SWITZerLAnd

Content

Consolidate. Cut Costs.Don’t compromise.

With Windows Server® 2008 R2 with Hyper-V™ and Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008, you can consolidate and create ef cient data centers, reducing your hardware, power and administrative costs while maximizing uptime for your mission-critical business applications. Keep the power, cut the sprawl.

To learn more about how strategic consolidation can make you more ef cient, go to www.microsoft.com

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Content

IntroductionTop Choice for Tourism, Business and Quality of •Life 4Switzerland at a Glance 6•Straightforward Business Environment with •Investment Appeal 8

Canton of BerneSustainable Development for Canton of Berne 11•Switzerland’s Capital Region 12•BEDA Supporting Berne’s Business Sector 14•Strong Financial Sector Driving Economy 15•Switzerland’s Capital Positions Itself as an Ideal •Base for Business 16BEKB | BCBE 17•Agriculture Sector Focussing on Sustainability 18•Camille Bloch 20•Clusters of Innovative Companies in Knowledge-•Based Industries 22CEMEX 24•State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and •Energy Calls for Continued Investments 25BKW FMB Energy 26•Energy Strategy Focuses on Renewables 28•One of Switzerland’s Top Three Cantons for •Tourism 29Hotel Bern 30•

Canton of VaudInnovation, Research, and High Quality of Life 33•Competence Clusters in Leading-Edge Industries 34•Eaton Corporation 36•Canton of Vaud: Home of the Lake Geneva •Region 37

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Director: Lieve LuytenRegional Manager: Alina ShtutmanOffi ce Manager: Samira DarghalSenior Business Analyst: Michael FrisbieRegional Project Coordinator: Teryn MurrayProject Coordinator: Devorgille TshumaProduction Coordinator: Katrien HenkensDesign: Martine Vandervoort, Carine Thaens, Johny Verstegen, Walter Vranken, Dirk Van Bun

The European Times 90 Vasall Road, London SW9 6JA United KingdomPhone: +44 (0)208 371 2356Fax: +44 (0)208 371 2410info@european-times.comwww.european-times.comPictures Courtesy of: Zürich Tourism; www.zuerich.com, www.sxc.hu, www.dreamstime.com

Switzerland

Consolidate. Cut Costs.Don’t compromise.

With Windows Server® 2008 R2 with Hyper-V™ and Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008, you can consolidate and create ef cient data centers, reducing your hardware, power and administrative costs while maximizing uptime for your mission-critical business applications. Keep the power, cut the sprawl.

To learn more about how strategic consolidation can make you more ef cient, go to www.microsoft.com

KimDatabase Admin

MarkData Center Manager

Get the free app for your phone:1. Download the application on http://gettag.mobi2. Start the tag-reader3. Take a picture of the tag

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Château d’Ouchy 39•Lausanne Palace & Spa 40•

Canton of GenevaSwitzerland’s Most International Canton 42•International, Business Friendly, and Focussed •on Innovation 44Warm Welcome for Visitors 45•Hotel InterContinental 46•

Cantons of BaselBasel Ranked Switzerland’s Fastest Growing •Economy 49Chamber of Commerce Helping to Bring •Business to Basel 50Global Capital of Life Sciences 51•Basel: Life Sciences Hub 52•Polyphor Ltd 54•Key Transport and Logistics Hub 55•Agility 57•

Canton of ZurichZurich Chamber of Commerce Confident about •Canton’s Future 59Switzerland’s Economic Powerhouse 60•Life Sciences Fastest Growing Economic Sector 62•Pfizer 64•Cutting-Edge ICT Sector Benefits from Local •R&D 66Microsoft 68•Leisure and Cultural Attractions Help Ensure •High Quality of Life 69Hotel zum Storchen 70•Apartments Swiss Star 72•Destination of Zurich 73•

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This guide is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This publication, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored electronically or trans-mitted in any form, without the prior written per-mission of European Times. Every effort has been made to ensure informa-tion contained in this publication is correct and up-to-date. The authors and publisher accept no responsibility for any errors it may contain, or for any loss, fi nancial or otherwise, sustained by any person using this publication.

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Sector

SWITZERLAND

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With its strategic location, great natural beauty, high quality of life and thriving economy, Switzerland is one of the world’s top choices as a tourism destination, business base and country of residence.

One of Switzerland’s great attractions is its stability. The Swiss Confederation - the origin of today’s Switzer-land - was founded in 1291, and in 1848 the country’s fi rst constitution was signed, creating a centralised federal government. Switzerland has maintained its stability, sovereignty and neutrality for generations, even remaining neutral during the two World Wars.

While Switzerland continues its commitment to neutrality and did not join the United Nations until 2002, in recent years the country has strengthened its ties with its neighbours, keeping pace with Europe’s increasing political and economic integration.

Switzerland’s role as a preferred location for the headquar-ters for many international organisations has enhanced its reputation as a base for globally active companies.

Peaceful, prosperous and modern market economy

Switzerland has developed a peaceful, prosperous, and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labour force, and a per capita GDP that ranks among the highest in the world. With its small land area, strategic location and multicultural popula-tion, Switzerland has long focused on providing world-class services. Today, the country’s economy is fuelled by its highly developed services sector, particularly fi nancial services, and by a manufacturing sector which excels in high-technology, knowledge-based production.

In recent years, Switzerland has been working on enhancing its international competitiveness. Given high labour costs,

Top Choice for Tourism, Business and Quality of Life

City view of Zurich

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organised administrative processes guarantee security for planning and day-to-day operations while progres-sive environmental laws promote sustainability. In addition, Switzerland is closely inte-grated into the European transport infrastructure system thanks to a dense network of road, rail and air connections. Frequent and reliable connections guarantee the smooth and efficient transport of passengers and goods, and the supply of energy, water, communications services and postal services is guaranteed at all times in Switzerland. As many have pointed out, in Switzerland, every-thing works smoothly.

High quality of life

Switzerland is especially known for its very high quality of life. A well-developed healthcare system ensures that the population has access to medical care without having to travel long distances, and the educational system is ranked one of the best in the world. Switzerland’s multicultur-alism – the country has four official languages – and its location in the heart of Europe add to its attrac-tions and make it easy for companies in Switzerland to attract the highest quality human resources.

For investors looking to set up a company in Switzerland, numerous official and private organisations provide assistance, and the federal government’s various websites offer a wide range of information on all aspects of the company formation process – from business plan to official registration.

All investors and residents can benefit from Switzerland’s interna-tional reputation for high quality in every sphere of life.

it is focusing on high value added, knowledge-based activities and on bringing its economic practices in line with the EU. Switzerland has recently renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards.

The global financial crisis and resulting economic downturn put Switzerland into a recession in 2009, and to counter the crisis, the Swiss National Bank implemented a zero interest rate policy which helped to prevent appreciation of the Swiss franc, and the country’s largest bank was assisted by a government rescue package. This year, however, Switzer-land’s economy is recovering and

will probably experience modest GDP growth in 2010, spurred on by a third fiscal stimulus programme.

Switzerland remains a global leader in international investments. Switzer-land’s exposure to global markets is among the strongest of any country, and in 2007, the country’s total direct investments abroad reached €515.5 billion, or 145% of GDP. Swiss companies with direct investments abroad employ around 2.4 million staff in their foreign subsidiaries and operating units, and they are also important employers in Switzerland.

Attractions for investors

Switzerland continues to offer sig-nificant attractions for investors. According to the government’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (OSEC), “Switzerland is a com-munications and transport centre between northern and southern Europe where European cultures and languages overlap. No other country offers such great variety in so small an area. The Swiss economy’s high degree of development exists thanks to its liberal economic system, its political stability, and its close integration with the economies of other countries. The state creates the necessary framework and only intervenes when this serves the interests of society at large. Switzer-land’s high-class education system and outstanding infrastructure form the basis for the competitiveness of the Swiss economy.”

Free competition and trade and the protection of intellectual property are the cornerstones of economic success in today’s global economy and make Switzerland particu-larly attractive to both domestic and foreign companies. Efficiently

Stone bridge in Giornico

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SWITZERLAND

Switzerland at a Glance

offi cial name in english: Swiss Confederation, abbreviated CH

name in local languages: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confédération Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh); Swiss Confederation (English)

Short forms of name: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh); Switzerland

Capital: Bern (Berne)

Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)

Location: Central Europe

Time zone: GMT+1

Telephone dialling country code: 41

Internet country code: .ch

neighbouring countries: Germany (north of Switzerland, boundary 363 km); Austria (east, boundary 165 km); Liechtenstein (east, boundary 41 km); Italy (south, boundary 741 km); France (west, boundary 572 km)

Land area: 41,285 km²

national holiday: 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Independence: 1648

offi cial Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh

Population: 7.7 million (2009 estimate) ethnic divisions in total population: German 65%, French 18%, Italian

10%, Romansh 1%, other 6%

ethnic divisions among Swiss nationals only: German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%,

Romansh 1%, other 1%

religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1%

Climate: Temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Geography: Landlocked; set on crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with south eastern France, northern Italy, and south western Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

elevation extremes: lowest point Lake Maggiore 195 m; highest point Dufourspitze 4,634 m

natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use: arable land 9.91%, permanent crops 0.58%, other 89.51% (2005)

Total renewable water resources: 53.3 cu km (2005)

UneSCo World Heritage sites: 10, both natural and cultural

Government type: Confederation

Chief of state: President Doris Leuthard (since 1 January 2010); Vice President Moritz Leuenberger (since 1 January 2010). The president is both the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal Council.

Cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term

elections: President and Vice President elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 2 December 2009 (next to be held in December 2010)

Legislative branch: The Federal Assembly (Bundesver-sammlung in German, Assemblée Fédérale in French, Assemblea Federale in Italian) consists of the Council of States and the National Council.

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Agricultural products: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs

Top industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance

TrAde

exports, total value: €142.4 billion (2009 estimate)

exports, commodities: machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

exports, partners: Germany 19.7%, US 9.6%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.6%, UK 5.2% (2008)

Imports, total value: €132.8 billion (2009 estimate)

Imports, commodities: machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles

Imports, partners: Germany 33.3%, Italy 11%, France 9.4%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2008)

Innovation: Switzerland places great emphasis on innovation, and the national Innova-tion Promotion Agency (CTI) supports around 300 projects per year. Its project budget for 2008 to 2011 totals €373.7 million

regional organisation (26 cantons):

Zürich, Berne, Luzern (Lucerne),Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden (Obwalden / Nidwalden), Glarus, Zug, Freiburg (Fribourg), Solothurn, Basel (Basel Stadt / Basel Land), Schaffhausen Appenzell (Appenzell Ausserrhoden / Appenzell Innerrhoden), Sankt Gallen, Grisons (Graubünden), Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais (Wallis), Neuchâtel, Geneva, Jura

Six of the 26 cantons are called “half cantons” because they elect only one member of the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these six cantons only have a half vote. The six half cantons are Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, and Obwalden.

