Santa Catarina Day in Bern highlights innovation and industrial cooperation

Santa Catarina Day was recently hosted in Bern, welcoming a delegation from the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina for a dedicated program focused on innovation, industrial cooperation, and economic development.

The delegation was led by Marilisa Boehm, Vice Governor of the State of Santa Catarina and included representatives of the state government, its investment promotion agency Invest SC, industry associations, and business leaders. Swiss counterparts included cantonal authorities, innovation platforms, and companies active in advanced manufacturing and applied technologies.

Political dialogue and applied innovation in the canton of Bern

The program took place in the canton of Bern and was hosted at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, where the delegation was welcomed by Christoph Ammann, Minister of Economic Affairs, Energy and Environment of the canton of Bern. The visit underlined the role of international cooperation in supporting innovation-led economic development and industrial competitiveness.

Santa Catarina Day brought together the Brazilian delegation and around 40 Bernese entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for exchanges on investment, exports, and technological cooperation. Discussions focused on shared priorities such as advanced manufacturing, automation, digitalization, and the integration of research into industrial applications.

During the visit, the delegation engaged with several applied research and competence centers located at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, including the Swiss Smart Factory, the Swiss Advanced Manufacturing Center, the Swiss Battery Technology Center, the Swiss HealthTech Center, and the Swiss Cobotics Competence Center (S3C). These exchanges showcased Switzerland’s strengths in Industry 4.0, robotics, advanced manufacturing processes, and sustainable production.

Concrete outcomes and long-term perspectives

A first concrete outcome of the visit was announced during Santa Catarina Day. Nanovetores, a biotechnology company based in Florianópolis and specializing in nano-encapsulation for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, confirmed its intention to establish operations in the canton of Bern, with the support of the Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa). The project illustrates how ecosystem-level exchanges can translate into tangible investment and business development opportunities.

The visit also builds on a cooperation agreement signed in 2025 between the State of Santa Catarina and the canton of Bern, providing a structured framework for continued collaboration.

More broadly, the discussions took place against the backdrop of the recently signed Switzerland–Mercosur free trade agreement, which opens new perspectives for trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between Switzerland and Brazil.

Strengthening a structured international partnership

Santa Catarina Day in Bern highlighted the value of connecting regional innovation ecosystems through political dialogue, business engagement, and applied research collaboration. By bringing together public authorities, innovation platforms, and companies from both sides, the event marked another step in the development of a long-term partnership between Santa Catarina and Western Switzerland, aimed at fostering sustainable industrial cooperation and innovation-driven growth.