As capital, the city is home to Switzerland’s principal administrative bodies as well as numerous national and international organizations and, unsurprisingly, government activities and administration form a vital part of Berne’s economy. The wider Canton of Berne also plays host to a large number of international companies, operating in a wide range of sectors that include environmental and energy technology, design, medical technology, precision industry, telematics and information technology.

The region benefits from a large and well educated workforce. The Canton of Berne has the second largest population of all Switzerland's cantons and is home to numerous educational and training facilities, including the University of Berne and the Berne University of Applied Sciences.

The city also benefits from an excellent transport infrastructure, with most major European cities accessible within a few hours. The city has its own airport, located just 9 kilometres to the southeast, which offers flights to a limited number of international destinations including Amsterdam, Berlin, Innsbruck, Munich and Vienna. In addition, the larger airports of Geneva and Zurich can be reached easily by train within 1-2 hours. Flight times from Berne, Geneva and Zurich to London are less than 2 hours, while flights from New York to Geneva and Zurich take approximately 10 hours and 7 hours respectively.