TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD THE VALAIS OF TOMORROW

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) 8

Life sciences 12

Engineering sciences 18

The Valais, land of innovation 22

Investing in the Valais, to reach the very top 24

Business Valais 26

Links and useful addresses 28

Introduction 5

Services of Business Valais 6

The Valais in figures 7

Contents

© Etat du Valais, Francois Perraudin

ocated in the heart of the Alps and in the

centre of Europe, the canton of Valais is

one of the most promising cantons, when

it comes to innovation.

Borders shared with France and Italy facilitate ac-

cess to the European market. The cantonal French

and German bilingualism and the direct connection

with the North, represent an undeniable benefit in

reaching the German market.

Close to the main European international airports

(Geneva, Zurich, Milan), the canton is strategically

placed for business development.

This competitiveness is the reflection of a stable,

macroeconomic environment, highly qualified staff

and low operational costs which offer many oppor-

tunities to companies.

Its economic fabric is made up of more than 27,000

companies. In order to help companies to set up

and expand, many technology parks accommodate

companies and start-ups in the ICT, life sciences and

engineering sciences sectors.

Innovation and competitiveness make up the philoso-

phy of the Valais economy. Companies owe this abili-

ty to innovate and unrelentingly reinvent themselves,

on the one hand, to the new technologies and skills

which research institutes make available to them, and

on the other hand, to ease the collaboration with the

Universities of Applied Sciences (aR&D).

Introduction

Beyond its great business potential, Valais offers a

unique environment to its inhabitants. With 41 sum-

mits, over 4,000 metres high, and enjoying 300 days

of sun per year, Valais is a major tourist destination

in Switzerland. Thanks to its traditions and customs,

the canton has a varied schedule of cultural events,

from music alpine feasts and events for food-lovers.

Its very culture plays a part in transporting the Valais

image beyond the Swiss borders. As an example, the

Pierre Gianadda Foundation, the Pierre Arnaud

Foundation or the INTERFACE Company are bodies

of international standing.

Shaped by the women and men who give life to their

region, Valais is a land of passion and inspiration, with

a promising future, a great place to live.

L

5

Under its Board of Directors, presided by the Ministery of

Economy, Energy and Spatial development, Jean-Michel Cina,

Business Valais brings together in the same body, all the Valais

actors in economic promotion. One single representative thus

means that the quick support and efficient responses to differ-

ent requests from project leaders are on offer.

Services of Business Valais

At the service of companies and entrepreneurs, Business

Valais provides a wide range of professional and personalised

services together with partners, as regards company support

and coaching, fundraising, technological transfer, training, net-

working and plenty of other services.

www.business-valais.ch

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS

ADAPTED TO COMPANY

PROBLEMS

SUPPORT WITH CARRYING OUT

AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT

WITHIN AN EXISTING

COMPANY

PERSONALISED SUPPORT IN

CREATING A COMPANY

FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN

CREATING COMPANIES IN

VALAIS

CHFCHFCHF

FACILITATION IN SETTING

UP EXTERNAL COMPANIES

IN VALAIS

ORGANISATION AND

NETWORKING OF ECONO-

MIC ACTORS

IN THE CANTON

HELP IN UPGRADING NEW

TECHNOLOGIES

6

© Valais/Wallis Promotion, Thomas Andenmatten

Valais in figures

NUMBER OF INHABITANTS

327’011 VALAIS GDP (MILLION CHF)

18’072*

NUMBER OF COMPANIES ESTABLISHED

27’677 NUMBER OF JOBS

166’393 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

4%

Source: Le Valais en chiffres (2014) (“Valais in figures (2014)”), Cantonal office of statistics and equalisation.*Le PIB romand BCVs (2014) (GDP in French-speaking Switzer-land, according to BCVs)

7

Our areas of expertise

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Information and communication technology (ICT) feeds the

whole of society and simplifies our daily life in many areas:

the efficiency of information exchange, the networking and

traffic reduction, the use of energy, the creation of learning

and training tools, the processing of medical data etc.

These different applications open promising perspectives of

improvement in our daily activities as for our economy.