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)

eConomy

GdP (purchasing power parity): €236.8 billion (2009 estimate)

GdP (official exchange rate): €362.8 billion (2009 estimate)

GdP real growth rate: -1.8% (2009 estimate)

GdP per capita (PPP): €30,700 (2009 estimate), ninth in the world

GdP composition by sector: agriculture 1.5%, industry 34%, services 64.5%

Labour force: 4.08 million (2009 estimate)

Labour force by occupation: agriculture 3.9%, industry 22.8%, services 73.2%

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (2009 estimate)

Introduction

Downtown Bern

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Sector

SWITZERLAND

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Doing business in Switzerland is getting easier every day, especially for EU and international companies. The increasing use of the euro in Swiss business; cheap and easy travel, communications and Internet connections throughout Switzerland and between Switzerland and the EU and other markets; reliable energy supplies; and fi rm, predictable rules, often adapted to EU norms, have created a straightforward business environment in Switzerland.

Opportunities in a wide range of sectors

In addition, Switzerland offers opportunities in a wide range of sectors. Particularly successful business activities include fi nancial services, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, research and development, and luxury goods (including watch-making and precision engineering). Adding to its attractions, Switzerland - despite a relatively small population - has one of

Straightforward Business Environment with

Investment Appeal

the world’s highest GDPs per capita and therefore an impressive purchasing power, making the country a top market for high quality goods.

To maintain Switzerland’s strong business activities, the government encourages investment in research and development as well as in start ups and small and medi-um-sized enterprises. The government is also working hard to keep Switzerland globally competitive; the country was ranked number two in the world in compet-itiveness (after the US) in 2008 by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report.

While maintaining its tradition of neutrality, Switzer-land in recent years has been steadily strengthening its ties to the EU, thus adding to its investment appeal. Switzerland signed a landmark trade liberalisation agreement with the EU in 2002 and a second set of agreements in 2004 which came into force in 2005. One result of such trade agreements is that Switzerland is now the UK’s second biggest non EU export market after the US. Main exports from the UK to Switzerland

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include chemicals and pharmaceuti-cals, metal and semi-finished metal products, food and drink, vehicles, office equipment, and telecom-munications and sound recording equipment.

Swiss ambassador to EU calls for long-term vision

Jacques de Watteville, Swiss Ambassa-dor to the EU, points out that while the EU Commission and the govern-ment of Switzerland have sometimes been at odds over taxation issues, “Switzerland is holding a good hand of cards. The EU recognises that our agreement on taxation on savings and the pay-as-you-earn system is working well. Switzerland returned almost €349.2 million to EU member states in 2008.” He adds, “The inde-

pendent reform of the taxation of businesses that Switzerland envisages should contribute to maintaining a competitive and attractive economic area. We must be realistic and antici-pate the developments to come. We must have a long-term vision.”

Concerning bilateral trade agree-ments with the EU, Jacques de Wat-teville explains, “For the Union, if Switzerland wants to participate in certain sectors of the internal market, it must respect the rules, and therefore resume the applica-tion of current and future EU law. It is also in Switzerland’s interests to have unified rules. Otherwise, it will not have full access to the internal market. The challenge is to find mechanisms that allow us to achieve this goal while respecting the sover-eignty and healthy functioning of Swiss institutions. We have to find a balance. For Switzerland, respect-ing our sovereignty and institutions is crucial, as it is elsewhere and also within the EU.”

Attractions for investors

Switzerland’s traditional strengths are advantageous to investors. Switzerland has no controls on exchange, inward investment, the repatriation of profits or capital on disinvestment, other than applicable taxes. In addition, the Swiss franc is fully backed and is one of the world’s strongest currencies; it appreciated 300% against the US dollar between 1974 and 2008, a factor which continues to encourage interna-tional investors to locate their assets in Switzerland.

The Swiss authorities have a “lais-sez-faire” attitude towards invest-ment, but the government does support infrastructural investment (tourist facilities, communications and training facilities) with subsi-dised loans up to 25% of a financing package. There are also a few tra-ditional, mainly rural, industries in which the government offers even more financial support.

Investment support at cantonal level

At the cantonal level, a wide variety of investment supports is available. The cantons frequently compete vig-orously to secure attractive projects, and the terms of incoming invest-ment are negotiable in many cases. The types of support available include assistance or subsidies with land or premises, waiving of work permit requirements, tax holidays of up to 10 years, cheap energy and training subsidies. Some cantons have desig-nated industrial zones which provide some or all of these privileges.

Although most cantons are open to foreign investment in principle, some in particular are more open than others. Freiburg, Grisons, Luzern, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Uri, Valais and Vaud, all of which are pre-dominantly agricultural areas, are thought to be particularly keen on attracting inward investment.

Anywhere in Switzerland, companies can count on highly skilled, multilin-gual human resources, high quality of life, and exceptional business support services.

Jacques de Watteville, Swiss Ambassador to the EU

Canton of Berne

Sustainable Development for Canton of Berne•

Switzerland’s Capital Positions Itself as an Ideal Base for Business•

Strong Financial Sector Driving Economy•

State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and Energy Calls for Continued Investments•

One of Switzerland’s Top Three Cantons for Tourism•

“Infrastructure is the lifeline of a modern society, and weaknesses

in transport and energy infrastructures will, sooner or

later, slow down economic growth”Barbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public Works, Transport

and Energy for the Canton of Berne

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Canton of Berne

Sustainable Development for Canton of BerneThe State Council for Economy for the Canton of Berne, along with Switzerland’s federal government, is making sure the canton is well able to cope with the challenges of the global fi nancial crisis.

Andreas Rickenbacher, State Coun-cillor for Economy for the canton of Berne, explains, “The federal gov-ernment has enacted a ‘Debt Break Policy’ which essentially forces Swit-zerland to save money during times of booming industry, and then re-invest this surplus during times of recession. It has proven to be very effective. Our government still has not had to resort to corporate bail-outs like many of our neigh-bours and competitive markets, including the U.S.”

The council’s role is to provide guidance to member industries in order to ensure sustainable economic development for the canton. The council oversees activi-ties in the forestry, fi sheries, agricul-ture, and tourism sectors, among others, and works to promote transfers of knowledge between local educational and research institutions and the local business and industrial sectors.

‘Innovation Think Tank’

The ministry has launched a number of very successful pro-grammes, including the ‘Innova-tion Think Tank’, which focuses on promoting intelligent innova-tion, and a ‘cluster’ development

model targeting key sectors. “The Canton of Berne was the fi rst to use such an innovative approach, and now companies in the medical tech-nology, ICT, precision, energy, and environmental engineering sectors are growing at above-average rates,” Andreas Rickenbacher says.

Andreas Rickenbacher concludes, “The ministry believes in offering guidance and positive incentives for industry growth.” Thanks to the ministry’s efforts, the Canton of Berne has developed a stable, high potential and innovative business environment.

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SWITZERLAND

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Canton of Berne: Switzerland’s Capital RegionBern (Berne) is not only Switzerland’s federal capital, but it is also one of the country’s most charming places to visit and live in as well as a dynamic business base and investment target.

The canton recently launched the ‘Swiss Capital Region’ initiative, which will help make the world more aware of Berne’s signifi cance in the Swiss economy. As the City of Bern’s Mayor, Alexander Tschappat, explained in a speech in March this year, “When we created the concept of the Swiss Capital Region, we wanted to focus on Bern’s own strengths, not to compete with Switzerland’s other metropolitan areas. We want to call attention to the key role the Berne region plays in Swit-zerland’s development.” The Canton of Berne recently joined forces with the Canton of Geneva to form the Greater Geneva-Berne Economic Area, and the Swiss Capital Region initiative aims to promote further co-operation with Switzerland’s other leading cantons.

Proven expertise in cutting-edge technologies

One of Berne’s strengths is leading-edge technology. The Biel-Seeland and Bernese Jura regions in the north of the canton are home to the international watch-making industry and to leading brands like Rolex, Longines, Swatch and Rado. In addition, watchmak-ing know-how and technologies developed in Berne are now used in many other fi elds, including medical technology, information technology, the automotive industry, the engineering industry and the precision industry. The canton is also known for its expertise in the cutting-edge fi eld of nanotechnology.

The canton recently launched an Innovation Think Tank and follows a cluster approach designed to promote co-operation among innovative companies. As the Berne Economic Development Agency (BEDA) points out, “The Canton of Berne boasts a network of cluster organisations and centres of expertise which can assist investors with their projects, as well as uni-versities open to partnering with the business sector.”

Strategic location

Berne is strategically located in the heart of Switzerland, and its superb infrastructure allows for easy connections throughout Switzerland, Europe and the world. Bern city has a small airport in the suburb of Belp, and direct rail service links Bern to Switzerland’s major cities and to Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Milan.

The Canton of Berne is one of Switzerland’s most inter-national cantons, the source of highly skilled, multilin-gual human resources; Switzerland’s largest bilingual city, Biel-Bienne, is located in the canton. The offi cial local languages are Swiss-German, High German, and French, while English is widely spoken.

Switzerland’s capital

As Switzerland’s capital city and the seat of the Swiss federal government, Bern is an ideal location for companies since they can enjoy close contacts with Switzerland’s leaders. Bern is home to Switzerland’s federal ministries, the National Bank, the Universal Postal Union, Swiss Post (the state-owned post offi ce), the Swiss Federal Railways, embassies, and many other national and international organisations.

High quality of life

The Canton of Berne is attractive not only as an economic location, but also as a place to visit and live. A small city of 130,000 with winding cobblestone streets on a hillside within a curve of the Aare river, the city of Bern is one of Europe’s most beautiful and best preserved urban centres. Founded in the 12th century, the city of Bern has been designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site while the surrounding region of Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

In addition to its beauty, Bern offers a wide range of leisure and cultural attractions, including museums, concerts, theatres, open-air performances and international sports events. The ski resorts of the

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Canton of Berne

Bernese Alps and the renowned lakes of the Bernese Oberland and the Biel-Seeland regions are less than an hour from the city of Bern by car. The nearby hills of the Jura are easily accessible for hiking and cross-country skiing, and renowned holiday destina-tions such as Grindelwald, Interlaken and Gstaad are also not far away.

