Greater Zurich is a leading location for international life science companies

Life sciences in the Greater Zurich Area

Do you want to be close to major players, innovative start-ups and leading research institutes in the life sciences space? The Greater Zurich Area has evolved into a dynamically expanding life sciences hotspot, thanks to the region’s academic excellence, business-friendly regulations, IP protection, large international talent pool and R&D collaborations between universities and start-ups, as well as large multinational corporations.

The Greater Zurich Area fuels success of life sciences in Switzerland

Life sciences companies in the Greater Zurich Area utilize the unique business climate for advancements in research and development. Large multinational corporations have turned the region into a true biotech hub. Plus, some of the top pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland are located in Greater Zurich. Moreover, Switzerland is a worldwide leader in the medical technology sector. The country tops the rankings for the sector's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).

Europe’s innovation hub for biotech, pharma, and medtech

Discover the facts and figures for the Life Science ecosystem in Greater Zurich and why international companies choose this innovative location to shape the future of health.

Download Factsheet

Biotech

The Greater Zurich Area is a leading location for top biotech companies in Europe. The region attracts capital and researchers from across the globe. It is home to some of the most innovative businesses in the world. Key European biotechnology companies who chose Greater Zurich include Biogen, Alnylam, Johnson & Johnson, Apellis, and Amgen.

Biotech companies in Greater Zurich can secure opportunities rarely seen in other places, e.g. from the flexible labor laws, a stable economic environment and a highly qualified workforce. Pharmaceutical companies receive the same benefits. The Greater Zurich Area truly is one of the finest biotech hubs in Europe.

Learn more here

Medical technology

It is no coincidence that the Greater Zurich Area is home to so many world-class patents for medical technology as nowhere else in Europe. Technology leaders such as Roche Diagnostics, Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, Hamilton, Sonova, Cardinal Health and DePuy Synthes (Johnson&Johnson) operate headquarters or research and production facilities here. They value the large pool of international specialists, the R&D collaborations with leading universities and start-ups, the protection of intellectual property and the business-friendly environment. Would your medtech company also like to write a success story in the Greater Zurich Area?

Learn more here

Virtually explore biotech & medtech in the Greater Zurich Area

Discover the Greater Zurich Area with our virtual platform. Explore the vibrant biotech & medtech ecosystems and find the ideal space for your business, whether it's an industrial site, tech park, lab space, or co-working space. Start your virtual journey today and unlock the region's potential!

Explore now

Featured life sciences content

First patient in the USA is treated with denovoSkin from CUTISS

Schlieren/Boston - A four-year-old boy has received two transplants at Massachusetts General Hospital using denovoSkin from CUTISS. This is the first time a patient in the USA has been treated with the biotechnology company’s dermo-epidermal skin transplant.

UZH researchers develop method for transport of large genes

Zurich - Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have developed a new method for transporting large genes, enabling them to be transferred efficiently and without significant side effects. This approach has strong potential for applications in gene therapy.

SBAS artificial intelligence interprets blood test results

Zurich - Zurich-based Smart Blood Analytics Swiss has become the first company to obtain EU-MDR certification for software that uses artificial intelligence to interpret blood test results. This will enable faster and more accurate clinical decisions.

UZH researcher receives Life Science Award

Zurich/Baku - Oliver Ullrich, Director of the UZH Space Hub and professor at the Institute of Anatomy, has been awarded the Life Sciences Award by the International Academy of Astronautics. The aerospace medicine expert is being recognized for his innovative research in space life sciences, a field he has been instrumental in establishing.

Spin-offs, synergies & visions of the future: An interview with Mario Jenni

The Bio-Technopark Schlieren has established itself as the heart of the life sciences scene in Zurich and serves as a breeding ground for innovative start-ups and spin-offs. Mario Jenni, the CEO and co-founder of the Technopark, is at the centre of its rapid growth and research. Zürich Tourism talked to him about the founding, the recipe for success and the promising spin-offs that are shaping the life sciences world from this location.

