Why Basel matters to the Biotech industry
Over the past few decades, the Basel region has strategically positioned itself as a global hub for life sciences and enjoys a worldwide reputation as a world-class life sciences location in the heart of Europe.
Today, it is distinguished by its high density of stakeholders, from pharmaceutical giants to a dynamic ecosystem of biotech startups, research institutions, accelerators, and specialized investors.
What’s more, Basel’s uniqueness is its culture of collaboration. Infrastructure, policy, and people come together to enable high-quality innovation. Rather than merely co-existing, companies in the region co-develop, co-create, and co-invest.
According to the Swiss Biotech Report 2025, Switzerland remains one of Europe’s top biotech innovation hubs, with Basel leading the way in productivity, venture capital attraction, and talent retention. In fact, in 2024 alone, Swiss biotech companies raised CHF 1.3 billion in capital and employed over 20,000 people – a remarkable achievement for a country of its size (Swiss Biotech Association, 2025).
Why Swiss Biotech
For the third year in a row, Stämm participated in Swiss Biotech Day, the country’s leading industry event. This meeting offered an opportunity to engage with industry peers and, at the same time reconnect with long-standing colleagues from across the global biotech landscape.
In addition, we celebrated our first full year as a Swiss-based company, a milestone in our internationalization journey. We’re especially proud to develop part of our mission at BioArk, a key life sciences facility in Switzerland.
Highlights from the Swiss Biotech Report 2025
Following the event, the Swiss Biotech Association published its annual report, a reference document for the industry. Here are some of the insights we found most relevant:
1. Strong industry fundamentals
In 2024, Swiss biotech companies raised CHF 2.5 billion in capital and reinvested CHF 2.6 billion in R&D projects, a clear sign of resilience and forward motion in a globally uncertain environment. This commitment to innovation is reinforced by an international talent base and collaborative spirit, making Switzerland a strategic partner for global alliances.
2. Growing global competitiveness
Four out of five biotech patents filed in Switzerland are the result of international collaboration. With 70% of the R&D workforce consisting of non-Swiss citizens, in both academia and industry, Switzerland offers a globally networked and highly attractive research environment that continues to attract leading biotech talent and partners from around the world.
3. Sustainability as a global responsibility
Switzerland’s leading role in biotechnology also brings with it an obligation to serve and develop sustainable (technological) solutions for the benefit of all. International alliances and cooperation are essential to maintain this privileged position.
4. A diverse and globally connected talent ecosystem
Switzerland has assembled a diverse and international talent pool that strongly facilitates the global exchange of experience and best practices.
Four out of five biotech patents filed in Switzerland are the result of international collaborations. 70% of the Swiss R&D talent pool, both in academic institutions and industrial partners, are non-Swiss nationals.
As Switzerland offers a very attractive, stable, and globally connected R&D hub, many international biotech leaders are attracted to work in Switzerland or with Swiss partners.
5. Public-private collaboration
Part of the success of Swiss academic institutions, public-private partnerships and biotech companies can be directly attributed to their proactive engagement with international partners to build bilateral and multilateral alliances. Public authorities can also play a crucial role by fostering alliances that help accelerate key processes, harmonize and simplify international regulations, and enable them to shape and develop international best practices.
(Swiss Biotech Association, 2025)
BioArk Visit
Strengthening local roots
Whenever we visit Switzerland, we take the opportunity to spend time at BioArk, where one of our bioreactors is currently in operation. For Stammers based outside the country, this is a valuable opportunity to connect with our onsite team efforts.
During this visit, Román Ortega Bianchi, our Head of Business Development, had the time to introduce our bioprocessor to leaders from biotech companies across Europe and Asia.
The session resulted in insightful conversations about modularity, scalability, and the decentralization of biomanufacturing.
Final Thoughts
Switzerland, and particularly the Basel Area, continues to validate its role as a strategic node in the future of biotechnology. For Stämm, these connections are not just symbolic, they’re essential to our mission to decentralize biomanufacturing and bring biology closer to people.
References
Swiss Biotech Association. (2025). Swiss Biotech Report 2025. Retrieved from [Link]
EY Switzerland. (2023). The Basel Area Life Sciences Ecosystem in a Global Landscape. Retrieved from [Link]
