The Greater Geneva Region is achieving an exceptional international importance in leading edge developments in Life Sciences. Alongside many internationally well-known companies there has been an incredible spawning of start-ups and spin-offs in the region stretching along the northern shore of the Lake of Geneva.

BioBridge initiative

BioBridge is a joint Geneva-Quebec initiative that reflects Geneva’s unique global position as it has developed over the years with one foot firmly in the English-speaking world and the other in the French-speaking world. No city in the world has so comfortably facilitated the co-existence of French and English as Geneva.

BioBridge is linked to the major Quebec development of Biotech City, the ambitious Montreal site opened this year and seen as the second most important Life Sciences’ site in North America. The State of Geneva is actively supporting the concept of the ‘bridge’ as facilitating the development of public and private sector link-ups specifically with North America and the Greater Geneva Region. The aim is to develop collaboration in the field of biotech between Quebec and the Greater Geneva Region where there is a concentration of major companies and start-ups in Life Science fields.

BioAlps initiative

In a survey of European biotech capability by the leading US magazine Science, the Greater Geneva Region was identified as the most important biotech research centre of excellence in mainland Europe on the basis of a per capita productivity comparison of over 40 European biotech centres.

Husbanded by Lausanne, five leading Swiss academic institutions and two R&D centres in the Greater Geneva Region have joined forces with Geneva and Lausanne to launch an ambitious initiative aimed at presenting the exceptional biotech research capabilities available in the region under the name ‘BioAlps’.

Swiss productivity

Switzerland continues to be the most attractive country in Europe for companies in Life Sciences because of high productivity. Heavy ongoing investment by Swiss industry has led to an exceptionally productive environment. Commercially, Switzerland is leading Europe in turnover per employee in pharmaceuticals at 234 000 Euros; the UK follows at 112 000 Euros and Germany at 73 000 Euros, according to a spokesman of Ernst & Young.

Ideal location for biotech companies

The Greater Geneva Region offers an exceptional growth environment for companies in Life Sciences. The region hosts a wealth of companies and organisations devoted to leading edge developments with Geneva serving as a focal point due to its internationally oriented infrastructure.

The region offers leading edge competency in pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biotechnology, micro-technology, precision instruments and medical devices. Thus the region has become a magnet for many multinational healthcare and life science companies as well as specialist biotech-related companies and institutions.

Basic to the success of such an environment is an orientation to scientific and technological research and development. Thus there are a number of leading universities, graduate schools, R&D facilities and technology centres throughout the region while modern hospitals, clinics and medical schools welcome cooperation with industry.

Economic Promotion Agencies throughout the Greater Geneva Region are tuned to helping incoming companies set up locally in record time.

Visit

Geneva region: ideal location for global healthcare and life science companies: Link

Geneva – Crossroads of European biotech: Link

Reducing biotech time-to-market: Lnk

Geneva in healthcare & life sciences: Link

Geneva’s world-class infrastructure and advantages

‘Why high-tech leaders choose Geneva’: Link

US team identifies Geneva’s winning formula - Location, Language, Lifestyle, Labor and Laws : Link

World-class infrastructure: Link Ideal business location at the heart of Europe: Link International Geneva: Link

Multiinational companies in Geneva: Link

International organisations in Geneva: Link