Balgrist University Hospital opens new research center OR-X

Zurich - Balgrist University Hospital has marked the opening of a new teaching and research center. With the fully equipped operating room OR-X and a Skills Lab, the aim is to offer the perfect environment for medical innovation and surgical training.

House of Lab Science opens in The Valley

Kemptthal - Young food and biotech companies can occupy fully equipped and maintained labs in The Valley from March 2025. The owners of the former Maggi area are fully kitting out the 1,500 square meters of the new House of Lab Science, which is looking for suitable renters for this space.

UZH takes on pioneering role for One Health

Zurich - Three faculties at the University of Zurich (UZH) have founded the first One Health Institute at a European university. The disciplines of veterinary medicine, human medicine, and natural sciences plan to research the interaction between the health of humans, animals, and the environment in an interdisciplinary way.

Swiss biotech achieves record sales again in 2022

Zurich/Basel - The Swiss biotech sector achieved record figures for sales, investments and employment in 2022, according to the latest Swiss Biotech Report. The companies Sophia Genetics and Humabs BioMed were recognized at the Swiss Biotech Success Stories Awards, presented during the Swiss Biotech Day in Basel.

AiEndoscopic wins the Swiss Innovation Challenge

Pratteln - AiEndoscopic is the main winner of the Swiss Innovation Challenge 2022. The company, which specializes in smart tracheal endoscopies, also claimed the Life Sciences Special Award. The cleantech start-up Perovskia Solar finished in second place, with the medtech firm Spirecut rounding off the top three.

Rankings, facts and figures

354 biotech companies and suppliers employ 19,132 people

Source: Swiss Biotech Report

CHF 6.8 billion in revenue from the area biotech industry

Source: Swiss Biotech Report

Over CHF 2.7 billion in biotech R&D investments

Source: Swiss Biotech Report

1,400 medical technology companies employ 67,500 employees

Source: Swiss Medical Technology Industry – Sector Study

CHF 20.8 billion seen in medical technology revenue

Source: Swiss Medical Technology Industry – Sector Study

#1 Mid-sized European City of the future

Source: Financial Times fDi Intelligence

#1 Global Innovation Index

Source: WIPO

#1 Global Talent Competitiveness Index

Source: INSEAD

Downloads

PDF ( 1.33 MB )

Factsheet "Greater Zurich - Home to leaders in Life Sciences"

Discover why Greater Zurich is the location of choice for leading Life Sciences companies.

PDF ( 746.50 KB )

Whitepaper "The Future of Health - Life Science Hub Greater Zurich Area"

Discover Greater Zurich as Europe's leading Life Sciences hub for BioTech, MedTech, and Pharma.

PDF ( 2.83 MB )

Whitepaper "Unlocking European markets for BioPharma"

Explore strategic pathways for U.S. BioPharma expansions into Europe and Switzerland.

PDF ( 3.53 MB )

Whitepaper "U.S. Biopharma Expansions to Europe"

Insights from biotech leaders regarding timing, regulations, and choice of location.

PDF ( 411.62 KB )

Whitepaper "Avoiding pitfalls of U.S. biotech companies coming to Europe"

Learn from industry leaders about talent, tax, and intellectual property.

PDF ( 3.99 MB )

Whitepaper "Transitioning from local R&D to global commercial in BioPharma"

Learn about success factors for BioPharma expanding outside of the U.S. and commercialization.

PDF ( 533.52 KB )

BioTech companies in Greater Zurich Ecosystem (Map)

Discover biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the Greater Zurich Area with our map.

PDF ( 716.14 KB )

MedTech companies in Greater Zurich ecosystem (Map)

Discover MedTech companies and key players in Greater Zurich with our ecosystem map.

PDF ( 285.14 KB )

Brochure "Greater Zurich at a glance"

Learn more about the advantages of doing business in the Greater Zurich Area.

PDF ( 609.15 KB )

Switzerland’s biotech cluster

The PDF takes a look at the biotech industry’s developments and innovation in the region.

