Switzerland used Nordic Life Science Days 2025 to make a clear case for why the country remains one of Europe’s most stable and collaborative environments for biotech and pharmaceutical innovation.

At the session Life Science in Switzerland – why, where, how, speakers from Switzerland Global Enterprise, Innovaud and the Swiss Business Hub Nordics outlined how strong public-private cooperation, dense research networks and pragmatic regulation have made Switzerland a magnet for international companies.

Moderated by Gustav Henriksson, head of the Swiss Business Hub Nordics at the Embassy of Switzerland in Sweden, the discussion brought together Nicolas Panzer, senior manager life science at Switzerland Global Enterprise, and Frédéric Reymond, senior investment officer life sciences and foodtech at Innovaud.

A ‘good neighbourhood’ for innovation

Panzer opened with an analogy that captured the tone of the session. “When you build a house, you think about where to build it,” he said. “When it comes to life sciences, Switzerland is one of the best neighbourhoods you can build your house in.”

He described a landscape populated by both multinational companies and a critical mass of smaller organisations: “You have Roche, Novartis, Lonza, all the big companies, but you also have more than 1000 smaller biotech, CDMOs and CROs that contribute to this neighbourhood.”

The strength of the ecosystem, he added, comes not only from infrastructure and transport but from the quality of education and the accessibility of talent. “You have ETH, EPFL, and the bios — all leading institutions in modern medicine and biology. When you walk on the streets of that neighbourhood, you will meet a lot of talented people.”

Panzer said collaboration is a defining cultural trait: “Industry collaborates with universities and public-private partnerships. The state at both federal and local level actively encourages research and development.” He also highlighted “trust and reliability” between business and government, describing Switzerland as a place where regulators and industry “are easily approachable” and bureaucratic barriers are minimal.

Regional strengths and sector diversity

Taking the floor next, Reymond focused on the Lake Geneva region, which he called Switzerland’s largest life science cluster in terms of company density. “Basel is the European capital for the pharmaceutical business,” he said, “but here in our region, we have more than 1,200 companies in the life science sector.”

The mix spans biopharma, medtech, digital health and service providers. “In such a small region, you will find all the expertise you need to develop your business,” Reymond said, noting examples such as Onward Therapeutics, developing spinal cord injury treatments, and the US-based company Insight, which chose to build its first manufacturing plant in the region “mainly because of the talent they can attract”.

Reymond also described Lausanne as an emerging oncology hub. “We have pioneering groups dedicated to immunotherapy treatments, with translational research centres that enable companies to test new molecules in patients and collaborate with expert physicians,” he said.

Stability, flexibility and talent flow

Both speakers emphasised Switzerland’s political and economic stability and the flexibility of its labour laws, which make it relatively easy to hire or downsize as needed. “We spend quite a lot on research and development,” Reymond said. “It’s a way to acquire the talent you need to run your business.”

He added that Switzerland’s small domestic market drives export orientation and free-trade agreements: “We were the first in Europe to have one with China, which really opens the gate to the world.”

Talent mobility is another differentiator. Reymond said: “Switzerland is very attractive for people. With free movement across the European Union, you can come and work in Switzerland as long as you have a contract. More than 25% of the workforce nationwide — and a third in some regions — are non-Swiss.”

Panzer pointed to the role of universities of applied sciences, which connect vocational education directly with industry. “Their courses are orientated on what the industry needs, what the current technology is,” he said. “That’s maybe not so well known abroad, but it creates very practical expertise.”

Networks and innovation infrastructure

The speakers also highlighted the country’s network of innovation parks, often linked to federal institutes of technology. Reymond said these “techno parks” act as gateways for companies entering the Swiss ecosystem. “When you’re part of these parks, it’s a chance to develop faster, to meet peers and generate new ideas.”

In addition, soft-landing programmes help foreign companies assess opportunities before committing to expansion. “At EPFL, there’s a dedicated programme for companies to come for one to three months with support tailored to their project,” Reymond said. “It opens doors to universities and companies so you can make an informed decision about where to go.”

Money and mindset

Despite Switzerland’s wealth, both speakers acknowledged that venture capital remains limited domestically. “Switzerland is a country of bankers, so they are adverse to risk,” Reymond said. “About 80% of venture capital investment in Switzerland comes from abroad. Do not come to Switzerland just for raising money — come to develop your business. It’s a platform open to the world.”

Panzer agreed that European collaboration is key to addressing this gap. “European investors come more and more together,” he said. “One country alone cannot stand against the deep capital markets of the US, but collectively Europe can.”

For Nordic life science companies, the message was clear: Switzerland offers not just tax stability and quality infrastructure, but an interlinked ecosystem where academia, government and industry collaborate closely — a “neighbourhood” designed for innovation.