Western Switzerland welcomes the North Carolina Research Triangle Regional Partnership

Led by Ryan Combs, Executive Director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the delegation brought together senior representatives from economic development organizations, universities, biotech institutions, innovation hubs, and industry across North Carolina. Participants represented a broad spectrum of the Research Triangle ecosystem, including life sciences, food innovation, advanced technologies, and international business development.

Life sciences and applied innovation

The delegation arrived in Geneva on Tuesday, January 27, before beginning the official program the following morning. The first morning focused on the life sciences ecosystem in the canton of Geneva. The delegation was welcomed at Campus Biotech, where representatives of the Cantonal Office for Economy and Innovation (OCEI) provided an overview of Geneva’s life sciences sector. This was followed by a presentation of the Campus Biotech Foundation and a guided visit of its technology platforms.

The morning continued with a presentation of BioAlps, highlighting the intercantonal coordination of life sciences across Western Switzerland, before the delegation traveled to Yverdon-les-Bains in the canton of Vaud.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited Y-PARC Swiss Technopole, where they were welcomed with a presentation of the canton of Vaud and Innovaud services, followed by a presentation Y-PARC. The visit included an exchange with Ecorobotix, showcasing Swiss innovation in agricultural robotics and precision technologies. The day concluded at Agropôle Switzerland, where the delegation was introduced to the new building and the evolving Agropôle concept, illustrating the link between innovation, agriculture, and food systems.

Research, innovation and nutrition

On Thursday, January 29, the program continued in Lausanne with a focus on research, innovation, and nutrition. The delegation visited Biopôle, beginning with a welcome coffee and introductions, followed an overview of Biopôle’s corporate ecosystem. A guided tour included presentations of New Biologix, a visit to StartLab, and an introduction to TwinEdge Bioscience, highlighting the site’s support for start-ups and scale-ups.

The delegation then moved to the EPFL campus, where lunch was held at the Montreux Jazz Café EPFL in the presence of representatives from EPFL and Switzerland Innovation Park West EPFL. The afternoon included a visit to La Forge at EPFL Innovation Park, followed by a series of presentations covering Switzerland Innovation Park West EPFL, the EPFL Vice Presidency for Innovation and Impact, the EPFL Startup Launchpad, and the broader EPFL Innovation Park ecosystem.

The day concluded at EHL (Hospitality Business School Lausanne) with a presentation of the EHL Institute of Nutrition R&D, followed by an aperitif and dinner bringing together institutional and economic partners. The dinner took place in the presence of Isabelle Moret, State Councillor of the canton of Vaud, highlighting the close integration of public policy, research, and economic development in Switzerland.

Food innovation, microtechnology and health ecosystems

On Friday, January 30, the program split into parallel tracks. One part of the delegation traveled to Fribourg for a sequence dedicated to food research and nutrition. The delegation was met by the Fribourg Development agency (FDA), which was followed by meetings focused on the Food Research and Innovation Center and the Cluster Food & Nutrition, with contributions from researchers at the University of Fribourg and representatives of the Adolphe Merkle Institute, highlighting the links between fundamental research, life sciences, and applied innovation.

In Neuchâtel, another group was met by the invest Neuchâtel team, and visited the CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology), followed with a presentation of CSEM’s activities and a visit of the showroom, illustrating Switzerland’s strengths in microtechnology, engineering, and applied research.

The delegation reconvened in Bern, where a luncheon hosted by North Carolina took place at the Bellevue Palace Hotel. The afternoon continued with visits and meetings at sitem-insel, including presentations of the Bern life sciences ecosystem by the Bern Economic Development Agency, as well as contributions from the Diabetes Center Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences, and the Artorg Center for Biomedical Engineering Research. The Bern program also included a meeting with Damien Cottier, Member of the Swiss National Council.

Strengthening a long-term transatlantic dialogue

Throughout the program, clear parallels emerged between the Research Triangle region and Western Switzerland. Both regions combine strong academic foundations, internationally recognized research capabilities, and structured innovation ecosystems, with a proven ability to translate research excellence into industrial, commercial, and societal impact across sectors such as life sciences, digital health, food innovation, and advanced manufacturing.

This visit marks another step in a long-term transatlantic dialogue, aimed at transforming shared strengths into concrete collaboration opportunities between North Carolina and Western Switzerland.