“Research and innovation are the lifeblood of Chemistry Pharma Life Sciences.”
|
|
|
Switzerland and Horizon Europe – what’s next? During this session, scienceindustries, together with economiesuisse and swissmem, invited the national and state counsellors to an event on the most important EU research programme, Horizon Europe. Our board member Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, and I were able to discuss this issue with representatives from business and academia. While opinions varied on the best way forward, all those present agreed: we need to be fully associated with Horizon Europe again as soon as possible – for the sake of both academic and industrial research in Switzerland.
Innovation, research and the relationship with the EU, our most important economic and research partner, were also the focus of our Annual General Meeting held on 20 May at the impressive Innovation Centre of our member Givaudan in Kemptthal. In his guest address, Deputy State Secretary Patric Franzen explained the challenging situation following the termination of the negotiations for an institutional framework agreement and the – limited – opportunities for new negotiations. scienceindustries is strongly committed to clarifying the relationship as soon as possible and stabilising the tried-and-tested bilateral relations with the EU.
This “scienceindustries news” also contains new articles in our current dossier “140 Years of Innovation” on the occasion of scienceindustries’ anniversary, as well as the second guest article in our new series "Carte Blanche", this time by Michael Altorfer, Director of the Swiss Biotech Association. As he and the Biotech Report 2022 show, this sector is an important driver of innovation in our industries. However, in order to guarantee our competitiveness, appropriate framework conditions are needed, including patent protection, which are being discussed at the WTO Ministerial Conference. And finally: nothing works without young talent – that’s why our industries are strongly committed to promoting technology and the natural sciences with SimplyScience… take a look and be inspired!
Best regards
Stephan Mumenthaler, Director of scienceindustries
|
|
Closer to home
Annual General Meeting of scienceindustries
The Annual General Meeting of scienceindustries on 20 May 2022 focused on our 140th anniversary. As was the case back in 1882, the Chemistry Pharma Life Sciences industries will continue to prioritise good framework conditions in the future. This includes, in particular, sustainable relations with the EU, our most important trading partner, including renewed full association with the most important research programme, Horizon Europe.
In addition to the anniversary of scienceindustries, the Annual General Meeting focused on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU with a presentation by Patric Franzen, Deputy State Secretary FDFA and Head of the Europe Department. scienceindustries supports the rapid stabilisation of relations, as the EU is the most important market for our export-oriented industries and also the most important procurement market for our members’ raw materials. In addition, Switzerland faces the risk of losing its leading position – hard-won over many decades – in research and development as well as the loss of skilled workers in the face of increasing competition for talent.
The innovative strength of our industries also includes digitisation, which was spurred on by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s important to continue this momentum going forward. Innovation is and will remain key to the success of our members and to solving the major societal challenges of the future.
|
|
scienceindustries anniversary
140 years of scienceindustries: Products for our quality of life
The products of our members contribute to progress, enhance our quality of life and create solutions for the major societal challenges of our time. In our dossier "140 years of innovation" we highlight key aspects of the development of our industries and analyse why the chemical-pharmaceutical industry is increasingly playing the role of growth driver in the Swiss economy.
The average life expectancy in Switzerland in 1882, the year scienceindustries was founded, was only around 43 years. In the meantime, it has almost doubled to 83.7 years. Products from the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries make a decisive contribution to a longer life with a rising standard of living and a high quality of life. At the same time, they provide answers to the great challenges of our time, such as demographic development and climate change.
In Switzerland, the chemical-pharmaceutical industry is one of the best-performing sectors, with above-average growth rates and a significant share of overall economic output. Thanks to specialisation and consistently high investments by our members in research & development, they are well positioned even in difficult times. You can also read about the framework conditions that make this possible in our current dossier "140 Years of Innovation".
|
|
Relations with the EU
Switzerland and Horizon Europe: what’s next?
