The University of Liechtenstein has established a new professorship for architecture and urban planning with effect from January 1, 2023. With the appointment of Michael Wagner, who specializes in sustainable urban design and spatial development, the university is seeking to expand its competencies in these core topics.

On 19 December, Philately Liechtenstein presented a world first. With the purchase of the new, limited art edition, one acquires not only the physical stamp but also a numbered NFT and thus simultaneously becomes one of 1,500 virtual co-owners of an original Romero Britto painting.

The financial analyst Marcel Müller has been named as the new member of a three-strong GN Invest Executive Board. This succession plan and attempt to satisfy increasing customer interest in sustainable investments are intended to make the asset management sector fit for the future.

LIEmobil has put its first electric bus into operation on the No. 12 route in Liechtenstein. By the start of 2023, a further three buses from the Spanish manufacturer Irizar will be added to the fleet. In ten years’ time, LIEmobil will have fully completed its transition to electric buses.

Hilcona is exporting its fit@school concept, already successful in several countries, to Poland. In partnership with Hügli, which is also part of the Bell Food Group, the food manufacturer from Schaan is offering healthy meals to nurseries and schools in Poland.

Petros Mavromichalis, EU Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, has held a speech on the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) at the University of Liechtenstein. His lecture followed a meeting with Liechtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport, Dominique Hasler.

The Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority (FMA) has concluded that Liechtenstein’s financial sector is sound and stable. Systemic risks are assessed to be limited. Given increased global risks and vulnerabilities, the FMA recommends the uptake of measures by financial institutions and government.

The location initiative digital-liechtenstein.li has issued invitations to Innovation Day 2022. The event is being hosted by member firm thyssenkrupp Presta on December 7. A total of six IT-focused start-ups will be showcasing their innovations.

A delegation from the Liechtenstein finance industry has taken part in the Singapore Fintech Festival. The delegates met with representatives from the local finance sector and visited both VP Bank Singapore and LGT Singapore.

The international rating agency Standard & Poor’s has once again awarded the Principality of Liechtenstein its top AAA rating with a stable outlook. The diversified economy and planned measures with the aim of cushioning the impact of rising energy prices were above all highlighted in the assessment.

In total, 565 funds were based in Liechtenstein as at the end of June 2022. At 321 funds, alternative investment funds form the largest subgroup. The net assets invested in funds of this type have increased by 2.5 percent to around 69 billion Swiss francs in comparison with year-end 2021.

Asset management firms in Liechtenstein were serving more than 10,000 customers as at the end of June 2022. In the first half of 2022, these firms had gained around 700 new customers. These are findings from a report published by the Financial Market Authority. However, the level of assets under management did fall in comparison with the previous year.

The Liechtenstein Bankers Association has launched climate-positive non fungible tokens (NFTs). The proceeds will be invested in a reforestation project in Colombia. The NFTs are now available to all.

Four Liechtenstein providers have been included in the rankings of top banks and asset managers for 2023: LGT Bank, Kaiser Partner Privatbank, Liechtensteinische Landesbank and Neue Bank. This is from the TOPS 2023 ranking compiled by the auditors Fuchs | Richter Prüfinstanz.

The Trading Pit from Liechtenstein has secured €10 million in its latest round of growth funding. The fintech is working on an innovative approach to proprietary trading. The additional capital will be used to accelerate growth initiatives with a mission to become the global leader in online prop trading.

Liechtenstein received the best possible assessment for its implementation of the Automatic Exchange of Information in tax matters. The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes has therefore provided international recognition of Liechtenstein's efforts.

Bank Frick is again awarding a scholarship in the amount of 9,800 Swiss francs for the Blockchain and FinTech certificate program at the University of Liechtenstein. Applications can be submitted up to a deadline of November 20. The study course begins in January 2023.

LGT Private Banking has been named as the Best Private Bank in Europe for Philanthropy Services by the financial magazine PWM. In addition, LGT was awarded by Global Finance for its sustainable investing in the region of Western Europe.

The Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein has become a member of the Network for Greening the Financial System. This network of national regulators and central banks is striving to steer global financial flows with the aim of facilitating low-carbon economic growth.

Liechtensteinische Post AG has set itself the goal of achieving climate-neutral operations in full by the start of 2025. To achieve this, all delivery vehicles are to be powered by fossil-free fuels, among other measures. Last year, emissions were limited to around 1,400 tons of CO2.