Outstanding educational institutions

Berne has outstanding educational institutions which add to the canton’s high quality of life and to Berne’s appeal as a base for international companies. The Inter-national School of Berne is a day school which has been recognised by the CIS (Council of International Schools) and NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), where children and young people are taught

in English according to an international syllabus. There are also schools which have French as their language of instruction.

The Bern University of Applied Sciences (Berner Fach-hochschule), the University of Bern and many private institutes of education and further education are a source for skilled human resources as well as offering partnership potential for innovative companies. The Canton of Berne is also home to numerous research and development institutes.

Berne welcomes continued international investment and offers extensive services for start-up and estab-lished foreign enterprises. Most of all, Berne provides a winning combination of high quality of life, access to decision makers, and investment appeal.

Bern

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SWITZERLAND

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BEDA Supporting Berne’s Business Sector

The Berne Economic Development Agency (BEDA), a section within the Canton of Berne’s Department of Economic Affairs, is the central, offi cial contact for fi rms moving to, starting up or operating in the Canton of Berne. For new companies, BEDA offers support with incorporations and project management, ensuring that projects are implemented quickly and effi ciently and with maximum benefi t to the investor.

Jean-Philippe Devaux, Head of Foreign Investments at BEDA explains, “Our aim is to market the Canton of Berne all over the world and to encourage foreign busi-nesses to choose Bern as a location.” The Canton of Berne, with almost one million inhabitants, connects German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland and is the country’s second largest canton.

Wide range of services

The main focus of BEDA’s activities is support for local companies, including the canton’s many dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As the canton’s point of contact for businesses, BEDA offers a wide range of services oriented towards satisfying the demands of companies and investors. These services include support for existing, newly established and start-up companies anywhere in the canton.

Services include consulting and advice, fi nancial support, tax holidays, trade fair bonuses, access

to a property data base, knowledge and technol-ogy transfer, help in fi nding and working with local partners, extensive support for start-ups, guarantees, contacts with other companies in the same or related clusters, and regional contacts through BEDA’s ties with chambers of commerce and industry. BEDA also serves as a liaison between companies and local and federal government offi cials.

Focus on innovation

In order to enhance sustainable economic development, BEDA markets the Canton of Berne abroad as a location for business (primarily in Germany, France and the US) in collaboration with the organisation ‘Location: Swit-zerland’. BEDA focuses on attracting investors in inno-vative knowledge-based sectors in which Berne has dem-onstrated a competitive edge. These include precision technology, telematics and information technology, medical technology, services, environmental technology and design.

Berne offers a number of unbeatable attractions for investors and companies, including skilled multilingual personnel, high quality of life, an international atmos-phere, excellent schools, many research and develop-ment centres, cutting-edge infrastructure, clusters of successful companies, and a strategic location in the heart of Europe. Jean-Philippe Devaux adds, “Manufac-turers, suppliers, companies, schools, industry associa-tions, research centres and other players in the Canton of Berne form networks or clusters which make for both competitiveness and fruitful cooperation here.”

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Strong Financial Sector Driving EconomyBerne, location of one of the two head offi ces of the Swiss National Bank, is investing signifi cantly in strengthen-ing its fi nancial services sector to enhance the Canton of Berne’s attractions as a base for business.

One major project is a €1.65 million investment in upgrading the operations of BEKB/BCBE, the cantonal bank. Urs Gasche, President State Councillor for Finance for the Canton of Berne, explains, “The fact that Berne’s fi nancial sector is so small has allowed us to protect it during the crisis. Our investment in the cantonal bank is aimed at increasing the attrac-tiveness of the canton as a business base and helping local companies as well as ensuring customers of our support. The bank is now a very self-suffi cient and vital motor of economic activities here in Berne.”

Solid performance during crisis

In fact, the canton’s budget for 2009 (totalling around €7 billion) showed positive results at the end of the year, with around €119.6 million more than anticipated in spite of a reduction in tax revenues as a result of the fi nancial crisis.

Swiss National Bank

Given these results, the canton’s Executive Council decided to devote some €70.4 million to secure future investments and €91.5 million to cover debt. The government is also taking steps to deal with the anticipated challenge of new laws on taxation and health insurance. Overall, the Canton of Berne achieved positive results from 2006 to 2009, managing to reduce its debt by €140.8 million per year.

The Ministry of Finance has other projects in the works aimed at further stimulating the canton’s economic growth. These include significant improvements to the canton’s infrastructure. The rail network is being upgraded through a €65.8 million to €131.73 million investment, while around €2.31 billion is being invested in upgrading the road network, including building a ring road around Bern’s city centre. Urs Gasche concludes, “We want to show the world what the Canton of Berne has to offer. We welcome foreign direct investment to help us fund our current projects and to add to the strength of our business sector. We are working to improve the city’s image worldwide by showing people that Bern is an exceptional place to live and work.”

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SWITZERLAND

16

Canton of Berne

Switzerland’s Capital Positions Itself as an Ideal Base for BusinessThe Canton of Berne has been focussing on building up its fi nancial services sector as part of its drive to make the canton better known as an ideal base for business. One major initiative is an investment of €1.65 million to upgrade the operations of the Cantonal Bank.

Urs Gasche, State Councillor for Finance for the Canton of Berne, explains, “Finance is not the most prominent sector in the Canton, and it has suffered in these current economic times, but the fact that it is so small has allowed us to protect and help this sector during the crisis. Our investment in the Cantonal Bank is aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the canton as a business base and helping local companies as well as ensuring customers of our support. The bank is now a very self-suffi cient and vital motor of economic activi-ties here in Berne.”

Strategic location in the heart of Europe

As a business location, Berne has it all: a very strategic location right in the heart of Europe, an international atmosphere with many foreign companies and residents from all over the world, a bilingual region where both German and French are spoken, exceptional quality of life, access to river transportation, a very lively cultural scene, and much more. In addition, the city is Swit-zerland’s capital, a key advantage for business services providers and companies working with the political sector. “People come here to do business but they also discover that Berne has a lot to offer as a place to live for individuals and families,” Urs Gasche says.

Major infrastructure investments in progress

The State Council for Finance has many projects in the works aimed at further stimulating the canton’s economic growth. These include signifi cant improve-ments to the canton’s infrastructure. The rail network is being upgraded through a €65.8 million to €131.73 million investment, while around €2.31 billion is being

Urs Gasche, State Councillor for Finance for the Canton of Berne

invested in upgrading the road network, including building a ring road around Bern’s city centre. Urs Gasche concludes, “We want to show the world what the Canton of Berne has to offer. We welcome foreign direct investment to help us fund our current projects and to add to the strength of our business sector. We are working to improve the city’s image worldwide by showing people that Bern is an exceptional place to live and work.”

17

Canton of Berne

BEKB | BCBE

Creating Value with a Long-Term StrategyBEKB | BCBE now serves over 500,000 customers and has developed an extensive network of 78 branches, 17 mobile banks and an online banking service. Operating mainly in the Canton of Berne, where its market share is around 25%, the bank specialises in two core activities: providing retail banking services for individuals and small and medium-sized companies, and private and asset banking services for individuals and institutional clients.

Personal service is the bank’s focus. “We aim to be as close to our clients as possible. Through our numerous subsidiaries and cyber bank, we effectively bring our services to the customer,” says Jean-Claude Nobili, CEO. He adds that the bank also emphasises long-term strategies, aiming to earn returns over a 10- year period. The bank makes sure its customers are aware that 50% of the achieved free cash fl ow goes to its shareholders with the rest used to develop the bank.

Employees have a stake in the business

BEKB | BCBE was formerly fully owned by the canton, but now it has more than 60,000 sharehold-ers, placing it among Switzerland’s top 10 companies in shareholder numbers. In 1999, the bank began to allocate its shares to private investors in order to gain autonomy and boost effi ciency. This was a major innovation at the time which was wholeheartedly supported by the Bernese population, the parliament, the government and the Ministry of Finance.

Employees own around 5% of the bank, a unique feature of which BEKB | BCBE is very proud. “Their ownership ensures that our employees are working hard towards the success of the bank and that they feel part of the company they are working for,” Jean-Claude Nobili explains. The bank also grants signifi -

cant autonomy to branch managers since they best understand the needs of their local market.

The bank’s services include mortgage fi nancing, handling customer deposits, asset management and property advisory. BEKB | BCBE sets itself apart from its competitors through its focus on providing person-alised attention (every customer has a personal advisor or advisory team), its efforts to ensure easy access to the bank for all its customers, and its reliability. Jean-Claude Nobili concludes, “We create value through open, transparent communications with our customers, through a limited and long-term compensation model and a long-term qualitative orientation of our business policy, which is a low-risk strategy.”

Bundesplatz 8, 3001 BernSwitzerland

Phone: +41 (0)31 666 10 13Fax: +41 (0)31 666 19 91hanspeter.merz@bekb.ch

www.bekb.ch

18

SWITZERLAND

Agriculture Sector Focussing on SustainabilityWith some 12,000 agricultural enterprises, the Canton of Berne has the fi fth largest agricultural sector of any Swiss canton. Overseen by the cantonal Offi ce of Agriculture and Nature (OAN), the Canton of Berne’s agriculture sector is currently working to boost its competitive-ness while also ensuring environ-mental sustainability and the use of renewable energies, particularly biomass. The Canton of Berne’s agriculture sector offers a number of attractions for investors.

Cattle, cheese, wine

The Canton of Berne has agricul-tural enterprises (most of them small farms) operating in all the canton’s types of agricultural land: on the plains, in foothills and in the mountains, with the Mittelland area particularly known for its fertile arable land. The Canton of Berne has earned a global reputation for cattle raising and for the production of cheese, particularly Emmental, and for the wines produced in the Lake Biel area. As Switzerland’s second largest canton, the Canton of Berne is also a major market for agricultural products.

The quality of the canton’s agri-cultural products is strictly con-trolled by the Public Health and Social Services offi ce of the Canton of Berne (SAP), which has its own laboratory for testing products and works in partnership with federal public health and veterinary inspec-tion services.

The OAN assists the canton’s agri-cultural enterprises by providing direct fi nancial support, assistance in improving production, support for environmental protection measures, veterinary assistance, and training. OAN’s overall goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the canton’s agriculture sector and to ensure its long-term sustainability while preserving the rural environ-ment and local fl ora and fauna.

