More Than A Beacon: Switzerland, the Deep Tech Lodestar

A compelling article “Switzerland: A Deep Tech Beacon In Europe” was recently published on Forbes, highlighting the reasons for which Switzerland was Europe’s deep tech leader. The author, Pierrick Bouffaron, Operating Partner at Entropia Capital in Singapore, highlights Switzerland’s holistic approach to innovation, to which it owes its status of leading deep tech nation.

The narrative is well thought out, and the highlighted elements noteworthy. The author starts by defining deep tech as a term covering technologies which stem from scientific discovery and have the potential to be commercialized. At Deep Tech Nation Switzerland, we add to this definition that these scientific discoveries, or engineering innovation, should lead to a genuinely new product, and also that this product should be marketed to overcome societal or industrial challenges (read our full definition of deep tech here).

The article also defines that deep tech is becoming a highly competitive field on a global scale, with rising competition between countries. According to the author, successful deep tech ecosystems must find a delicate balance between scientific innovation, high talent density, and a fast-growing industry. He cites the well-known Bay Area, Boston, and Israel, as examples of deep tech ecosystems which have struck an attractive balance among these three pillars. Switzerland’s positioning in this landscape is underscored by data:

Following the structure of the article, we will expand on the various topics, supporting them with data in order to back facts with figures, and enhance this analysis to deepen the reflection.

Why does Switzerland Have Global Deep Tech Leadership?

Switzerland’s leadership in deep tech is built upon a strong foundation of world-class research institutions, government-backed funding mechanisms, and an ecosystem conducive to technology commercialization. The countries holistic approach to supporting innovation is deeply anchored in its social fabric: from trade schools to universities, many organisations offer their support to would-be founders. This claim is reinforced by:

• The prolific output of ETH Zurich and EPFL, which have collectively produced 537 spin-offs in the past decade, contributing to job creation and industry advancement (Deep Tech Nation Switzerland, Dominique Mégret, p.9).
• Government-backed initiatives such as Innosuisse, which funded over 600 projects in 2023, injecting nearly CHF 500 million into the ecosystem.
• The rise of Swiss deep tech unicorns, including Climeworks, Nexthink, and SOPHiA Genetics, each demonstrating the capacity to scale research-based innovation into global enterprises.
• Switzerland has one of the highest R&D spend per capita in the world, at around 3% of the GDP.

What Talent Paradox is Switzerland Facing?

Companies like On Running and SOPHiA Genetics provide success stories of international executive recruitment, demonstrating that Switzerland can attract top leadership to scale its businesses globally. Even at a smaller scale, deep tech startups such as Ecorobotix (their ARA sprayer is featured at the top of this article,) have made high-level recruitments among their leadership team. A systemic approach is however required to maintain competitiveness in talent acquisition.

Why is Switzerland an Innovation Pioneer?

Switzerland’s deep tech ecosystem thrives on a multi-stakeholder approach that integrates academia, venture capital, and industry collaboration. From the scientific discovery to seed fundraising, Swiss startups benefit from a committed ecosystem which has proven its ability to support the formation of world -class startups.

There are countless case studies of startups which have leveraged all of these mechanisms to accelerate their growth and international reach. ANYbotics, an ETH spin-off, leveraged the Wyss Zurich infrastructure in its early days, before going on to raise over $130 million, and making a successful U.S. entry. Flyability, which stems from the EPFL, demonstrates how Swiss engineering, leading universities, a supporting ecosystem, and corporate partnerships can lead to internationally present scaleups. Founded in 2014, the Lausanne-based startup has offices in North America and APAC. Its technology is used by major corporations such as Holcim, Chevron, and Cargill, who have either directly invested in the company or partnered on supporting its development. Flyability’s technology is used at scale globally, enabling its users to eliminate confined space entry for industrial inspection.

Switzerland’s Tech Leadership Will Keep Growing

Switzerland’s deep tech leadership is no accident, it is the product of a well-calibrated ecosystem that seamlessly connects groundbreaking research, strong early-stage financial backing, and an industry landscape primed for commercialization. With institutions like ETH Zurich and EPFL driving scientific innovation, government initiatives such as Innosuisse providing critical funding, and an expanding pool of deep tech unicorns proving the country’s ability to scale research into global enterprises, Switzerland continues to set a high standard on the world stage.

Yet, maintaining this position requires addressing key challenges, particularly in talent retention and leadership recruitment. While Switzerland consistently ranks among the top global talent hubs, international competition for highly skilled professionals is fierce. Fortunately, the presence of multinational corporations, a thriving startup ecosystem, and targeted investment in executive leadership help mitigate this risk.

Ultimately, Switzerland’s strength lies in its ability to transform deep scientific knowledge into tangible, high-impact solutions for industry and society, especially in robotics, life sciences, innovative AI, and climate tech. In an increasingly competitive global deep tech landscape, the country stands as more than just a beacon; it is a lodestar, offering a proven model for building and sustaining world-class innovation.