|
|
| *Travel Tips>>>Geneva Travel Tips |
Wat r the important industries in switzerland? |
Travel Info Wat r the important industries in switzerland? Travel Tips Switzerland sees growth in research spending and sales as a biotech location Zurich, 31 March 2006 - The Swiss biotech industry employs around 14,000 people and has the highest 鈥渂iotech density鈥?per capita in the world with 138 biotech companies plus 91 suppliers. That is why Ernst & Young, SWX Swiss Exchange, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency (KTI/CTI), the Swiss Federal Institute for Intellectual Property, Swiss Biotech, the marketing organization for the Swiss biotech industry as well as the Swiss Private Equity and Corporate Finance Organization (SECA) is already publishing the third edition of the Swiss Biotech Report, which has become an important instrument for promoting Switzerland as a biotech location. The Swiss biotech industry is becoming more important and amongst international investors Switzerland is now seen as a more attractive location 鈥?that鈥檚 the outcome of the 鈥淪wiss Biotech Report鈥? the third edition of which has now already been published. At a press conference in Zurich the project partners from industry and government gave a presentation of the latest developments and figures. Domenico Alexakis, CEO of the 鈥淪wiss Biotech Association鈥? the sector organization, stated: 鈥淭he biotech industry in Switzerland today has become established and is launching key initiatives aimed at the coordination of research and training. As such, for example, the BiotechNet network of experts at the institutes of applied sciences continually provides new impetuses at the interface with industry. In addition, the government鈥檚 Knowledge and Technology Transfer Initiative (KTT Initiative) is important for the biotech SMEs because it strengthens the industry鈥檚 innovative capability.鈥?In the opinion of Alexakis, the organization has also proven successful in a variety of ways: 鈥淭oday, we are able to provide member companies with very strong support in the search for specialists and access to technical literature as well as provide know-how on the regulatory systems in Switzerland and the EU.鈥?br /> Twelve new companies 鈥?significant growth in research and sales J眉rg Z眉rcher, Partner and Industry Leader Biotech at Ernst & Young, presented the first figures on the development of the Swiss biotech scene in 2005. This year an additional 12 biotech companies have been established, whilst two firms went into liquidation. Switzerland now has 229 biotech companies, 91 of which are suppliers (this figure does not include branches of foreign companies or the biotech activities of major pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies). In size terms, 9 of our listed companies rank amongst the globally active 鈥減layers鈥? with an additional approx. 20 mid-cap companies employing 50鈥?00 personnel. All the other companies have fewer than 50 employees 鈥?significantly fewer in most cases. 88% of the companies are engaged in 鈥渞ed鈥?biotechnology (human and animal medicine), 8% in the area of environmental protection and industry and just 6% in the agricultural and feedstuffs sector. The number of employees has risen to 14,400 (+ 6.4% compared with 2004) and there has been significant growth in sales which reached a total of CHF 5,961 million as against CHF 5,473 million in the previous year (+ 8.9%). Investment in research and development by private and listed companies together totaled CHF 1,533 million (in the previous year: CHF 1,388 million, + 10.4%). In this sense the negative growth in profits represents an exception since it is the result of the fine in the sum of USD 725 million which was imposed on the firm of Serono during the course of 2005. Excluding this one-off effect the Swiss biotech sector would also have posted profits at a similar level to those in the previous year. Switzerland as an attractive financial location The lively activity amongst investors and the attraction of Switzerland as a biotech center is also reflected in the equities market of the SWX Swiss Exchange. The combined market capitalization of the biotech firms listed on the SWX totaled EUR 5.9 billion. (as at 14.3.2006) and consequently form one of the most important peer groups in Europe. With last year鈥檚 performance of approx. 38% the SXI Bio+Medtech庐 clearly exceeded the Swiss Performance Index SPI庐. The market sentiment towards the biotech sector is therefore extremely friendly, something which is also reflected in the numerous IPOs and increases in equity capital. As such, in this sector over the last two years Basilea, Speedel and Arpida have ranked amongst the largest IPOs throughout Europe in terms of their transaction volume or market capitalization. The high level of attention enjoyed by the listed biotech firms amongst investors is rounded off by the extensive interest shown on the part of analysts and the media. As a result of this popularity it therefore comes as no surprise to see that significant amounts are being invested in the sector not just on the stock exchange but also on the part of private equity companies. Innovation-orientated approach and excellent collaboration with research Prof. Dr Oreste Ghisalba, Head of Biotech at the KTI/CTI, the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency, pointed out that according to a survey by the OECD, research publications rank Switzerland in second place worldwide in the life sciences area. Through its financing the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency brings together university, institute of applied sciences and the practical world and poured investments totaling CHF 7.09 million into the biotech sector in 2005. For its part, the industry has invested CHF 10.8 million in these projects. Since 1996 the KTI/CTI has been attaching special importance to start-up companies and also offering them intensive coaching. Up to the end of 2005 over 1,000 such companies have received support, with 37% of these originating from the biotech life sciences sector. 鈥淜TI start-up companies and SMEs supported by the KTI are appearing in the public eye time and again as winners of prestigious corporate awards鈥?says Ghisalba with satisfaction. 鈥淪wiss biotech SMEs can be seen as classic examples of an innovation-orientated approach and, thanks to their high level of customer focus, their suppliers have proven to form an important basis for this success鈥?stated Ghisalba, setting an optimistic tone. Others Banking and tourism banking banking tourism watches selling dangerous stuff to other nations ;) Shokolade ect... skiing, tourism, and making the best time pieces around. watches company Hospitality and Tourism. I heard in Switzerland has famous hospitality and tourist schools. |
| Tags |
| Health & Safety Packing & Preparation General - Travel (General) Basel Bern Geneva Zurich General - Switzerland Andalucia Catalunya Comunidad Valenciana |
Travel Info Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |