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Cantons of Basel
Basel: Global Capital of Life
Sciences
Basel is a global hub for the life
sciences sector, with industry
leaders in pharmaceuticals,
medical devices and other life
sciences activities clustered in the
Basel area. Such multinationals
as Roche and Novartis have
chosen Basel not only for the city’s
business-friendly environment,
strategic location, high quality of
life and well-developed infrastructure
but also for its unique trinational
character; it lies on the
borders of France and Germany
and has close ties to businesses
and research centres in both
countries.
Dr. Carlo Conti, the Canton
of Basel’s State Councillor
for Health, explains, “Two of
the biggest pharmaceuticals
companies in the world have their
research centres in Basel, and
we have many smaller biotech
companies as well. If investors
are thinking about where to
invest in life sciences, Basel is
the place. Basel is the bridge to
Switzerland thanks to our multilingualism
and openness to other
cultures. People in this region
are very open to joining the EU,
for example.” Basel’s healthcare
sector is one example of its
internationalism. Around 9% of
patients in the city’s University
Hospital are from abroad, and
Basel has signed an agreement
with Germany to provide crossborder
healthcare services.
Advanced life sciences
research and superior
medical services
“Basel has Europe’s highest
percentage of graduates in life
sciences, as well as advanced
research facilities linked to University
Hospital,” Dr. Carlo Conti
points out. This unique strength
makes Basel the ideal location for
chemical trials as well as medical
research, for example in nanotechnologies
and clinical morphology.
Basel’s political stability, businessfriendly
government and internationalism
make it an ideal base for
business, and Basel is also a key
source of exports in life sciences,
mainly to the EU and the US but
also to other markets, including
Japan. “We welcome more
investors, and we will make sure
they have the right kind of environment
to grow and succeed here.
Basel is also an excellent place for
families,” Dr. Carlo Conti says. He
adds that Basel’s thriving economy,
which is not focused on the
financial sector, has cushioned it
from the worst effects of the global
financial crisis. He concludes, “No
other place in the world has such a
high level of life sciences research
across three countries as well as
exceptional life sciences services.
Basel truly has an open mind and
is ready to be part of the Europe of
the future.”
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