Life sciences in the Swiss Health Valley: CHF 28 billion and counting

How much do life sciences really weigh in the economy of Western Switzerland? A new study answers that for the first time in a systematic way. BAK Economics wrote it for the Groupement Romand de l’Industrie Pharmaceutique (GRIP), was published earlier this week. It covers the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Vaud and Valais.

The most productive sector in the region

Life sciences companies in Western Switzerland generate around CHF 20.6 billion in direct gross value added. That is about 7% of the regional economy, with 38,155 full-time equivalents. Between 2015 and 2025, real value added more than quadrupled and employment rose by 55%. At CHF 539,000 per job, productivity is more than three times the regional average and nearly double that of finance. Almost one employee in two holds a university degree. The region now accounts for 29% of Swiss life sciences value added.

A ripple effect across the economy

Including indirect and induced effects, total value added reaches CHF 28.3 billion. Every CHF 100 created in life sciences generates about CHF 40 more in other sectors. Over 83,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on the sector, so each life sciences job supports more than one job elsewhere. Total income effects amount to CHF 9 billion. Exports reached CHF 17.1 billion in 2025, split almost evenly between Europe and the Americas.

An ecosystem built on proximity

The study points to a rare density of actors along the entire value chain:

• six universities, including EPFL
• three of Switzerland’s five university hospitals
• research institutes and innovation parks
• global groups, specialised SMEs and a lively start-up scene

Western Switzerland accounts for 36% of Swiss life sciences start-ups founded between 2020 and 2024, which attracted CHF 10.5 billion in venture capital. It also produces 36% of Swiss life sciences patents, rising to 41% in medtech. Around half of the country’s world-class medtech patents come from the region. The report also mentions the Biotools Community, launched in March 2026 by Innovaud, BioAlps and Biopôle Lausanne, as an example of how the region’s players work together.

Strengths to defend

Companies surveyed praise political stability, access to talent, competitive taxation and academic excellence. The study also flags clear priorities:

• The regulatory environment shows the widest gap between how much it matters and how well the region is seen to perform.
• The OECD minimum tax puts pressure on existing tax advantages.
• Access to high-quality health data for AI is becoming a key competitive factor.

GRIP co-presidents Gilles Aebischer and Miguel Bettencourt stress that these strengths cannot be taken for granted. Keeping the next investments in research, production and new technologies in the region will depend on close collaboration between industry, academia, hospitals and public authorities.

➡️ Source: Press Release | 📸 ©Canva Library