Promoting the use of renewable energies

In 2006, the Canton of Berne and OAN launched an ambitious programme to promote the use of renewable energies. The canton has signifi cant biomass reserves in the form of wood, agricultural waste products, organic industrial waste products, and waste from house-holds and water purifi cation plants. According to the OAN, if used properly, local sources of biomass could satisfy 8% of the canton’s overall energy needs by 2035, including 10% of its electricity and heating and 5% of its fuel needs.

To achieve this goal, the canton will need to build new biomass installa-tions, upgrade existing installations, and upgrade biomass systems overall.

19

Canton of Berne

The canton’s policy is to upgrade biomass energy installations so that they will not only produce electricity but also useable heat.

10 new agricultural biogas installations by 2011

In 2006, the canton’s Executive Council decided to offer support for the creation of at least 10 new agri-cultural biogas installations by 2011. The canton will provide investment support for agricultural enterprises to set up biogas production facilities, offer consultation services, stream-line the authorisation process, and enhance co-ordination of different offices involved in the new programme. Agricultural enterprises are encouraged to use animal wastes and residues from harvests as sources for biogas, with a focus on methane production in the programme’s first phase.

OAN’s Inforama service, assisted by the Ökostrom Schweiz co-operative, has developed a “biomass platform” and is ready to help farmers set up biomass installations. Agricultural

biomass installations benefit from interest-free investment credits and can have access to financial support from the canton. Inforama also provides training in other aspects of agriculture and regularly organises conferences on agriculture and the rural economy. It has offices in Zol-likofen, Hondrich, Bärau, Koppigen, Anet and Langenthal.

OAN calculates that only around one third of the canton’s biomass energy resources are currently being utilised, and even less than this is being employed for energy produc-tion. In fact, a cantonal study shows that the Canton of Berne’s biomass energy production could be tripled by 2035.

New strategy for OAN

In December 2009, Andreas Ricken-bacher, the Canton of Berne’s State Councillor for Public Economy, announced a new strategy for OAN for the period up to 2014. He says that the new strategy will focus even more strongly on balancing the need to exploit agricultural

resources while also protecting the canton’s natural heritage and rural environment. He explains, “It is becoming more and more evident that agriculture and nature share a common future and that the numerous possibilities they offer are strongly linked, possibilities that we will strive to make the best use of in the years to come. ’’

The OAN’s new strategy focuses on two key objectives: to develop a pro-ductive, competitive and sustainable agriculture sector, and to guarantee the sustainable use of natural resources and the promotion of biodiversity in the Canton of Berne. Andreas Rickenbacher adds, “We must ensure that the Canton of Berne’s agriculture sector overall implements a coherent strategy aimed at producing high quality agricultural products so that the canton’s agricultural enterprises can remain competitive in the long term. At the same time, the canton’s natural resources must benefit from a promotion of biodiversity and an emphasis on sustainable use of our land, water and air.”

20

SWITZERLAND

20

Camille Bloch

Family-Owned Chocolate Firm Raising Its International Profi leCamille Bloch, a family business founded in Berne, has been providing top quality chocolate and candies since 1929. It is the source of the Ragusa candy bar, a household name in Switzerland, and its 4% domestic market share places the company among the top fi ve Swiss producers of candy and chocolate.

CEO Daniel Bloch explains that when his grandfather Camille founded the company he was building on Switzerland’s estab-lished expertise in producing fi ne chocolates; Switzerland was the place where both milk chocolate and ‘conging’, a process of refi ning chocolate, were invented. These innovations are typical of the Swiss, he believes. He says, “As Switzer-land has no raw materials, we are inventive in processing and trans-forming things. This is an intel-lectual capital that is unique to our culture here. My grandfather did not invent chocolate; what he invented was Ragusa, which is still the fl agship of the company today.”

Innovative niche products

Camille Bloch invented Ragusa in 1942 during the Second World War when raw materials were in short supply. Out of necessity he included hazelnuts and hazelnut praline in his candy bar rather than producing the fl at milk chocolate bar typical of the time. Ragusa was

Switzerland’s fi rst real candy bar. “He changed the chocolate bar’s shape, taste and name. This defi nes our company’s strategy today: we still make specialties, and we still start with niche products and make them grow,” Daniel Bloch explains.

The company is currently working on boosting its international presence. “The challenge to globalise is typical of Swiss companies,” Daniel Bloch points out. Camille Bloch is targeting Germany, Northern Italy, France and Austria as high potential markets for its products.

To gain market share, Camille Bloch intends to enhance global awareness of the ‘made in Swit-zerland’ quality of its products as well as the special features that set Camille Bloch products apart from others. The company aims to work with duty free sales to reach interna-tional customers while also increas-ing awareness of the Camille Bloch brand in Switzerland.

Chocolate and candy products are not like other types of products in that consumers tend to be conserva-

tive about their tastes in chocolate and candy, looking less for inno-vation than for familiarity, Daniel Bloch believes. “That is why we do not plan to enter the China market since there is no established culture there of eating chocolate,” he says.

“Instead of branching out into other types of products, Camille Bloch works with people who have an existing chocolate culture and brings that to a new dimension. We inspire loyalty in our customers because they know our brand will never change. Here in the Canton of Berne, we are a symbol of sustainability in the market,” Daniel Bloch says, noting that the company will also keep its chocolates affordable.

Core values typical of Berne

Berne is the ideal location for Camille Bloch. As Daniel Bloch points out, “Camille Bloch’s guiding principles

21

Canton of Berne

are typical of the Canton of Berne: tradition, reliability and inventiveness. In addition, our company has per-severance: we were established in a time of crisis and we have continued through our positive outlook and determination.”

Another reason for Camille Bloch’s strength is that, as a small company, it has to be inventive to survive. “A large company can copy a small one, but a small one cannot copy a large one. A small company has to be more entrepreneurial, more of a pioneer. Since we are small, we can be flexible. Decisions can be made rapidly and every employee can express a point of view. We compete with big companies and we are still suc-cessful,” Daniel Bloch says proudly.

Promoting Berne’s strengths

Daniel Bloch believes Berne should work on making its attractions better known. “Berne does not have as strong an image as it deserves. We need to communi-cate our strengths more,” he says. Camille Bloch enjoys close relations with local government leaders and is known as a steady, reliable company which has never had to lay off staff in its history.

As Vice President of Berne’s Chamber of Commerce as well as Vice President of the Swiss Chocolate Associa-tion and a member of the board of other organisations, Daniel Bloch is a well-known community leader who is very positive about Switzerland as a place to live and work. He says, “Switzerland has always been a leader in many fields, and has a stable government and legal framework as well as humanistic values, openness, multiculturalism, and a capacity to adapt. Swiss people have always found ways to adapt to challenges. We are not always the first to see what it is that we need to do, but we are often very early in the game to adapt to new challenges.”

Grand-Rue 21CH-2608 Courtelary

Switzerland Phone: +41 (0)32 945 12 00

Fax: +41 (0)32 945 12 01info@camillebloch.chwww.camillebloch.ch

22

SWITZERLAND

22

Clusters of Innovative Companies in Knowledge-Based IndustriesThe Canton of Berne, Switzerland’s second largest canton, has established a strong reputation for innovation and cutting-edge technologies in several key sectors, each of which has its own dynamic cluster of companies.

Precision industry

From its longstanding expertise in watchmaking the Canton of Berne has developed a globally competitive precision industry. This cluster now includes companies active in metallurgy, precision mechanics, mechanical engineering, tool making, measuring instruments, electronics, automation and robotics, automotive tech-nology, medical technology and telematics. The Bern University of Applied Sciences provides training facili-ties in this fi eld.

Medical technology

Switzerland is a global leader in medical technologies and the Canton of Berne has around 320 medical tech-nology companies operating mainly as manufacturers and suppliers. The canton’s leading companies in this sector include Medtronic, Haag-Streit, Ypsomed, Straumann, Roche Diagnostic, Precimed, Ziemer Group, Bien-Air, Carbamed, Steris, Staar Surgical and Bernafon.

The Medical Cluster, a network organisation for medical technology companies in the Berne Capital Area, focuses on supporting innovative companies in this fi eld, while the Competence Centre of Medical Technology is responsible for professional technology transfer between the canton’s universities and industry. Leading medical technology research institutions include Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), the Artorg Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, the MEM Research Centre, the Theodor Kocher Institute, Bern University of Applied Sciences, and the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM). The University of Bern and Bern University of Applied Sciences offer undergraduate and graduate programmes in medical technology.

ICT

Switzerland is ranked number three in the world in information and telecommunications technologies, and around 10% of the country’s ICT companies are based in the Canton of Berne. Around 14% of the canton’s working population is involved in the ICT sector and over 25% of Switzerland’s call centre employees work in the canton. Berne’s ICT companies include eBay, Orange, T-Systems, Huawei Technologies Switzerland, Togewa, Ascom, Sunrise and Swisscom.

23

Canton of Berne

The ICT Cluster Berne (tcbe.ch), with over 200 members, focuses on promoting Berne’s ICT sector. Berne’s ICT research institutions include the University of Bern, Bern University of Applied Science, CSEM, and the Swiss Centre for Electron-ics and Microtechnology in nearby Neuenburg. ICT training centres include the University of Bern’s

Energy and environmental technology

Switzerland is an excellent base for companies involved in energy and environmental technologies thanks to the country’s significant spending on research and develop-ment, stable economy, great innovative capability and a high level of environmental awareness. The Canton of Berne in particular has a long tradition of sustainable and efficient energy applications and employs around 15,000 people in this sector. Berne supplies over 60% of the heat pumps manufactured in Switzerland and is a leader in energy efficient housing through such initiatives as the MINERGIE Standard and the ‘Plusenergiehaus’ (Surplus Energy House). Many local SMEs are working in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energies.

Bern University of Applied Sciences pursues applied research in the areas of energy, mobility and transport as well as natural phenomena and geo technology. The Oeschger Institut and the National Centre of Climate Research of the University of Bern, both based in the canton, are two of the world’s leading climate research centres. EMPA (the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research) conducts research in natural resources and contaminants as well as materials for energy technologies. In addition, the University of Bern and Bern University of Applied Sciences offer undergraduate and graduate courses in climate sciences, ecology, evolution and more. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the Swiss Federal Department of the Environ-ment, the Department for Environmental Coordination and Energy for the Canton of Berne, the MINERGIE agency and the Swiss Heat Pump Association are all based in Berne.

