Swiss Deep-Tech Startups: World Leaders with Foreign Capital
Switzerland is known worldwide for its innovations. Particularly in the field of "deep tech"—meaning companies with complex technologies—Swiss startups are among the world's best. However, despite this great success, there is a significant challenge: financing for the growth of these companies often does not come from Switzerland.
Many of these young companies emerge from major Swiss universities such as ETH Zurich or EPFL in Lausanne. They develop innovative solutions in fields like artificial intelligence, robotics, or biotechnology. These companies are very important for the future of the Swiss economy, as they create new jobs and enable technological progress.
The problem, however, lies in the capital for expansion. While the initial phase of founding a company is often well-funded, money from Switzerland is lacking later on. When a startup wants to grow truly large, investments usually come from large funds in the USA or Asia. Swiss investors, such as pension funds, often hold back.
As a result, profits and often valuable knowledge later flow abroad. Experts criticize this situation because, although Switzerland invests a lot of money in research, other countries ultimately benefit from the financial success of the companies. The potential for domestic investors thus often remains untapped.
Overall, a mixed picture emerges: Switzerland is an excellent location for inventions and new technologies. However, for these companies to remain in Swiss hands in the long term, more courage from local investors will be needed in the future. Only in this way can the country sustainably secure its position as a leading technology hub.