In Valais, the ICT sector is already well set up, since the

first centre in Switzerland, dedicated to information and

communication technologies was created in our canton, in

1988, and henceforth enjoyed international recognition.

Valais positions itself in the following sectors:

• Software Engineering

• Internet

• Business Intelligence & Process Management

• Human & Media Computing

• RFID

ICT in Valais

363 Number of companies 726 Number of employees

Source: Federal Office of Statistics, companies with a 62 and 63 Noga code.(2011 figures)

eGovernmenteEnergy eHealth ERP eServices

BPM

Cloud Computing

Data Intelligence

Ergonomy, Usability

Intelligent Agents

Internet of Things

Medical Information Processing

Semantic

Software Engineering

Source: www.hevs.ch

8

THE VALAIS COM-

PANY, KEYLEMON, HAS

MADE MAN-MACHINE

INTERACTION ITS

SPECIALITY.

© Etat du Valais, Jean-Yves Glassey

© Etat du Valais, JeanYves Glassey

5 REPRESENTATIVE COMPANIES:

T2i, Sierre, around 140 employeeswww.groupet2i.com

BBT Software, Zermatt, around 43 employeeswww.bbtsoftware.ch

Cortex IT, Monthey, around 30 employeeswww.cortex-it.ch

La Gestion Electronique (LGE), Martigny,around 30 employeeswww.winbiz.ch

Alro Engineering SA, Martigny,around 30 employeeswww.alro.ch

Life sciences

As regards life sciences, Valais can move mountains. Indeed,

the canton, imbued with a strong industrial tradition, has

many active multinational, SME and start-up companies in

the fine chemistry and biotechnologies sector.

Valais owes these developments to well-known large chemi-

cal companies, like Lonza, which have fostered, for almost 50

years, the establishment of the first pharmaceutical compa-

nies, as they found their basic inputs in Valais.

Different areas make up life sciences:

• Biotechnologies, Pharma, Chemistry

• Cosmetic industry

• Medical diagnostics

• Agribusiness industry (phytoceutical and nutraceutical)

Diversified production extends out from active pharma-

ceutical ingredients, going through the manufacturing of

pigments, but also detonating cords used for Ariane 4 & 5

rockets and optical brighteners.

These industries have an important place in the canton’s

economy, since 348 active companies in these different

sectors are established there, and employ more than 8,200

people.

Even taken in its strictest sense, life sciences generate a

total added value of more than 1.7 billion francs per year for

the Valais economy.

A real link between science and the market is the BioArk

technological site based in Monthey, which is dedicated to

life sciences. A unique technological platform, having cGMP

standards, the site is positioned for specific clinical trials

and batch production.

BioArk II, located in Viège, is positioned for the innovation

sector, for “fill & finish” activities.

Life sciences in Valais

348 8'207Number of companies

Source: Federal Office of Statistics, companies with a 10, 11, 20, 21, 266, 325 Noga code.(2011 figures).

Number of employees

12

© Etat du Valais, Valsynthèse

CHEMICAL

OPERATIONS IN

VALSYNTHESE SA’s

LABORATORIES.

Diagnosticsystems

Food and natural products

Life and bioresource technologies

Peptide and protein technologies

Analytical chemistry & biochemistry

Cell-based assays

Bioengineering

Diagnostics

Downstream processing

Food processing

Microbiology

Molecular biology

Peptides and peptidomimetics

Phytoresources

Sensory analysis

Our areas of expertise

Source: www.hevs.ch

© Etat du Valais, Céline Ribordy

Valais has unique technological sites enhancing exchanges

and contributing to innovation in the cosmetics, health and

phytopharmaceutical sectors.

Amongst these technological sites, the PhytoArk centre,

dedicated to enhancing natural ingredients, opens up great

opportunities for the canton and the whole alpine plant

value chain.

Thanks to PhytoArk, Valais benefits from a cluster of excel-

lence for enhancing its plantlife in products with high added

value.

Currently, the market trend is with products incorporating

plant extracts. With production sites spread out across the

whole canton, the region benefits from the establishment of

many large companies from the fine chemistry and biotech-

nologies sector.

