ELCA has acquired a majority stake in Beyond Civic AG, the Lucerne-based specialist for data ecosystems and trusted data sharing. This acquisition aims at creating synergies between Beyond Civic governance knowhow in trusted, sovereign and AI-ready data, and ELCA’s own AI capabilities, engineering capacity and standing with public and private customers.

TrustSphere, Beyond Civic Swiss-made software, will help ELCA to implement projects faster and at reduced costs for its clients. The company confirms its commitment to the Swiss market and to Swiss development, securing digital sovereignty and adding more choice and control, alongside international providers.

Demand for governed, sovereign data is growing as organizations prepare for AI, and national, cantonal and regional data ecosystems are taking shape. These ecosystems bring together public administration and business, and they need a partner who understands both worlds. ELCA and Beyond Civic are already shaping the Swiss data ecosystem together in a joint mandate. Beyond Civic will remain independent as an ELCA Group company, while its founders will continue to lead their business. With this step, ELCA will also strengthen its proximity with its customer base in Lucerne and Central Switzerland.

“A data ecosystem has to stay sustainable and resilient over a very long time, an expectation that also applies to whoever provides it. ELCA secures the long-term stability of Beyond Civic’s unique expertise and know-how. We can now build and sustain public-private ecosystems for the long run, while remaining independent and driven by the ambition to give the public sector Swiss-made, sovereign governance for AI-ready data.” declares Stefan Metzger, Managing Director and Member of the Board, Beyond Civic.

“Sovereignty in the age of AI starts with well-governed data that organizations can share without losing control. Beyond Civic complements our AI expertise with the trusted data-sharing foundations this requires. We look forward to this partnership that delivers real value for Switzerland’s public sector.” says Retus Müller, Executive Board member of ELCA Group