Top Stories from Western Switzerland (April 2026)

From Switzerland’s world-leading AI talent density to a EUR 40 million medtech raise and new milestones in fermentation and robotics, discover Western Switzerland’s top stories from April 2026.

He Transformed Galenica, Reinvented the NZZ, Then Started Over at 67 (with Etienne Jornod)

In this episode of Getting Serious, Etienne Jornod traces his journey from transforming Galenica into Vifor Pharma to restructuring NZZ into a profitable digital media company, and launching a new biotech venture at 67, sharing his philosophy on entrepreneurship and Switzerland as a place to build.

Why Meanwhile established its Swiss base at the Marly Innovation Center

French robotics company Meanwhile established its Swiss subsidiary at the Marly Innovation Center in Fribourg, marking its first international expansion. The move brings collaborative mobile robots for intralogistics transport closer to clients in Switzerland’s watchmaking, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor sectors.

Le Paradigme Bitcoin returns to Neuchâtel for its fifth edition on 26–27 June 2026

Neuchâtel’s annual Bitcoin conference returns for its fifth edition on 26–27 June 2026, targeting 400 participants from across the French-speaking world. The event explores Bitcoin through nine thematic lenses, from economics and energy to governance and game theory.

ONWARD Medical raises EUR 40 million to extend ARC therapy commercialization

ONWARD Medical raised EUR 40.6 million through a bookbuild offering anchored by a EUR 25 million investment from EQT Life Sciences, extending its cash runway into Q1 2028 to advance ARC Therapy commercialization across the US, Europe, and international markets. For a deeper look at the science behind ARC Therapy, listen to our Getting Serious conversation with Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, whose pioneering research laid the foundation for ONWARD’s technology.

CSEM, Insel Gruppe, and University of Bern extend Bern medtech collaboration for three more years

The applied research partnership between CSEM, Insel Gruppe, and the University of Bern has been extended for three years, building on 32 medtech projects launched since 2023 across cardiology, neurology, gynecology, and surgery. For a broader perspective on CSEM’s role in Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem, listen to our Getting Serious conversation with CSEM CEO Alexandre Pauchard.

Switzerland tops the 2026 Stanford AI Index for AI talent density

Switzerland ranked first globally for AI talent density in Stanford’s 2026 AI Index, recording 110.5 AI researchers per 100,000 inhabitants, ahead of Singapore and well above European peers, reflecting the country’s dense research ecosystem and growing hiring momentum.

Planetary raises CHF 22 million to scale fermentation technology globally

Geneva-based Planetary closed a CHF 22 million raise to expand its global fermentation technology licensing platform and consumer product rollout, building on the only commercial mycoprotein production site in continental Europe, located in Aarberg in the canton of Bern.

Western Switzerland to enforce a mandatory four-day work week from 2027 𓆟

The cantons of Western Switzerland jointly announced “Work West 4.0,” a mandatory four-day work week effective January 2027, with no salary reduction. The initiative positions the region as a pioneer in work-life balance and talent attraction in a competitive global landscape.