Swiss Biotech Report 2025: International alliances strengthen industry

In 2024, the Swiss biotech sector maintained its turnover at CHF 7.2 billion, almost at the record level of the previous year (CHF 7.3 billion). Capital inflows rose by 22% to CHF 2.5 billion, while research expenditure as a key driver of innovation grew to CHF 2.6 billion. These are findings of the Swiss Biotech Report 2025, to which scienceindustries also participated.

The Swiss biotech sector is flourishing. In 2024, 324 biotech companies were active in research and development (R&D), 16 more than in the previous year. The number of employees grew by 1,500 to over 20,600. This increase was also due to the significant growth in the market for contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMO).

Turnover and product sales were supported by a high number of new market approvals, including for pioneering new therapies - an indication of the industry's innovative strength.

Privately held companies contributed a new record of CHF 1.4 billion to the total investment in research and development of CHF 2.6 billion. Private companies also reached a new high of CHF 833 million in capital inflows in 2024. Despite noticeable challenges on the financial and capital markets, the Swiss biotech sector proved remarkably robust.

International cooperation for innovative solutions

The umbrella theme of the Swiss Biotech Report 2025, “The power of international alliances”, is particularly relevant in view of the global political situation, where isolationist policies and "me-first“ approaches have gained traction.

With contributions from ten key stakeholders from different perspectives, the report illustrates how Switzerland is strengthening global partnerships along the entire life sciences value chain - from R&D to regulatory harmonization – thus making an important contribution to the entire industry.

Switzerland has a long tradition of developing innovative solutions in close collaboration with strong international partners, providing effective answers to global challenges.

Switzerland remains world champion in innovation

Switzerland has been at the top of the Global Innovation Index of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for 14 years without interruption. Important indicators here are the number and quality of scientific publications and patents.

Biotechnology is an important thematic focus here, and Switzerland is a global leader in terms of the number of citations. The majority of publications are produced in collaboration with international partners - a sign of Switzerland's good global networking.

Biotechnology: Economic power through innovation and international networking

With a 52% share of Switzerland's total exports in 2024, the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industry is a mainstay of Swiss foreign trade. 72% of export growth over the last 25 years is attributable to this industrial sector. Of particular importance are the significantly growing exports of biotechnologically produced immunological products, therapeutic antibodies and vaccines, which already account for 18.5% of Switzerland's total exports. This is shown in an article by scienceindustries in the Swiss Biotech Report.

Another scienceindustries article highlights innovative “biosolutions” from companies in Switzerland. These sustainable biotechnology products outside the pharmaceutical sector include, for example, bio-based plant protection products or health-promoting food ingredients. scienceindustries supports the “European Biosolutions Coalition” in the Europe-wide development of innovation-friendly framework conditions  – an example of a productive international alliance.

The Swiss Biotech Report 2025, which will be presented on Swiss Biotech Day on 6 May 2025 in Basel, is published by the Swiss Biotech Association in collaboration with EY, scienceindustries and seven other partner organizations. Every year, the report highlights the most important trends, innovation factors and sources of innovation and reports on topics and facts relating to the development of the Swiss biotech industry. The Swiss Biotech Report 2025 is available digitally at www.swissbiotechreport.ch.

Links

• scienceindustries contribution «Export statistics: The Science Industries - Driver for Swiss exports»
• scienceindustries contribution «Working together towards a more innovation-friendly European biotech framework»