For the members of scienceindustries, it is essential that Switzerland be fully associated with Horizon Europe in order to ensure their innovative strength and access to high-profile young talent. Together with economiesuisse, swissmem and university representatives, we reiterated this demand at a parliamentary event on 30 May 2022.
With a budget of almost 100 billion euros, Horizon Europe 2021-2027 is the world’s largest research programme. However, until further notice Switzerland will be unable to participate fully. In response to the failed negotiations on a framework agreement our country has been downgraded by the EU to a non-associated third country.
What does this non-association mean for Swiss universities, research and business? And what measures need to be taken to maintain the international attractiveness of Switzerland as a centre of research and innovation in the long term? Representatives of industry and academia discussed these and other questions with members of the Swiss parliament at the Horizon Europe event on 30 May – more information can be found in the following article and in the video statements by our Director Stephan Mumenthaler and our Board member Carlo Centonze.
|
|
Competitiveness
Patent protection: key element of successful pandemic control
Research-focused pharmaceutical companies have developed effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19 in record time. Such research activity relies on the effective protection of intellectual property rights, both now and in the future. The proposals for the suspension of intellectual property rights submitted in the run-up to the WTO Ministerial Conference (12-15 June 2022) are neither expedient nor sustainable.
The COVAX Facility delivered 1.2 billion doses of vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, vaccination of the delivered doses has been slow in many recipient countries. A total of approximately 780 million doses of vaccine have not been used to date due to limited infrastructure and are lying in stock in recipient countries.
Production therefore isn't the main reason for the low vaccination rate. Some of the reasons include a lack of distribution logistics, a shortage of skilled workers and weak health systems. The suspension of patent rights (TRIPS waiver) won't increase the vaccination rate in these countries, but will call into question the ability to develop new vaccines and drugs in the face of future challenges.
|
|
Education, research, innovation
Swiss Biotech Report 2022: industry as a driver of innovation
The biotech industry is thriving: research expenditure (R&D) by Swiss biotech companies rose to a record high of CHF 2.56 billion in 2021, with companies receiving CHF 3.33 billion in investments. This is shown by the recently published Swiss Biotech Report 2022, in which scienceindustries is also involved.
The Swiss Biotech Report 2022 examines the sources of Swiss innovation power from the perspective of the key partners in the innovation ecosystem. Thanks to this, Switzerland has been at the top of the global innovation index for over a decade. The life sciences industry is a central pillar of the Swiss economy.
At the same time, the industry makes an indispensable contribution to the common good: among other things, it develops and manufactures new active ingredients against diseases such as COVID-19. Biotechnological processes are also increasingly supporting more sustainable production processes, for example in agriculture, and are thus helping to conserve the environment and our natural resources.
|
|
SimplyScience
Arousing interest in technology and the natural sciences
The "tun" experience shows promote interest in technology and science among children and young people: With stands at tunOstSchweiz and tunBasel, SimplyScience presents the natural sciences with playful experiments. A total of almost 20,000 children and young people attended the shows.
The aim of the "tun" experience shows is to ignite a passion for technology and the natural sciences in children and young people in a playful way. At the same time, it showcases the corresponding professions and courses of study. The interest in these shows is outstanding: tunOstschweiz attracted around 5,000 visitors, while tunBasel attracted 14,500, the majority of them children and young people.
At the stands, they were able to carry out technical and scientific experiments and find out more about careers in this field. The SimplyScience Foundation is an initiative of scienceindustries and was present with stands at both shows, presenting experiments such as “Manufacture and dye cooling pads yourself” and “Mirror drawing” – tunSolothurn will take place in the Rythalle Soledurn, Solothurn from 3 to 9 November 2022.
|
|
scienceindustries is the Swiss business association for the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Its around 250 member companies generate more than 98% of their revenues abroad. As Switzerland's biggest export industry, this sector contributes 50% to total exports and almost 40% to private research expenses in Switzerland.
Stephan Mumenthaler, Director
Pia Guggenbühl, Head of Public Affairs and Communication
|
|
|
|
|
