Switzerland Is #1 in Innovation, But for How Long? (A Conversation with Alexandre Pauchard)

CSEM plays a pivotal role in Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem. As a public-private, non-profit technology center, it serves as a bridge between academia and industry, developing applied technologies in digital systems, sustainable energy, and advanced manufacturing. With 650 specialists across six locations, CSEM works with more than 250 companies each year to transform research into real-world impact.

The conversation goes beyond technology itself and examines the structural foundations of Switzerland’s innovation success. Alexandre explains how 70% of Swiss R&D is funded by industry, why large multinationals are increasing their investments while fewer SMEs are active in R&D, and why scale-up financing remains a critical weakness in the ecosystem. He also discusses the long time horizon of innovation, how today’s investment decisions will determine Switzerland’s position 10 to 20 years from now, and why complacency may be the greatest risk of all.

This episode is available on YouTube and Spotify.

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