The largest section of Swiss aromatic and medicinal plant

production (70%), particularly used in cosmetics, is gener-

ated in Valais.

Valais, from which large projects are built, above all, is a

breeding ground for entrepreneurship, rooted in industrial

tradition.

14

PACKAGING IN

ARVAL SA’s

LABORATORY.

© photo-genic.ch

Thanks to a large number of research institutes, spread

out over the whole of the canton, to the presence of

leading groups, like BASF Pharma, Lonza BioPharma and

Debiopharm research, as well as a solid network of Life

Sciences SMEs or start-ups, Valais has become a incontro-

vertible health cluster.

The Life Sciences industry is a thriving sector, thanks to de-

velopments which enable a better understanding of pathol-

ogies, but especially thanks to new, more sophisticated,

diagnostic technological approaches, suited to the needs of

personalised medicine.

The Valais start-up, Augurix, active in the design, manufac-

ture and commercialisation of medical diagnostics systems,

has developed a test which can diagnose sufferers of coeliac

disease, more commonly called gluten intolerance.

The start-up, BioKaizen, is developing biological markers, or

“biomarkers”, which will enable almost twenty-five pathol-

ogies to be detected, such as prostate or breast cancers,

based on each user’s metabolism.

Valais companies are a key player in a market worth sever-

al tens of billions of francs. They benefit from a short in-

novation development process, and can take advantage of

promising business opportunities in the medical diagnostics

sector.

5 REPRESENTATIVE COMPANIES:

Lonza Ltd, Viège,around 2'890 employeeswww.lonza.com

Syngenta SA, Monthey, around 800 employeeswww.syngenta.com

Cosmotec SA, Vouvry, around 40 employeeswww.cosmotec.ch

Debiopharm SA, Martigny,around 130 employeeswww.debiopharm.com

Bachem SA, Vionnaz,around 120 employeeswww.bachem.com

17

Engineering sciences

Thanks to its rivers, mountain lakes and glaciers, Valais has

been able to benefit from its topography and therefore its

natural rightfulness to play a leading role in hydroelectrical

production. It ensues from this, that the Valais authorities

have made energy one of the main strands of their economic

development policy. Currently, 30% of Swiss hydroelectric

energy is produced in Valais.

Valais is a key player in the following sectors:

• Energy and environmental techniques (renewable ener-

gies, Smart Grid)

• Industrial systems (mechanics, design materials, electrici-

ty, electronics)

It is quite naturally, that the Swiss Federal Institute of

Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has set up in Valais its new uni-

versity campus, Energypolis, of which energy is at the heart

of its activity. The projects plans for the implementation of 11

EPFL chairs in the energy sectors.

The canton has built upon its natural resources and its know-

how to produce high value aluminium products for more

than 100 years. The metallurgic company, Constellium, is the

leading player in the sector.

Engineering sciences in Valais

491 Number of companies

Source: Federal Office of Statistics, companies with a 24 to 28, 32 and 35 to 39 Noga code. (2011 figures)

10’156 Number of employees

18

© Alain Herzog / EPFL

History of modern Valais is intertwined with the develop-

ment of its industry.

Mechanical industry plays an important role in the can-

ton’s economy. Several engineering sciences companies are

set up here. The diversified areas of activity go from elec-

tronic items, to the manufacture of watch mechanisms and

from electric tools to aluminium moulds and cutting-edge

microtechnics.

Only a few large companies, active in micromechanics

or microtechnics are established in the canton. However,

Valais SMEs are important subcontractors for these large

companies, and their collaboration with multiple research in-

stitutes in the canton enables the development of innovative

solutions, which bring an added value to the Valais economy.

Recognised in Switzerland and abroad as one of the leaders

in the microtechnics sector, the Valais company, Mimotec

SA, manufactures microcomponents by means of a new

technique called UV-Liga. A shining example of innovation,

this method enables a level of precision in the micron range,

which is interesting for fine watchmaking, but also medicine

and manufacturers of measuring equipment.

