The association “ASIPRO” aims at promoting the industrial participation of Swiss companies in aerospace, security and defense procurement projects of the Swiss Confederation abroad, by means of direct and indirect offset transactions.

In the case of major defense procurements abroad, the procurement authority “armasuisse” obliges foreign prime contractors to cooperate industrially with the local security-relevant technology and industrial base (STIB). These countertrades, also called offsets, support the preservation and development of security-relevant key technologies, core industrial capabilities and capacities in Switzerland. Defense dependence on foreign countries in the area of security-relevant key technologies is reduced and the security of supply of the Swiss Armed Forces is strengthened.

We promote the participation of Swiss industry in direct and indirect offset business by systematically initiating contacts with foreign suppliers.

We organize local events (e.g. B2B workshops) and support campaigns which are of great importance for Swiss ASD companies, for the army and for the offset-entitled Swiss industry.

We operate the Offset Office Bern (OBB) in cooperation with armasuisse and collect the offset promille.

We coordinate solutions to current offset issues with armasuisse and get involved in operational and fundamental offset issues.

We ensure that potential offset transactions that deviate from the Offset Policy are brought to the table and are assessed, justified and decided upon with the relevant bodies before they are recognized.

We audit indirect offset transactions on a random basis with an accredited auditing firm, thereby strengthening public and political confidence in offset as an instrument.

The association “ASIPRO” exists since 2015 and represents about 2’500 Swiss companies through its member organizations. Its purpose is to promote the industrial participation of Swiss companies in aerospace, security and defense procurement projects of the Swiss Confederation abroad, through direct and indirect offset transactions.
In order to ensure the most targeted implementation of the offset policy, ASIPRO maintains a regular exchange with armasuisse. The cooperation of this “public-private partnership” is regulated in the agreement between armasuisse and ASIPRO (Association for Swiss Industry Participation in Security and Defence Procurement Programs).

ASIPRO members are Swiss industrial associations, branch organizations, societies, and networks from offset-entitled economic sectors. Members must have a special interest in the purpose of the association and be willing to support the goals of ASIPRO and contribute to their realization. Currently ASIPRO represents the following members:

• Information technology, information services
• Telecommunications
• Electronics, electrical engineering, optics
• Mechanical engineering
• Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
• Metal, metal products
• Rubber and plastic goods
• Chemicals
• Vehicle construction, automobile parts
• Aviation (space transport)
• Technical, physical and chemical analysis
• Research and Development

armasuisse publishes the most important key figures on current offset obligations quarterly in the Offset Register.