A migration researcher from Zimbabwe, a political scientist from the U.S., a conflict researcher from Zambia, a public finance scholar from the Netherlands, a political anthropologist from Hungary, as well as a philosopher, a medievalist, and an economic historian from Germany are coming to St.Gallen to rethink freedom. What sounds like the convoluted setup to a joke is the essence of the St.Gallen Collegium: Eight researchers (fellows) from different disciplines and regions, and at various stages of their careers, spend an academic year not only working on their own projects but also embarking on a shared journey. The St.Gallen Collegium left it open to them where this journey would lead—but the path had to be comprehensible to others, and the map had to be accessible by a broad audience later on.
In workshops led by Prof. em. Christoph Frei, who acted as a convenor, the fellows explored various possibilities until someone provided the decisive impetus: In his study of Venetian history, economic historian and Hans Christoph Binswanger Fellow Dr. Andreas Lingg also examined Cristoforo Buondelmonti’s “Liber insularum Archipelagi” (Book of the Islands of the Archipelago) from the 15th century. The illustrations of the Venetian colonial empire gave him the idea that the Collegium, too, could create an Insularum.
The island as a conceptual model is a popular motif in utopian thought, serving as a canvas for projection and a space of possibility. The Collegium, however, does not seek to detach itself from the present, as in Thomas More’s “Utopia”, but rather to think about the future (2050) while remaining committed to the present. The Fellows’ journey therefore took them to Toiva, an island the size of Switzerland, not too far removed from the present, but a place where freedom was reimagined—in terms of economics, energy and migration policy, and social philosophy. The Fellows remained true to their core areas of expertise while also engaging with new travel companions. For example, SENN Fellow and finance scholar Prof. Tanja Artiga González collaborated at times with political scientist Dr. Daniel Trusilo on AI, and at other times with the Chair of the Advisory Board, Prof. em. Günter Müller-Stewens, on stakeholder management. Outreach Fellow Dr. Wolfram Eilenberger contributed his expertise as a magazine designer and founder of a philosophy magazine, as well as his visions for a new way of doing business and the future of higher education. St. Gallen-based art director Fabian Rietmann visually brought Toiva’s idea to life, giving it a contemporary look.
The result is an illustrated magazine of around 120 pages that inspires readers to engage with the fellows’ ideas. Toiva is a vision of the future that is both technocratic and humanistic. The lagoon—neither mainland nor sea—becomes a symbol of changeability in the interplay of the tides, or rather of politics, the economy, and nature: freedom as something shapeable rather than dogmatic, which must adapt to changing circumstances. The principle of “cybernetic enlightenment” forms the basis for this: technical tools such as sensors and artificial intelligence are used extensively for data collection and analysis to map complexity and options for action. The goal is to avoid arbitrary decisions based on ignorance or simplified models—but not to replace political processes. Debates simply take place on the basis of better information and greater transparency. Communities act as equal stakeholders, regularly assessing the state of resources and agreeing on rules and decisions. The focus is not on the individual; rather, identity arises from a sense of connection to the community. Ultimately, putting a price on free goods creates an economic reality that commits us to sustainability and lays the foundation for a thriving circular economy. At the heart of this are companies like Laguna Inc., which, in the best tradition of the St.Gallen Management Model, pursue an elaborate stakeholder approach.
The Collegium’s first year ended on 31 May 2026, but with the publication of the magazine, Toiva is not yet a thing of the past. “The appeal of the ‘island’ concept lies in the fact that it allows room for growth and further development,” explains the outgoing academic director, Prof. Claudia F. Brühwiler. “The new cohort will now turn its attention to the question of how Toiva can achieve digital sovereignty and what digital sovereignty actually means. With the Collegium, Toiva will change—and hopefully inspire us not only to reflect, but also to take action.”
The current issue of HSG FOCUS is also dedicated to the recent Collegium. However, at its center is the individual work of the eight fellows during their time in St.Gallen.
Download the publication "Toiva"