GGBa

The canton’s leaders aim to build on Berne’s strengths through a new initiative in which Berne has joined forces with Geneva and the cantons of Freiburg, Vaud, Valais, and Neuchâtel to form the Greater Geneva Berne Economic Area, or GGBa. Andreas Rickenbacher, Minister of Economy for the Canton of Berne and future president of the GGBa in 2012, explains, “Our goal for the GGBa is not to create a new metropolitan area but rather to work together to promote our region interna-tionally. Our project is proof that the diverse languages spoken in our region are not a handicap but rather an advantage which makes us more competitive.”

The Berne Economic Development Agency (BEDA) is ready to assist investors in Berne’s dynamic industrial sectors.

Institute for Information Technology and Applied Mathematics and Institute of Information Systems; Bern University of Applied Sciences; the Swiss School of Information Systems; and the School of Telematics. In addition, four key ICT federal organ-isations are located in Berne: the Swiss Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Tel-ecommunication (FOITT); the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM); the Federal Strategy Unit for IT (FSUIT); and the Federal Communica-tions Commission (ComCom).

24

SWITZERLAND

24

CEMEX

Leading Construction Materials Company Chooses Switzerland for R&DCEMEX, founded in Mexico in 1906 and now present in more than 50 countries, is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers throughout the world. In 2001, CEMEX chose the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, as its base for research and development and intel-lectual property management. Luis Treviño, General Director of the CEMEX Global Centre for Technology and Innovation (GCTI), explains, “Our centre works in four areas of expertise: Technological processes and Materials, Sustainability, Energy & C02, Business processes, and Information technology. We have a high-tech central facility where we perform specifi c analyses on different products, scenarios, and systems that will eventually be part of CEMEX’s standards.”

Luis Treviño, General Director

Developing sustainable construction materials is a top priority for CEMEX. “We are investigating original ways of developing environment-friendly products with the lowest possible costs. This includes redesigning and adapting new production processes, notes the CEMEX GCTI director. “For example, the company has developed a 250MW wind farm in Mexico, which will provide green energy to our Mexican facilities, and we are aiming to replicate that in other locations.” Looking forward, CEMEX´s centre in Switzerland continues its commitment to build trust through its innovative and high-quality processes and products and maintain long-term relation-ships with stakeholders.

CEMEX´s facility in Switzerland is equipped with the latest technolo-gies available in its fi eld and has been expanding rapidly. GCTI works closely with Swiss universities and is involved in many European projects, particularly with the European. Commission concerning emissions control, fundamental research and other issues. CEMEX also partici-pates in the Clean Development

Mechanism, a UN effort to reduce CO2 emissions. “In all its efforts, CEMEX focuses on adding value and on transferring knowledge,” ensures Luis Treviño.

CEMEX plays an active role in the economy of Berne and employs people from all over the world, including Swiss professionals, and supports a number of local community service projects. “Some companies only come here for a few years, but we believe in inte-gration with the local communi-ties in order to be successful and have a positive impact on the host country,” explains the CEMEX GCTI director.

The global economic crisis has not slowed down CEMEX’s research and development activities. Luis Treviño notes, “We strongly believe that if we put in place the right projects with the right subjects and the right focus, we will be able to access resources to further CEMEX progress.”

For more details go to: www.cemex.com/switzerland.

Römerstrasse 13CH-2555 Brügg b. Biel

SwitzerlandPhone: +41 (0)32 366 7825

Fax: +41 (0)32 366 7892www.cemex.com/switzerland

25

Canton of Berne

State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and Energy Calls for Continued InvestmentsBarbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and Energy for the Canton of Berne since 2002, emphasises that in spite of the challenges of the global economic crisis, the canton will continue to pursue ambitious development strategies.

Concerning energy policies, she says, “The canton’s energy strategy must be based on an open market; the state will intervene only when necessary. Our strategic objective is to ensure a reliable and reasonably priced supply of energy for the canton’s businesses and pop-ulation. A long-term perspective on energy is more essential now than ever.”

In her role as overseer of the canton’s infrastructure projects, Barbara Egger-Jenzer explains, “Infrastruc-ture is the lifeline of a modern society, and weaknesses in transport and energy infrastructures will, sooner or later, slow down economic growth. It is necessary, therefore, for public authorities to make suffi cient investments in the construction, development, and maintenance of infrastructure.”

Major infrastructure projects

Recent major infrastructure projects in the Canton of Berne have included the upgrading of Wankdorf Square in Bern City and a subsidy for the Bern West tram line. The canton plans to invest an additional €156.8 million in public transport projects by 2013, including in a new tram line between Ostermundigen and Koniz and in a proposed project to expand Bern’s train station.

Concerning road construction, Barbara Egger-Jen-zer says that the Executive Council has adopted an investment programme for the period 2009 to 2012 which has a budget of €108 million more than in the previous period. In addition, she says that the canton has launched a vast investment program to control fl ooding, a source of problems for the past several

Barbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and Energy for the Canton of Berne

years. Flood control measures underway will have an added benefi t of creating jobs, she stresses.

A challenge for the government is to fi nance such projects at a time when a parliamentary mandate has obliged the Executive Council to cut taxes in 2010. Barbara Egger-Jenzer says, “The government will do everything in its power to make sure that our planned investment budget is not affected, but cuts are possible. However, to economise in infrastructure will certainly give a bad signal. Future generations would have to pay dearly to make up for our negligence. In addition, in an economic downturn, public authorities should not cut their expenditures but rather maintain them at a normal level or raise them, to support continued growth.”

26

SWITZERLAND

BKW FMB Energy

Energy Leader Helping Partners Fuel Business Growth

26

BKW, in business for more than a century, is a leader in Switzerland’s energy sector with a market share of around 15%. The dynamic enterprise is one of the few vertically integrated Swiss energy companies. CEO Kurt Rohrbach explains that BKW works with large and small enterprises and municipalities, both directly and indirectly, and that the company is also involved in trading, transmission and production. He says, “Our main production is hydropower, but we also produce nuclear power, and we are Switzerland’s biggest producer of renewable energy.” In fact, BKW was responsible for the construction of the country’s fi rst large-scale solar energy plant 15 years ago, and it is the principal partner in Switzerland’s Mont Soleil and Stade de Suisse solar plants and in the Juvent wind energy plant.

Rohrbach says. He adds, “Every kilowatt hour of energy we produce, we supply via a trading hub.”

Plan to reduce percentage of public sector ownership

Over the years, BKW has steadily reduced the involve-ment of the cantonal government in its operations. Two decades ago it was owned 95% by the Canton of Berne; today, this share accounts for roughly 50%, a small portion for Switzerland, according to Kurt Rohrbach. “Our long-term vision is to reduce this stake even more,” he says, noting that BKW’s management has rec-ommended it would reduce government’s share to 34%, with 25% to 26% remaining ‘free fl oat’ and the rest to be held by strategic partners and investors. “Concerning attracting foreign investors, we are unlike our competi-tors in the energy sector because their free-fl oat is too small. Through reducing the government’s share, we have become more attractive for individuals to invest in us,” he believes.

BKW’s goal is to continue to increase its market share. Its strategy includes diversifying its production portfolio through stepping up its investments abroad, as well as investing in other energy ventures, including coal and

With energy sales of about 26 Terawatt-hours in 2008 and a workforce of approximately 2,800 employees in German and French-speaking Switzerland, Italy and Germany, BKW is one of the major Swiss groups integrated into the European grid. In its home sales area – north-western Switzerland from the Alps to the French border – BKW supplies electricity eco-nomically, safely and ecologically to around a million people in 400 communities. In 2008 BKW supplied over 7,970 gigawatt hours of energy to private customers, industry and distribution partners in Swit-zerland and about 5,200 gigawatt hours in Germany and Italy.

With approximately 12,000 gigawatt hours per year, energy trading is another of BKW’s areas of expertise. The company was the fi rst enterprise in Switzerland to receive a license to trade energy, and it has benefi ted from its well-established market position as a frontrun-ner. Nevertheless, BKW still produces more energy than it trades, at a ratio of about seven to one. “We are involved in trading but without negating our core com-petencies and without accruing too much risk,” Kurt

Kurt Rohrbach, CEO

27

Canton of Berne

BKW FMB Energy Ltd.Media Communications

Viktoriaplatz 23000 Bern 25Switzerland

Phone: +41 (0)31 330 51 07Fax: +41 (0)31 330 57 90

info@bkw-fmb.chwww.bkw-fmb.ch

gas. The Swiss market will remain BKW’s top focus, Kurt Rohrbach says. “We partner with small distributors who do not dispose of their own production. In that way we have formed a lot of partnerships throughout Switzer-land,” he explains.

The company will also continue to invest in boosting pro-duction capacity in its plants, and is currently involved in a major dam project to enhance its energy storage capacity. It also aims to step up its imports, and to replace its nuclear power plant, which will come to its technical end of life as of 2020. BKW has a strong commitment to CO2 free production to protect the environment, and plans to increase its involvement in renewable energy as well as in smaller hydropower projects. A combination of different energy sources is the best choice for Switzer-land, BKW believes.

Wide range of services for partners

Concerning partnerships, BKW has longstanding working relationships with distributors and other producers. Kurt Rohrbach explains, “For distributors, we can offer trade services to give them indirect access to markets. We can also provide a package where we take even more responsibility in order to secure and provide more reliable energy. We can also provide support in engineering and manufacturing.”

In fact, BKW offers diverse services and growth opportunities to any company involved in energy production or distribution. “We can provide many examples of companies which are very happy with our offerings and work closely with us in finding the right solutions. We are not always the cheapest, but we are the closest to customers, and we focus on fulfilling our clients’ particular needs,” Kurt Rohrbach says, citing the Swatch Group as one of BKW’s satisfied clients. He welcomes contacts with potential partners and customers, and concludes, “BKW will not only give you personalised service but is also able to ensure that you will have access to the energy you need not only tomorrow but in the years to come, and at reasonable prices.”

BKW

Model of the new nuclear plant

28

SWITZERLAND

28

Energy Strategy Focuses on RenewablesThe Canton of Berne is blessed with rich natural resources that are helping to support a dynamic energy sector. The canton’s long-term energy policy focuses on renewable energy sources and aims to reduce dependence on imported energy as well as to reduce CO2 emissions and the use of fossil fuels.