19

© Sigatec

Renewableenergy Smart grids

Development ofinstruments

Hydroelectricity

Power Electronics and Drives

Energy Efficiency

Smart Grid

Automation and Regulation

Data Processing

Embedded Communication Systems

Instrumentation and Control Systems

Mechanical Engineering

Powder Technology and Advanced Materials

Green Chemistry

“When establishing our company, we contacted Business Valais, in order to examine the

best possible supports matching our activity. Business Valais staff’s understanding of

our needs was very professional, as was the personalised and effective plan of action.

Each company is different. For Sigatec, solutions in terms of taxation, marketing sup-

port or networking with academic environments have been developed.

How to define Business Valais ? Business Valais is a little “invisible hand”, which guides

small and large growing Valais companies towards their success.

Our company, Sigatec, is active in silicon component manufacturing technologies. Our

main applications and our clients are from the luxury watchmaking, aerospace and bi-

otechnology sectors.”

Marc-André GlasseyCEO Sigatec SA , Sion

TE STI M O NY

Our areas of expertise

Source: www.hevs.ch

20

© Etat du Valais, Sigatec

5 REPRESENTATIVE COMPANIES:

Scintilla, St-Niklaus,around 480 employeeswww.scintilla.ch

Hydro Exploitation, Sion, around 450 employeeswww.hydro-exploitation.ch

Novelis, Sierre, around 380 employeeswww.novelis.ch

Lauber IWISA AG, Naters,around 165 employeeswww.lauber-iwisa.ch

Studer Innotec, Sion,around 55 employeeswww.studer-innotec.com

21

Monthey

ContheySion

Martigny

Sierre

Viège

Brig

THE ARK SITES

BioArk, Monthey

IdeArk, Martigny

PhytoArk, Sion-Conthey

TechnoArk, Sierre

BioArk, Viège

Energypolis, Sion

www.theark.ch

Valais a land of innovation.

Monthey

ContheySion

Martigny

Sierre

Viège

Brig

AR&D INSTITUTESHES-SO VALAIS / WALLIS

Information Systems Institute, Sierre

Entrepreneurship & Management Institute, Sierre

Tourism Institute, Sierre

Life Technologies Institute, Sion

Systems Engineering Institute, Sion

www.hevs.ch

OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Campus Energypolis

(EPFL Valais/Wallis, HES-SO Valais/Wallis, The Ark

Foundation), Sion

IRO, Sion

IDIAP, Martigny

IRR, Sion

CREM, Martigny

Icare, Sierre

http://valais.epfl.ch/energypolis

www.irovision.ch

www.idiap.ch

www.irr-valais.ch

www.crem.ch

www.icare.ch

© Etat du Valais, Francois Perraudin

Investing in Valais,to reach the very top

Valais is known for its grandiose landscapes, its exceptional

weather, its lively traditions and many local products. The

canton is also recognised as a cluster for technology, ap-

plied research and innovation. At the heart of Europe, at the

crossroads of communication, at the interface of cultures

and languages, Valais offers a front line technological park,

specialising in information and communication technology

sciences, life sciences and engineering sciences.

Companies which choose to set themselves up in Valais

benefit daily from a setting suitable for creativity and pro-

ductivity. The canton of Valais enjoys attractive labour costs,

interesting prices for land and the property portfolio, as well

as an advantageous cost of energy.

The accessibility to decision-making authorities greatly eases

companie’s administrative processes. Business Valais is at

the service of entrepreneurs and project leaders; Business

Valais processes your requests and makes experienced Case

Managers available, for free of charge, to advise you in all the

processes required to achieve your idea.

24

Business Valais

Economic development office

www.vs.ch

CimArk SA

www.cimark.ch

Centre de Compétences Financières SA

www.ccf-valais.ch

Office Valaisan de Cautionnement

www.ovac.ch

Antenne Régions Valais romand

www.regionsvalaisromand.ch

Regions-und Wirtschaftszentrum Oberwallis AG

www.rw-oberwallis.ch

26

Couverture: © FDDM, Christian Laubacher

Business Valais, October 2015

Business Valais

Maison de Courten

Place St. Théodule | CH-1950 Sion

+41 27 606 73 90

info@business-valais.ch

www.business-valais.ch

Business Valais

@businessvalais

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