Foundation for the Promotion of the Swiss Economic Archives
Switzerland maintains a tradition of private safeguarding of company and association archives. For this reason, the Swiss Economic Archives is not a federal institution and does not receive any subsidies.
The Foundation for the Promotion of the Swiss Economic Archives (Stiftung zur Förderung des SWA) enables companies and associations to financially contribute to the archiving of their archival collections. Private individuals, companies and associations who find the SWA worth supporting can make a donation.
It is only thanks to this private support that valuable company archives can be preserved for historical research. Economic history is dependent on these sources in order to gain scholarly knowledge.
The Swiss Economic Archives is run by the University of Basel. The university’s funds allow the operation of an economic history and economic sciences library and the documentation on economic topics and players. Alongside this, private funds are necessary.Only with the help of private funding can private economic archives be taken over, made accessible, and secured for the long term for future use.
For projects that support the strategic orientation of the Swiss Economic Archives or that increase the level of awareness, we are dependent on private funding. The annual report provides information about our activities.
The foundation works with regular or one-off contributions from companies, associations, private individuals, other foundations and lottery funds.
As a rule, contributions can be deducted from cantonal taxes.
You too can support our projects.
The foundation distributes its assets for SWA projects on an ongoing basis.
The main task of the foundation is to raise third-party funding from other foundations, from lottery funds and from sponsors.
Since 2019, the SWA awards a research prize. Information about the research prize (PDF, in German/French).
The call for applications runs from April to December each year.
The application (by e-mail) includes the publication (preferably in digital form), a letter of application and a curriculum vitae.
The jury evaluates the work by May of the following year and announces the decision to the applicants.
The prize ceremony and lecture will take place during the winter semester as part of the lecture series of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Basel HAG.
Members of the jury:
Dr. Markus von Escher, President, representative of the economy, President of the Foundation for the Promotion of the Swiss Economic Archives
Irene Amstutz, lic. phil., Head of University Business and Economics Library – Swiss Economic Archives, member of the foundation board
Prof. Dr. Martin Lengwiler, social and economic historian, University of Basel, external member
Prof. Dr. Matthieu Leimgruber, economic historian, University of Zurich, external member
Prof. Dr. Tobias Straumann, economic historian, University of Zurich, external member
Prof. Dr. Heinz Zimmermann, financial market theorist, University of Basel, member of the foundation board
Regulations Research prize SWA (PDF, in German)
Prize winners Research prize SWA
- 2019: Roman Wild for his book "Auf Schritt und Tritt: der schweizerische Schuhmarkt 1918-1948"
- 2020/2021: Matthias Wiesmann for the book "Zauderer mit Charme: Hans Schindler und die Zwänge einer Zürcher Industriellenfamile", based on the diaries of Hans Schindler
The Recognition Prize was awarded to Marcel Schelbert for his MA thesis "Gemeinnütziger Wohnungsbau im Spannungsfeld zwischen Staat und Privatwirtschaft" - 2021/2022: Leo Grob for his PhD thesis «Bevor die Fabriken schliessen. Eine Arbeitsgeschichte der Alusuisse (1960–1991)», based on the Alusuisse company archives
The Recognition Prize was awarded to Rebecca Stuart for her article "What Drives Long-Term Interest Rates? Evidence from the Entire Swiss Franc History 1852-2020" - 2022/2023: Florian Müller for his PhD thesis "Mieter:innenland Schweiz - Siedlungsprojekte, politische Regulierung und private Interessen im schweizerischen Wohnungsbau 1870-1974"
The Recognition Prize was awarded to Regula Bochsler for her book "Nylon und Napalm : die Geschäfte der Emser Werke und ihres Gründers Werner Oswald"
President of the Foundation board
Dr. Markus von Escher, EMBA HSG, President of the board of directors, Remaco Asset Management AG, Basel
Members of the Foundation board
Irene Amstutz, Head of University Business and Economics Library – Swiss Economic Archives
Jürg Hagmann, lic. phil., managing owner RIM, Baden, Partner Kompetenzzentrum Records Management (KRM), Zollikon
Daniel Hanimann, Delegate for economic contacts, Swiss National Bank, Basel
Alice Keller, Director University Library Basel
Silvia Rose, Director "Verein Gesellschaft St. Anna Ärzte", Luzern, Director Rose Consulting
Dr. Alexis Schwarzenbach, CEO filanda della storia GmbH
Prof. Dr. Heinz Zimmermann, Finance Department, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Basel
Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Basel
Director
Irene Amstutz, Head of University Business and Economics Library – Swiss Economic Archives
Postal address
Stiftung zur Förderung des Schweizerischen Wirtschaftsarchivs
Peter Merian-Weg 6, Postfach
4002 Basel
+41 (0)61 207 32 10
Account number
Postal Account No (PC) 40-18825-7
IBAN CH02 0900 0000 4001 8825 7 (BIC: POFICHBEXXX)
Registry of Commerce
Annual accounts of the Foundation for the Promotion of the Swiss Economic Archives (Stiftung zur Förderung des SWA) 2022
In addition to the Foundation for the Promotion of the Swiss Economic Archives (Stiftung zur Förderung des SWA) there is also the Fritz Mangold Foundation, named after the former head of the SWA.
Its task is to promote publications in the field of national economy and statistics and to acquire literature that will be made available in the SWA.
Foundation board: Irene Amstutz (President), Prof. Dr. Alois Stutzer, Prof. Dr. Rolf Weder