The Canton of Berne’s Executive Council – which includes Barbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and Energy – also wants to reduce the canton’s overall energy consumption from the current 6,000 watts per person to 4,000 watts per person over the next 30 years, and eventually to reach 2,000 watts per person. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Executive Council has developed an energy policy which concentrates on what it terms ‘ecological and economic innovation’.

Water is a key feature of the canton’s energy plans. Around 11,132 km of rivers and streams crisscross the canton, and the Aar River, which fl ows for 235 km, fi lls some of Switzerland’s most famous open-air swimming pools as well as the lakes of Brienz, Thouen, Wohlen and Bienne and others. The Nidau-Büren canal crosses the canton as well.

Making the best use of this natural resource, the Canton of Berne now has 318 hydropower stations which together supply 60% of the canton’s electricity. Some stations are exporting the electricity they produce.

With its extensive wood resources and agricultural activities, the canton is also encouraging the devel-opment of biomass energy and is providing fi nancial incentives for agricultural enterprises which create biogas installations.

Energy and the environment

Concerning the link between energy and the envi-ronment, the canton’s Offi ce of Environmental Co-ordination and Energy (CEE) aims “to place more emphasis on sustainable development, which will help make the Canton of Berne more desirable as a place to

live and as a base for companies. We aim to exploit our natural resources with moderation and only in response to our real needs. We will concentrate on reducing our dependence on non renewable energies,” according to Daniel Klooz, head of the organisation. Berne has adopted stringent regulations concerning environmen-tal protection.

The canton has also launched the Berne Energy Con-vention (BEakom), which co-ordinates cantonal activi-ties concerning energy, public works, air pollution, mobility and development. BEakom’s interdisciplinary support helps individual communities devise their own long-term energy strategies. Berne is also a pioneer in the promotion of the MINERGIE standard aimed at reducing energy consumption. The Canton of Berne is clearly a leader in energy innovation.

29

Canton of Berne

One of Switzerland’s Top Three Cantons for TourismThe Canton of Berne – one of Switzerland’s top three cantons in total tourism visits per year -- offers a wealth of attractions, starting with Bern City, the Swiss capital.

Founded in 1191 on the banks of the Aare River, Bern City was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1984 and is considered to be Europe’s most beautiful national capital. Bern is where Einstein developed his theory of relativity, the world’s biggest Paul Klée collec-tion is housed, the famed Toblerone chocolate bar is produced and Emmental cheese, known as Swiss cheese worldwide, is shipped to global markets.

The city is known for its elegant sandstone buildings, historic towers and magnifi cent fountains. Bern is the home of the Swiss House of Parliament, usually open to the public, and of Switzerland’s highest Gothic cathedral, the Münster Cathedral. Münster-Terrasse, a square in front of the Cathedral, has been a famous meeting place for centuries, while Bern’s famous Clock Tower features puppets that pop out before the hour.

Visitors can tour the Swiss Alpine Museum or, in summer, join locals for a swim in the clear, clean Aar. As Switzerland’s capital, Bern also has extensive facili-ties and services for business travellers.

Attractions beyond Bern City

Beyond Bern City in the Bernese Oberland, visitors can travel by train to the highest point in Europe, take a thrilling rafting trip through the rapids of the Saane River, climb the Eiger or relax on a cruise on peaceful Lake Thoune, among many other possibilities.

The Bernese Mittelland offers 5,000 km of well-main-tained hiking trails, for example along the banks of Bienne Lake or on the hillsides of Emmental. Visitors can also take lake cruises, cross Europe’s longest wooden bridge or take part in myriad cultural activi-ties in this lively area.

The Bernese Jura, the French speaking part of the canton, offers its own special attractions, which include ‘Watch Valley’, hub of Switzerland’s famed watchmak-

ing industry. Other sites include Europe’s biggest solar energy centre (on Mont Soleil, whose name means ‘Sun Mountain’), and four wind towers on nearby Mont Crosin; the two facilities are linked by a path where information about these innovative energy projects is displayed.

The cantonal government’s tourism strategy for 2010 is to focus on promoting the Canton of Berne’s top 12 key tourism attractions as a package to help attract more visitors to this varied and beautiful canton.

One of the main and old streets of Bern

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SWITZERLAND

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Hotel Bern

A Capital Hotel in the Heart of Switzerland’s Capital CityHotel Bern, ideally located in the heart of the city, offers exceptional services for leisure and business travellers. With its striking Art Déco facade and state-of-the-art facilities, Hotel Bern makes a perfect base for visits to the city.

Investing in the latest facilities and services

Managing Director Peter Schiltknecht points out that for the past 24 years the hotel’s management has been continuously investing in improving Hotel Bern’s facilities and services, including a CHF400,000 invest-ment this year in air-conditioning and in upgrades for the hotel’s kitchen facilities. “We always invest our revenues of around CHF500,000 every year. Four years ago, for example, we renovated all the hotel’s guest rooms. Basically, every franc the hotel earns is invested or stays in-house,” he says.

Hotel Bern offers 95 guest rooms, of which 45 are very spacious single rooms. “All our singles are, in fact, king sized rooms,” Peter Schiltknecht points out. Services include high speed Internet connections via Ethernet and wireless LAN, direct dial telephones, special parking rates, and a free American breakfast buffet.

Wide choice of dining options

The hotel’s food and beverage services are very popular, and include professional catering. The hotel’s events staff is well known for organising high quality events of all kinds.

Guests have many dining options in Hotel Bern. The cosy 7-Stube offers a wide choice of delicious daily specials, seasonal dishes, light meals and farmhouse fare with a focus on Swiss cuisine. The elegant Kurierstube, prestigiously ranked 14th by French guidebook Gault-Millau, features a seasonal gourmet menu or à la carte dishes fresh from the market, and its international wine list is exceptional; the restau-rant is a sophisticated setting for a business lunch or for a romantic candlelight dinner for two.

For more casual dining, the Sonnenterrace serves light meals and drinks on a terrace overlooking the rooftops of Old Town, while the Boulevardter-race on the street level is a pleasantly casual place to meet friends and enjoy a varied selection of food and drinks while watching the world go by.

Meeting facilities for 10 to 300 guests

For business travellers, Hotel Bern contains meeting rooms for all types of events and regularly hosts pro-fessional congresses, lectures, discussions, debates and dinners. The hotel’s meeting facilities can accommodate private functions for 10 to 300 guests. “We provide attentive service and professional advice tailored to your requirements,” Peter Schiltknecht explains.

Hotel Bern is a favourite among high profile visitors; at this moment one suite is occupied by Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey. Hotel Bern also hosts sports teams, the Young Boys’ Club, and many other organ-isations. Its clientele is around 80% business visitors, mainly Swiss.

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Zeughausgasse 9CH-3011 Bern

Phone: +41 (0)31 329 22 22reception@hotelbern.ch

www.hotelbern.ch

Canton of Berne

Ideal location, focus on service

Pointing out why Hotel Bern is such a popular choice among discerning visitors, Peter Schiltknecht says, “We are in the middle of Bern’s picturesque Old Town, and our rooms are very quiet. We are also only five minutes away from the Parliament, the train station and all transport services. We have an excellent location for business or leisure visitors to Bern’s city centre.”

While location is a strong point for the Hotel Bern, what keeps guests coming back to the hotel is its focus on per-sonalised service. As Peter Schiltknecht explains, “For me, most important to try is to make sure our guests are happy while they are here. Hotels have software and hardware; for me, the software is more important. I try to have a personal interaction with all my employees and guests. Everyone talks about putting service first, but not everyone does it. Here we do.”

Exceptional quality price ratio

The Hotel Bern also offers an exceptional quality price ratio. As Peter Schiltknecht points out, “Our rooms are newly renovated, not luxurious but clean, and the hotel offers the highest ratio of service to price of any hotel in the city. Hotel Bern is also right in the heart of the city,

unlike other hotels of its class. We are a capital hotel right in the centre of Switzerland’s capital city!”

Hotel Bern is a true Swiss hotel, not an international chain, and it focuses on providing guests with high quality Swiss style and service. The hotel works closely with the Swiss tourism board and with the Hotellerie-suisse hotel association to promote Switzerland as a choice for business and leisure travel.

Hotel Bern also promotes the city of Bern, which Peter Schiltknecht describes as ‘the nicest city in the world’. He adds, “Bern is the capital of Switzerland and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are near the mountains, and we are located in the very heart of the country. Bern and Hotel Bern are very special.”

Canton of Vaud

Innovation, Research, and High Quality of Life•

Competence Clusters in Leading-Edge Industries•

Home of the Lake Geneva Region•

“Other cantons may have more industry players, but we have more

academic and research players”Jean-Claude Mermoud, State Councillor for Economics for the

Canton of Vaud

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Canton of Vaud

Vaud: Innovation, Research, and High Quality of LifeThe State Council for Economics for the Canton of Vaud oversees a thriving local economy in which foreign companies and residents play a vital role. Investors and residents are attracted by Vaud’s exceptionally high quality of life as well as its well-developed research institutions and infrastructure.

“The Canton of Vaud offers an excellent work/life balance which is attracting international decision makers to our area,” says Jean-Claude Mermoud, State Council-lor for Economics for the Canton of Vaud. He notes that 30% of the canton’s residents are from abroad, and that local organisations include the headquarters of the Interna-tional Olympic Committee.

Another attraction for business investment is that the canton has developed around 20 sector-specifi c zones - including technology and science parks - which offer everything a company needs to do business in its fi eld. “We have zones in life sciences, biotechnology, the food industry, and logistics, for example. Vaud has a large territory so companies have a wide choice of locations, and we still have a lot of room to welcome new activities and companies,” Jean-Claude Mermoud says. The canton has made signifi cant investments in ensuring that all these zones are equipped with the highest quality infrastructure.

Focus on innovation and research

Another key reason to set up a business in Vaud is the high number of academic and research institu-tions in the canton. “Vaud has a strong and developed research com-petence that other regions lack, and this has contributed to the large number of start-up companies here in life sciences and nanotechnology. We are more geared to innovation and start-up creation than the other cantons are,” Jean-Claude Mermoud explains. He adds, “Other cantons

Jean-Claude Mermoud, State Councillor for Economics for the Canton of Vaud

may have more industry players, but we have more academic and research players.”

Overall, Vaud’s economy offers ‘choice, diversity and volume’ unmatched by other cantons, according to Jean-Claude Mermoud. He believes that the canton’s top sectors for the future include infor-mation and communications tech-nology, life sciences, nano-tech-nology, biotechnology, medical technology, nutrition, agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, niche activities driven by innovation, and the establishment of companies’ international headquarters.