PDF ( 368.30 KB )

Expansion Guide Greater Zurich Area

Why Greater Zurich is the ideal business expansion location for international tech companies.

Meet with an expert

Let us connect you with the right person to learn more about how the Greater Zurich Area Ltd can support your business needs.

Our services are free of charge and include:

Introductions to key contacts in industry, academia and government
Advice on regulatory framework, taxes, labor market and setting up a company
Custom-made fact-finding visits including office and co-working space

Schedule a meeting

Featured lab space and shovel-ready industrial sites

If you're looking for lab space or industrial sites in the Greater Zurich Area to launch your strategic expansion, please check out our featured greenfields and lab, warehouse or manufacturing spaces.

Learn more

Industrial sites and buildings_teaser_1080x720

Read our success stories

Align Technology

Alnylam

Alnylam is the biotech industry pioneer leading the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into an innovative approach to medicine. The US-based company established its European headquarters in Zug in the Greater Zurich Area in 2016.

Amgen

Amgen, a biotechnology leader since 1980, operates its pivotal Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Canada (ELMAC) Hub from Rotkreuz in the Greater Zurich Area. This strategic hub, as well as Amgen Switzerland, plays a crucial role in the company's ongoing efforts to develop treatments for serious illnesses and extend its influence across these diverse regions.

Biogen

The cantons of Zug and Solothurn in the Greater Zurich Area are ideal locations for Biogen’s international headquarters due to the favorable environment it provides for businesses and employees.

Blueprint Medicines

Blueprint Medicines was attracted to Zug and Zurich for their thriving biotech community and central location in Europe.

Cardinal Health

Hamilton

Hamilton is a worldwide leader in the areas of laboratory automation, sensor and medical technology. Since 1966, the the US company has been operating its product development and assembly in the Greater Zurich Area and also manages its marketing activities for Europe, Asia and Africa from this base.

HUMABS BioMed

Humabs BioMed, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology, based in Greater Zurich, uses its immunologic expertise and cutting-edge technology to combat infectious diseases and other serious conditions. They are a pioneer in the discovery, engineering, and early development of human monoclonal antibodies, and have helped Vir transform the infectious disease landscape.

Life sciences in the Greater Zurich Area

The Greater Zurich Area fuels success of life sciences in Switzerland

Europe’s innovation hub for biotech, pharma, and medtech

Europe’s innovation hub for biotech, pharma, and medtech

Biotech

Biotech

Medical technology

Medical technology

Virtually explore biotech & medtech in the Greater Zurich Area

Virtually explore biotech & medtech in the Greater Zurich Area

Featured life sciences content

First patient in the USA is treated with denovoSkin from CUTISS

UZH researchers develop method for transport of large genes

SBAS artificial intelligence interprets blood test results

UZH researcher receives Life Science Award

Spin-offs, synergies & visions of the future: An interview with Mario Jenni

Balgrist University Hospital opens new research center OR-X

House of Lab Science opens in The Valley

UZH takes on pioneering role for One Health

Swiss biotech achieves record sales again in 2022

AiEndoscopic wins the Swiss Innovation Challenge

Rankings, facts and figures

354 biotech companies and suppliers employ 19,132 people

CHF 6.8 billion in revenue from the area biotech industry

Over CHF 2.7 billion in biotech R&D investments

1,400 medical technology companies employ 67,500 employees

CHF 20.8 billion seen in medical technology revenue

#1 Mid-sized European City of the future

#1 Global Innovation Index

#1 Global Talent Competitiveness Index

Downloads

Meet with an expert

Meet with an expert

Featured lab space and shovel-ready industrial sites

Featured lab space and shovel-ready industrial sites

Read our success stories

Align Technology

Alnylam

Amgen

Biogen

Blueprint Medicines

Cardinal Health

Hamilton

HUMABS BioMed

Stryker

Trumpf

Zimmer Biomet

Sign up for biotech news from Greater Zurich

Quick Links

Get in touch