmes, workplace learning, skills development and partnerships with educational institutions can help organisations build capabilities internally.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of private-sector involvement in preparing workers for roles that may require specialised knowledge and experience.

Mayors highlight the local dimension of workforce innovation

The fourth panel, Mayors as Workforce Innovators, examined how municipal leadership can support employment opportunities and address local workforce challenges.

Moderated by Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities, the discussion featured Wichita, Kansas, Mayor Lily Wu and Vancouver, Washington, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.

Local governments influence workforce development through economic development policies, partnerships with employers, community programmes and coordination with educational institutions.

Regional labour markets can face different challenges depending on their industrial base, infrastructure, demographics and access to training. Municipal leadership can therefore help connect national workforce priorities with local economic needs.

The panel placed cities and local authorities within the broader workforce ecosystem, rather than treating employment preparation as the responsibility of national governments or employers alone.

Rethinking education for future workforce needs

The final panel, Rethinking Education for the Workforce of Tomorrow, featured Effy Vayena, vice president for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations and professor of bioethics at ETH Zürich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

Moderated by Matthew F. McKnight, CEO of Perimeter, the discussion considered how education needs to evolve as technology and professional requirements change.

The participation of an academic specialising in bioethics and knowledge transfer added a perspective on the relationship between research, education and the wider economy.

As AI and other emerging technologies become more embedded in professional environments, education systems face the challenge of developing technical capabilities alongside critical thinking, ethical judgement and adaptability.

The event concluded with remarks from Switzerland’s ambassador to the United States, H.E. Dr. Ralf Heckner.

Workforce development requires cross-sector coordination

The forum’s central message was that preparing workers for the future requires sustained cooperation across government, education and business.

For HR leaders, this means workforce planning cannot operate independently of education policy, regional economic development or technology adoption. Employers need to identify emerging skills requirements while building partnerships that help workers access relevant training and career opportunities.

The event also highlighted the value of international knowledge exchange. By bringing together U.S. and Swiss policymakers, academics and business leaders, ASF provided a platform for comparing approaches to workforce preparation and discussing shared challenges.

Although the forum did not announce a specific workforce programme, funding commitment or implementation target, its discussions reflect a wider shift towards more coordinated workforce development strategies.

As businesses adapt to technological change, the ability to connect education, employment and lifelong learning will remain central to building a resilient workforce.

Market Landscape

Workforce development is increasingly shaped by three connected pressures:

• AI and changing skills requirements: Employers need workers who can adapt to automation, digital tools and evolving job responsibilities.

• Education-to-employment alignment: Educational institutions and policymakers are under pressure to connect learning programmes with real labour market demand.

• Employer-led talent development: Companies are investing in early-career pathways, workplace learning and partnerships to build specialised capabilities.

The ASF forum reflects a broader move towards shared responsibility for workforce readiness. Governments can establish policy frameworks, educational institutions can develop relevant skills, and employers can provide practical experience and career pathways.

For HR technology providers, these developments create opportunities in skills assessment, workforce planning, learning management, talent analytics and career mobility platforms.

Top Insights

• The American Swiss Foundation hosted its workforce development forum on October 15, 2026, at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

• Five panels examined AI, education-to-employment pathways, private-sector talent development, municipal workforce innovation and education reform.

• U.S. and Swiss leaders discussed how government, business and education can collaborate on future workforce requirements.

• Private-sector participants represented biotechnology, professional services and life sciences manufacturing.

• The forum highlighted cross-sector cooperation and international knowledge exchange as important elements of workforce readiness.

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