Investors attracted to Switzerland should be aware of Vaud’s competitive edge. As Jean-Claude Mermoud points out, “Thanks to its bilateral agree-ments with the EU, Switzerland offers the advantages of the EU without the drawbacks, and Vaud is fostering an innovative atmosphere with a high attention to quality that cannot be rep-licated elsewhere in Switzerland.”

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Competence Clusters in Leading-Edge IndustriesThe Canton of Vaud’s industrial activity is dominated by leading-edge sectors which benefi t from three key factors: a tradition of highly skilled human resources in innovative fi elds, the presence of leading multinationals, and a commitment to research and development on the part of the canton’s many universities and specialised institutions.

As the Offi ce of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Vaud points out, “These three elements have fed on each other to produce international centres of com-petence, creating a critical mass in cutting-edge fi elds, which constantly draws in new players.” The canton’s main competence clusters are in life sciences, micro/nanotechnology, information and communications technology (ICT), power and environmental technol-ogies, and agribusiness technologies.

Life sciences, including biotechnology and medical engineering

The canton of Vaud is one of the top research clusters in Europe’s ‘Biomedical Valley’ and is the heart of BioAlps, a life sciences cluster which includes the neigh-bouring cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and Valais. Prestigious local life sciences research centres include Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lausanne.

Leading biotechnology fi rm Merck-Serono chose Vaud as the site of its main production and pharma-ceutical research centre. The canton is also the home of some 70 companies employing more than 2,000 people in the life science sector, ranging from start-ups to multinationals like Merck-Serono, Medtronic and Beckman Coulter. The new Biopôle park in Lausanne and Epalinges has been designed to provide the ideal base for companies active in biotechnology and health technologies.

Micro/nanotechnology

From its long tradition of watchmaking Vaud has developed exceptional expertise in precision mechanics and miniaturisation. Today, this expertise has helped to make Vaud a centre for micro/nanotechnology employed in a wide range of fi elds. More than 150 micro tech-nology fi rms are based in the canton, employing more than 7,300 people and generating an annual turnover of around €3 billion, more than half of which comes from exports. The canton has many centres of research and education in precision technologies, including the Micro engineering Department at EPFL; the Institute of Micro and Nano Techniques at Vaud School of Business and Engineering (HEIG-VD); and the Swiss Foundation for Research in Micro technology (FSRM). On a regional level, the Vaud is part of Western Switzerland’s Micronarc micro technology innovation platform.

Information and communications technology

Vaud has more than 700 ICT companies employing some 32,000 people active in research and development as well as the production and distribution of high value added ICT products and services. Local ICT companies are involved in a full range of activities, from software programming to data storage, processing, analysis and transmission. Multimedia applications and human/machine interfaces are two emerging fi elds in the canton, and activities involving e-commerce are also developing rapidly.

The Vevey based Swiss Multimedia and Electronic Com-munication Association (SwissMedia) actively promotes collaboration and exchanges in the ICT sector and provides an incubator for start-ups. Local ICT research centres include the School of Computer and Communi-cation Sciences at EPFL, which specialises in computer security; the Information Systems Institute at the Univer-sity of Lausanne (UNIL); and the computer science and telecommunications departments at HEIG-VD.

Power and environmental technologies

Renewable energy, solar energy, biomass, bio-diesel, bio-gas, water purifi cation, thermal engineering,

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Canton of Vaud

hydraulics: Vaud has developed expertise in all these leading-edge fields. Local research and education centres include the EPFL and the sciences and envi-ronmental engineering and ecotechnology depart-ments of HEIG-VD. Many Vaud based companies operating in the power and environmental sectors are affiliated with the Swiss competence networks ‘ener-gie-cluster.ch’ and ‘ader.ch’ (renewable energy). The canton of Vaud also has a technology centre specialis-ing in power and the environment: the Orbe Environ-mental Technology Centre, which focuses mainly on renewable energy.

Agribusiness technologies

Vaud has a long tradition of expertise in agribusiness, one reason Nestlé chose to set up its main research centre (Nestlé Research Centre, NRC) near Lausanne.

This centre, which employs more than 300 scientists from 45 countries, is known for its innovative activities involving nutrition, bio analytics, functional foods and food safety. It has established a long-term partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (the Brain Mind Institute) to focus on research and education in the field of cognitive neuroscience, specifi-cally the mechanisms which enable the brain to integrate different sensory modalities. This is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in modern neurobiol-ogy. Leading agribusiness firms in Vaud include Nestlé, Hilcona and Guignard Desserts.

Vaud’s competence clusters all benefit from skilled human resources, strong government support, well-es-tablished ties to other competence clusters in Europe and globally, exceptional infrastructure, and opportuni-ties for synergies between clusters.

Lausanne City

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36

Eaton Corporation

Leading Global Power Management Company Recommends Vaud as Business BaseEaton Corporation, a global technology leader in electrical, hydraulics, aerospace, automotive and truck power management solutions, chose to move its European headquarters from Amsterdam to Morges, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, in 2005.

“Eaton helps its customers to use power more effectively, effi ciently and safely,” says Yannis Tsavalas, President of Eaton’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. “Our regional head-quarters oversee some 18,000 employees in nearly 60 locations with over 2.16 billion(US$3 billion) in annual revenues.”

As part of the company’s strategy to better serve its customers and markets, regional presidents were also named for each of Eaton’s EMEA businesses. The company continues to centralise corporate

Yannis Tsavalas, President Europe, Middle East and Africa

activities through its regional head-quarters and today employs around 250 employees in Switzerland of which 170 in Vaud.

“Vaud offers an excellent business environment, strong infrastruc-ture, a stable government and central location for our regional headquarters,” Tsavalas explains. “The attractive lifestyle also plays a key role in the company’s ability to attract and maintain a highly skilled workforce, which is integral to executing our aggressive growth strategy in the region.”

Eaton Corporation is a diversifi ed power management company with a turnover of 8.56 billion (US$11.9 billion) in 2009. Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical com-ponents and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aer-ospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drive train and powertrain systems for per-formance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to cus-tomers in more than 150 countries.

In terms of Eaton’s plans for growth, Tsavalas points out that innovation is a key element of the company’s strategy and has always been a guiding principle for Eaton.

“Switzerland provides strong support not only for Eaton’s operations,” says Tsavalas adding, “Switzerland’s gov-ernment also gives incubator support and access to funding for start-ups and small and medium-sized enter-prises (SMEs) involved in innova-tive projects. The resulting infra-structure development continues to attract dynamic, forward-thinking companies.”

“Eaton appreciates that the canton of Vaud in particular and Switzerland in general provide the resources the company needs to continue to grow and develop,” Tsavalas concludes. “We are pleased with our decision to move our headquarters to the Lac Leman region.”

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Canton of Vaud: Home of the Lake Geneva Region The Canton of Vaud is the home of the Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) region, which combines exceptional natural beauty, a long history, dynamic cultural activities, unlimited sports options from downhill skiing to water sports, elegant spas, more than 200 historical monuments, and much more.

Lausanne: capital of culture and business

Lausanne, the capital of the canton and the second largest city on Lake Geneva, is a thriving business centre as well as a popular holiday resort. It is built on three hills and surrounded by vineyard covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet and the Savoy Alps on the French shore of the lake in the distance. Lausanne’s attractive medieval city centre is largely car free and its narrow streets are lined with cafés and boutiques. For an unforgettable view of Lausanne from the water, visitors can take cruises on the lake.

Lausanne’s Old Town is dominated by Lausanne Cathedral, ranked Switzerland’s most impressive example of early Gothic architecture. Shopping streets surround the cathedral and are found throughout the pretty waterfront area of Ouchy. A tourism centre for generations, Lausanne is the home of some of the world’s fi nest hotels, including the Beau-Rivage Palace

Lake Geneva

in Ouchy. Lausanne is also a very popular choice for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and events) tourism.

The city’s cultural activities are known worldwide. Lausanne is the base of the Béjart Ballet and hosts the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition, the Lausanne Jazz Festival, and many other cultural events year round. The Musée de l’Art Brut showcases a unique collection while the Fondation de l’Hermitage presents high-quality art shows all year.

Home of the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne is a mecca for sports enthusiasts. The annual Lausanne Marathon, the Tour de Romandie pro cycling event, and the Athletissima track and fi eld event draw athletes from all over the world, while the Olympic Museum provides an overview of the history of the Olympic Games. Visitors will fi nd facilities for all kinds of sports throughout the city.

Attractions beyond Lausanne

The Canton of Vaud has a wealth of tourism attractions beyond Lausanne. The two little towns of Avenches and Payerne are excellent choices as a base for walking and cycling tours of local nature reserves, and there are many vineyards open to visitors as well. Avenches, formerly Aventicum, the capital of Roman Helvetia, boasts a unique heritage from Roman times.

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Lausanne City

Château-d’Oex and Rougemont offer a wide range of diverse sporting activities in both summer and winter, and thanks to its favourable micro-climate, Château-d’Oex has become a popular centre for hot-air ballooning.

In the picturesque Jura mountain region, visitors can explore the Vallée de Joux with its own lake; it is located in rugged and unspoilt countryside and is a popular choice for lovers of water sports, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Jura village of Saint-Cergue high above Lake Geneva offers views of the Savoy Alps as far as Mont Blanc, while the sunlit woods and high alpine meadows in the Vaud Jura Park and the impressive peak of La Dôle are ideal for long walks. Another Jura village is Sainte-Croix, which is renowned for its music boxes and nickelodeons. In winter, the Vaud Jura is a paradise for cross-country skiing.

Leysin, located on a terrace 1,200 m above sea level, offers fantastic views of the Rhone Plain, Mont Blanc, the Dents du Midi and Diablerets, and is an ideal base for visitors interested in skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, climbing and paragliding. Diablerets, for example, offers all kinds of winter sports, including glacier skiing.

Montreux is another jewel in the Canton of Vaud’s tourism crown. Located on a bay of Lake Geneva, surrounded by vineyards against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, Montreux is the home of a famous jazz festival which attracts great musicians from all over the world.

