BioAlps Welcomes HE-Arc Ingénierie: Engineering Expertise Strengthens the Swiss Health Valley
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BioAlps – Western Switzerland Life Sciences Cluster is proud to announce that HE-Arc Ingénierie, based in Neuchâtel, has officially joined the association in early June 2026, becoming its 17th research institution and academic member.
HE-Arc Ingénierie is an applied research institution with 140 employees (73 FTE), an annual budget of CHF 7.4 million and over 200 active projects. Each year, more than 800 students are trained across three Bachelor programmes: Computer Science & Communication, Industrial Design Engineering and Microengineering.
Positioned as a bridge between fundamental research universities and industry, HE-Arc Ingénierie focuses on technology integration and economic impact through four interconnected competence centres — each with direct relevance to the life sciences sector:
- Smart & Precision Manufacturing — covering smart machines, digital and lean manufacturing processes, this centre supports the development and production of complex medical devices and high-precision instruments critical to the medtech industry.
- Industrial Digitalization & AI — with expertise in applied AI, data science, human-machine interaction and SW/HW architectures, this centre enables smarter clinical workflows, predictive diagnostics and the integration of AI into healthcare systems.
- Smart Sensing & Microsystems — specialising in sensors, actuators, electronics and micro-nano systems, with a dedicated focus on medical devices, this centre is particularly well-aligned with the needs of life sciences companies developing next-generation diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
- Sustainable Product Design — addressing product design, life cycle assessment (LCA), energy efficiency and material use efficiency, this centre helps healthcare innovators design products that are both high-performing and environmentally responsible.
Together, these competencies make HE-Arc Ingénierie a natural fit for the Swiss Health Valley ecosystem, where engineering precision, digital innovation and sustainability increasingly converge with life sciences.
The school’s collaborative track record confirms this ambition: between January 2022 and December 2024, its partnership projects totalled CHF 45 million — CHF 29M with industry, CHF 12M with academic institutions and CHF 3M with public bodies.
“Joining BioAlps is a natural step for HE-Arc Ingénierie. Our mission has always been to connect research and industry, and this membership gives us a powerful platform to do exactly that — alongside some of the most dynamic actors in Western Switzerland’s life sciences ecosystem. We look forward to contributing our expertise and building new collaborations within the Swiss Health Valley.” Philippe Potty, Head of Biomedical Guidance, HE-Arc Ingénierie.
“We are delighted to welcome HE-Arc Ingénierie a new member. Their applied research expertise, strong industry partnerships and innovative competence centres make them a perfect fit for our ecosystem. This is exactly the kind of institution that strengthens the Swiss Health Valley: hands-on, collaborative and deeply rooted in the region.” Magali Bischof, Secretary General, BioAlps Association.
📸 ©BioAlps. From L to R, Philippe Potty, Head of Biomedical Guidance, HE-Arc Ingénierie, Magali Bischof, Secretary General BioAlps Association, Nabil Ouerhani, Deputy Director HE-Arc Ingénierie.