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Canton of Zurich
Incubator within Zurich’s Biotech Centre offers strong
support for start-ups.
Life Science Zurich project launched in 2001
Factors behind success
The success of the Canton of Zurich’s life sciences sector
derives from a number of factors. These include strong
government support, a tradition of innovation, exceptional
research and educational institutions, a highly developed
healthcare sector, a tradition of close co-operation between
research centres and the business sector, a strategic location
in the heart of Europe and very high quality of life.
There are now more than 400 life sciences companies and
institutes in the Greater Zurich Area, and more than 3,500
researchers in life sciences are employed there. In addition,
the Zurich Mednet project brings together local and international
medical and biotech companies, universities,
technical colleges and technology transfer institutions.
Zurich’s universities have produced 22 Nobel Prize winners
(three Nobel Prize winners still teach in the canton), and
Zurich is particularly known for its innovations in life
sciences. In 1977, at Zurich University Hospital, a balloon
catheter was used for the first time in the treatment of a
heart patient. This Zurich invention is now used worldwide
on over a million patients every year. In the private sector,
the Zurich firm Prionics developed a quick test to detect BSE
(mad-cow disease), and between 2001 and 2003 Prionics test
kits were used to test more than 18 million of the 30 million
cows tested for BSE.
Local firms such as Centerpulse, Phonak, Nobel Biocare,
Tecan, Millenium Biologix and Biotronic all research,
develop and manufacture in the Canton of Zurich,
producing a range of cutting-edge items.
Very successful biotechnology start-ups in Zurich include
Cytos, Prionics, EsbaTECH, Glycart and The Genetics
Company. One advantage new biotech companies in Zurich
have is the city’s strong financial services sector. Companies
in the Canton of Zurich have access to the funds required
for all phases of company development, including obtaining
seed and venture capital. In addition, the Life Science
Key drivers in Zurich’s life sciences sector are the University
of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
in Zurich (ETHZ), both of which are known for their
stellar research activities. To spur on the development of
the canton’s life sciences sector and enhance networking
opportunities, the two institutions joined forces to launch
the Life Science Zurich project in 2001. More than 90 institutes
within the university (including the University Hospital
of Zurich) and ETHZ as well as other life sciences organisations
are working together in this innovative project.
Strengthening ties between research centres and
business
Ensuring close ties between local research activities and
the business sector is a top priority for Zurich’s life sciences
leaders. As the mission statement of Life Science Zurich
points out, “Research results from the University or the
ETHZ that have economic potential should be economically
exploited to the extent that this is possible. When there
is an active partnership between science and the economy,
ultimately both benefit.” The nonprofit Life Science Zurich
Biotechnology Network helps to forge links between
researchers and life sciences companies.
The technology transfer services Unitectra und ETH-
Transfer offer researchers comprehensive services in the
entire process of economic conversion of research results,
including arranging contracts with private economic
partners (cooperation contracts, licenses) and ensuring the
protection of intellectual property, for example in the form
of patents.
Support for spin-off companies
In addition, they support the founding of spin-off
companies based on local R&D. As Life Science Zurich
points out, “Founders of a spin-off company have a head
start in know-how that can be transformed into a market
advantage, resulting in competitive products and services
for which there is a demand.” Such spin-off companies can
count on financial, infrastructural and consulting support
during their first year of operations.
The cantonal government actively encourages productive
public-private partnerships in the life sciences sector. “We
believe that Zurich’s life sciences sector will be internationally
competitive very quickly and we welcome more international
investment in this sector,” Dr. Thomas Heiniger
concludes.
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