Biotech

Thanks to its unique combination of academic excellence and a liberal economy, the Greater Zurich Area is one of the leading life science centers in Europe. The secret of success is simple: marrying first-class world-renowned academic institutions with strategic investors, business-friendly regulatory agencies, and leading IP protection strategies results in an unbeatable market advantage which allows companies to be one step ahead of the competition. 

Aided by the proximity to top pharmaceutical and medical technology companies such as Biogen, Amgen, Roche Diagnostics, Stryker, or Zimmer Biomet, outstanding academic achievements in the biomedical sciences serve as a motor for innovation. Joint activities of universities and private companies provide favorable conditions for both young start-up companies as well as large multinational corporations to produce pioneering innovation.

Download Map

Leading life sciences hub in Europe

In recent years, the Greater Zurich Area has evolved into a dynamically expanding center for the life sciences industry. Today, life sciences is one of the industries with the strongest representation in the region. In fact, the Greater Zurich Area is one of the most important life-sciences centers in Europe today. Many international companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology sectors have settled in the Greater Zurich Area, particularly companies in the field of rare diseases and oncology such as Blueprint Medicines, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, or Alnylam.

According to KPMG’s life sciences cluster report, Switzerland has the most life science clusters out of six examined European countries (UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, France and Switzerland). Approximately 40% of life science companies based in Switzerland perform R&D in the country and approximately 45% have their manufacturing in Switzerland. Switzerland has a relatively high 9% of phase 3 products in development. SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich is one of the leading European stock exchanges and is ranked first in the field of life sciences. Roughly 40% of the capital of European life science companies is currently traded at SIX. 

At the forefront of biotech research & innovation

The infrastructure offering for life sciences in the Greater Zurich Area is being expanded substantially. The Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich has transformed over the last 20 years into a nationally and internationally renowned park for life sciences. With 55,000 m2 of space, it provides infrastructure for more than 40 companies and various academic institutions comprising a mix of young startups, global companies and university clinics, institutes, and research groups. The Bio-Technopark supports entrepreneurs with tailored infrastructure solutions and promotes the exchange of ideas among all of the life science organizations located in its area. 

Balgrist Campus, an advanced research and development building for musculoskeletal medicine, accommodates 250 researchers and is located on the southeast side of Zurich in the lakeside area of University Clinic Balgrist.

Health Tech Cluster Switzerland (HTCS), located in the canton of Schwyz in the center of the Greater Zurich Area. HTCS is bringing together companies from medical technology, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and molecular biology. Several real estate projects are being planned in the area around HTCS.

While Davos in the Swiss Alps has a long-standing tradition in the surgical treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders (AO Foundation), the town currently extends its worldwide unique Medicine Campus Davos dedicated to the treatment, research and education in the fields of asthma, allergology, and cardiology. 

In Ticino, the Università della Svizzera italiana's Faculty of Biomedical Sciences features the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) focusing on immunology, and the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) specializing in cancer research. Additionally, the Life Sciences Competence Center at Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino directly connects academia with industry in biotechnology and healthcare, enhancing research and development in these areas.