In May 2025, President of the University of St.Gallen, Prof. Dr Manuel Ammann, announced the launch of the new excellence promotion initiative, the ‘HSG Best Talents Programme’. The aim was to launch the scholarship programme with at least 15 students as soon as funding for five years had been secured. Today, the first cohort of 38 talented students can begin the autumn semester 2026 at HSG.

These talents were selected from over 100 outstanding applications. Their academic achievements are impressive, with an average grade of 5.68, but the programme goes far beyond top marks. Equally defining is the diversity of the cohort: different fields of study from 12 HSG Master’s programmes, along with varied backgrounds and experiences, come together to create an ideal foundation for interdisciplinary exchange, mutual inspiration and a lifelong network of responsible and committed individuals.

As early as the end of August, even before the official start of the semester, the participants gathered at Lake Walen for an immersive inaugural camp. The focus was on personal development, gaining new perspectives through exchanges with the other scholarship holders, and thereby fostering a strong sense of community within the first cohort.

 ‘DrivingTopics’: Relevance and Responsibility

An integral part of the programme is the scholarship holders’ engagement with topics of their own choosing that are relevant to society. Already during the inaugural camp, the scholarship holders were able to contribute a variety of these ‘Driving Topics’ and their perspectives, including:

• Access to Opportunity: Talent is everywhere – but opportunities are not. What role do educational equity, social mobility and mentoring play in breaking down barriers?
• Technology with Purpose: From responsible AI to healthcare innovations, the cohort is exploring how technological progress can be shaped in an ethical, inclusive way that serves humanity.
• Responsible Leadership: In the face of complex global challenges, these talented individuals are seeking ways to combine performance with integrity and ambition with ethical foresight.

But why is a programme like HSG Best Talents needed at all? The demands placed on specialists and managers are changing rapidly. Technological progress, social change and global crises now demand more than just excellent specialist knowledge. What is needed are people who understand complex interrelationships and are able to grasp insights holistically, who combine entrepreneurial thinking with social responsibility and who, even in uncertain situations, make responsibledecisions and provide guidance.

This is precisely where the HSG Best Talents Programme comes in. Itsupports selected Master’s students from EU and EFTAcountries with a scholarship, a tailored programmefor personal and professional development andaccess to an excellent network ofalumni and supporting partners.

The programme thus combines two objectives: it addresses thechallenges of our time whilst simultaneously strengthening HSG’s international competitiveness.

This successful launch was also made possible thanks to an exceptional donation from the Norwegian entrepreneur and HSG alumnus Christen Sveaas. With the contribution of 3.75 million francs from his company, Kistefos AS, he is securing 15 programme places as a strategic funding partner for a period of ten years. In the medium term the programme is set to be expanded to accommodate up to 45 participants per year and secured financially in the long term. Special thanks also go to the strategic partners Hilti AG, the STARR International Foundation, the Fondation Esse Quam Videri, the Jeannette and Robert Meier Foundation and the Bindella Group.