Life Sciences

N°1 in Life Sciences

Chemical and pharmaceutical products account for more than half of Swiss exports, and Switzerland boasts one of the highest per capita densities of biotech and medtech companies in the world. SIX Swiss Exchange is one of Europe’s leading listing venues for life sciences companies. Approximately 35% of the capital of European life sciences companies is traded on SIX Swiss Exchange, which reflects Switzerland’s deep historical ties with this sector. Moreover, Switzerland boasts the world’s highest per capita density of bio and medtech companies, showcasing its robust ecosystem for innovation and growth in these industries. Key players such as Medtronic, Ferring, Edwards Lifesciences, CSL Behring, Incyte, Merck, Takeda and Alcon, to name a few, have made Western Switzerland their home, further solidifying the region’s prominence in the life sciences sector.

Excellent infrastructure

Western Switzerland offers a robust infrastructure for the life sciences sector, including technology and innovation parks, research centers, labs, and state-of-the-art equipment. Geneva’s Campus Biotech is renowned as a center of excellence for biotechnology and life sciences research, while Lausanne’s Biopôle specializes in areas such as oncology, immunology, medtech, personalized medicine, nutrition, and digital health. Bern’s sitem-insel serves as the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, fostering the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. Additionally, the region leverages the expertise of the BioAlps Association, dedicated to creating synergies between academia, entrepreneurs, investors, authorities and start-ups in the life sciences sector.

A leading position in the medtech industry

With its 1,400 manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers, Switzerland has the largest number of companies involved in medical technologies per resident in Europe. Switzerland has some 1,400 medtech companies, around 95% of them SMEs. The sector employs nearly 72,000 people, generates annual revenue of CHF 26 billion and exports goods worth around CHF 12 billion. Statistics this significant cannot be found in any other country. Numerous suppliers, manufacturers, and international trading companies thrive in the field of medtech, specializing in biomaterials, cardiovascular and dental devices, implants, diabetic devices, electro-medical equipment, orthopedic and ophthalmologic imaging, respiratory equipment, surgical instruments, and wound treatment. The region also hosts companies specializing in automation, micro-machining, and micro-assembly, crucial for the medtech industry.