Vineyard tours and more

Nearby Vevey, known as one of the “Pearls of the Swiss Riviera”, is the starting point for the Train des Vignes (Vineyard Train), which takes travellers on a leisurely journey from Vevey to Chexbres

through the winegrowing region of the Lavaux, high above Lake Geneva. The area has a 1,000 year tradition of wine production and is known for its wines featuring the chasselas grape. The terraced Lavaux vineyards were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Morges is another top choice as a base for vineyard visits, as is Nyon, on Lake Geneva halfway between Lausanne and Geneva and surrounded by the vineyards of La Côte.

Among the Vaud’s spas, Yverdon-les-Bains on the south-western tip of Lake Neuenburg is Western Swit-zerland’s most important health spa resort. Two unusual museums and an extensive nature preserve with an information centre are among the town’s key sights.

For exceptional tourism variety and beauty, the Canton of Vaud is a top choice.

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Canton of Vaud

Château d’Ouchy

Luxury and Exceptional ServiceFor travellers in search of a haven of tranquillity just minutes from the centre of Lausanne, the Château d’Ouchy is the perfect choice. The recently renovated château-hotel, which is housed in an elegant 19th century neo-Gothic château, blends period charm and contemporary style. Guestrooms feature parquet fl oors, lush white linens, and a restful colour scheme of browns and creams, all of which make a perfect setting for enjoying sensational views of mountains and the lake.

Guests can dine on gourmet Medi-terranean cuisine in the hotel’s res-taurant, or relax in the pool or in the elegant spa. A private boat, the Etoile du Léman, is available for cruises on the lake, and the lobby bar and Sunset Bar in the gardens are ideal for quiet drinks. In summer, the Tapas Bar on the terrace serves tasty Spanish deli-cacies and beverages, and a private wine room is available by reservation only. Wi-Fi connections are available throughout the hotel.

Nearby attractions include Lausanne’s 13th century cathedral and the Olympic Museum in Ouchy,

and Lausanne’s lively cultural scene is only a metro ride away. The hotel’s staff can help organise individual tours of local vineyards and other sites.

Focus on personalised service

Service helps set Château d’Ouchy apart. Pablo Pizarro, Manager, explains, “We have a one to one staff to guest ratio here. The Château d’Ouchy is a young and dynamic hotel which offers guests, including business travellers, a home away from home.” The Château d’Ouchy is a member of the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels association, a guarantee that guests can count on a personal touch as well as luxurious amenities.

Formerly with the Ritz hotel in Paris, the Cipriani in Venice, and Dubai’s ultra luxurious Burj Al Arab hotel, Pablo Pizarro opened the Château d’Ouchy in 2008 after the hotel had undergone a four year renovation. He

explains that around 80% of the hotel’s guests are executive travellers, some of whom make the Château d’Ouchy their home for several months.

The Château d’Ouchy and its sister property, the Lausanne Palace & Spa, work with a number of international and local companies and organisations, including the Swiss tourist offi ce. Pablo Pizarro urges international travellers to discover Lausanne’s many charms, and concludes, “The two best hotels in Lausanne are the Lausanne Palace & Spa and the Château d’Ouchy!”

Château d’Ouchy2, place du Port

1006 Lausanne - SwitzerlandPhone: +41 (0)21 331 32 32

info@chateaudouchy.chwww.chateaudouchy.ch

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Lausanne Palace & Spa

Truly Palatial Facilities and Services The legendary Lausanne Palace & Spa has been the preferred choice for visiting VIPs since it opened in 1915. The fi ve-star property offers luxurious amenities and cutting-edge facilities in a landmark Belle Epoque building ideally located in the heart of Lausanne.

General Manager Jean-Jacques Gauer, President of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World group, has helped make the Lausanne Palace & Spa a ‘must’ for visitors to Lausanne. Under his and owner Ute Funke’s guidance, the hotel has been made even more exceptional through a multi-million euro renewal programme.

The Lausanne Palace contains the CBE Concept Spa, one of the fi rst spas chosen to be part of the Leading Spas of the World group, a new luxury accreditation of Leading Hotels of the World. The spa, which has launched its own line of exclusive anti ageing products, specialises in tailored programmes to suit each person’s needs and goals.

To serve executive travellers, the hotel has its own high- tech conference centre which includes eight adaptable meeting rooms. In addition, the hotel’s upscale banquet facilities can be customised to serve as the ideal setting for all types of events.

Exclusive meeting point

A wide range of elegant, innovative restaurants and bars as well as the private Red Club nightclub (open only to members and hotel guests) have made the Lausanne Palace & Spa an exclusive meeting point in the heart of the city.

The hotel’s fl agship restaurant, the Table d’Edgard, features the gourmet cuisine of chef Edgard Bovier and is ranked one of the top restaurants in Switzerland. Up to six lucky diners can enjoy the La Table d’Hôtes experience: an unforgettable meal cooked especially for them while they watch the chefs at work. Côté Jardin restaurant offers cuisine from sunny climes while Grand-Chêne specialises in refi ned yet robust Parisian

brasserie fare. Last but not least, the Palace Sushi Zen where three specialists recruited from the Land of the Rising Sun create their dishes in front of the guests.

The Lausanne Palace is also well known for its LP’s Bar, a stylish local hangout; the Habana Bar with the fi nest Cuban cigars; the brand-new trendy 1915 bar in the Hotel Lobby; the Krug Room, where guests can sample the world’s best champagne; and the Cellar, with more than 20,000 bottles of the world’s best wines.

The Lausanne Palace pampers its guests with services that are truly fi ve star. As Jean-Jacques Gauer says, “We put our guests’ comfort and well-being above all other considera-tions. The Lausanne Palace is a legend in its own time, a hotel which has always moved with the times while antici-pating and exceeding its guests’ expectations.”

Lausanne Palace & SpaGrand-Chêne 7-9 - 1002 Lausanne - Switzerland

Phone : +41 (0)21 331 31 31 www.lausanne-palace.chinfo@lausanne-palace.ch

Canton of Geneva

International, Business Friendly, and Focussed on Innovation•

Switzerland’s Most International Canton•

Warm Welcome for Visitors•

“The city’s high standard of living and central location make it easy for companies to attract talented

human resources”François Longchamp, President of the State Council for the Canton

of Geneva and State Councillor for Solidarity and Employment

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Geneva: Switzerland’s Most International CantonJean-François Unger, State Councillor for Economic Affairs and Health for the Canton of Geneva, explains, “Geneva is the most international canton in Switzerland; 45% of its residents are expatriates. Geneva has also become the

Geneva Skyline

country’s fastest growing canton.” More than 160 interna-tional headquarters, 300 non-government organisations, and numerous research and development centres in a wide variety of industries are based in the canton.

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Canton of Geneva

Local companies benefit from the large number of international decision makers based in the canton, as well as the presence of two prominent universities. Geneva’s economy has diversified from its earlier focus on watchmaking to include thriving activities in a variety of sectors. “Geneva is also the European leader in com-modities trading for agricultural and oil products and is home to a burgeoning biotech and medical technol-ogy sector; in fact, it is number one in Europe in life sciences,” Jean-François Unger points out. He adds that Geneva-based information and telecommunica-tions technology companies are making their mark worldwide.

While many multinationals have established operations in Geneva, the canton also has many very successful small and medium-sized enterprises, and the govern-ment has instituted an incubator system to provide support for SMEs through offering administrative assist-ance and other aids.

Building tomorrow’s Geneva

As Geneva continues to grow and attract new residents and businesses, its Department of Construction and Information Technology (DCIT) is making sure the city’s infrastructure meets evolving needs. The DCIT oversees urban planning and new construction of buildings and infrastructure, housing developments, protection of listed buildings and sites, and IT services.

Mark Muller, State Councillor for Construction and IT for the Canton of Geneva, has headed the DCIT since 2005. He explains that Geneva has a number of new infrastructure projects in the works, including new housing developments, new tramway and rail con-nections, and new hospitals and schools. The DCIT is also working to streamline the process of applying for permits for construction projects and is ensuring that all new developments meet Geneva’s high standards.

One current project will be Geneva’s biggest industrial area when it is completed in around 15 years; the devel-opment will also include around 15,000 apartments and related facilities and services. Mark Muller explains, “Geneva has always been a very attractive city for business and living and it has historically had a housing shortage, so we are working hard to remedy this.”

Another key project for the DCIT is to stream-line connections between Geneva and neighbour-ing France. Mark Muller explains that his office is working closely with French officials to harmonise regulations concerning cross border transport infra-structure and IT links.

New Geneva-Lausanne rail connections

A major initiative now underway is a new railway line connecting Geneva and Lausanne. The new connec-tion on the very busy route will be equipped with the latest technologies and will “add more value to Geneva,” Mark Muller says.

Passenger traffic on the Geneva-Lausanne rail line is expected to grow by 120% by 2030, and the current project aims to double passenger seats on the major rail line sometime this year and to increase the frequency of commuter trains in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. The new project will also include new connections between Geneva airport and Lausanne.

The DCIT is also responsible for e-government services in Geneva, including services which allow residents to fill out tax forms online. “We are the leader in e-administration,” Mark Muller points out.

Geneva will continue to remain one of the world’s most attractive cities to live and work in, Mark Muller believes. He says, “Geneva is the most internationally focused canton in Switzerland. Our population is 45% expats, and we have a very open culture which welcomes people of all different backgrounds.”

Greater Geneva and Berne Area

To maintain its competitive edge, the canton of Geneva has joined forces with other cantons in Western Swit-zerland to create the Greater Geneva and Berne Area. “I am president of this development agency, and we are unified in promoting this area to the inter-national community. We aim to keep the area com-petitive within Switzerland as the country as a whole continues to grow,” Jean-François Unger says.

The State Councillor notes that one focus for Geneva’s local government is to continue to develop the canton’s human resources. He explains, “Since human capital is the most important resource for Swiss companies and business development, this is an important item to focus on if Geneva is to continue to enjoy the success that it has been having.”

Jean-François Unger urges international investors to target the canton of Geneva. He says, “In addition to its many other advantages, the quality of life in Geneva is excellent and this has helped attract many leading CEOs to this region. This clustering effect is a key factor in making Switzerland and Geneva special.”

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International, Business Friendly, and Focussed on InnovationGeneva is one of the world’s most international cities and is home to many leading global organisations, including the Red Cross, which was founded there in the 19th century. In addition, expatriates make up almost half of Geneva’s population.

According to François Longchamp, President of the State Council for the canton of Geneva and State Councillor for Solidarity and Employment, Geneva’s guiding principles include respect for human rights, openness to all types of individuals, and support for people’s efforts to achieve fi nancial security. “For more than 500 years, the accumulation and management of wealth have been clustered in this region,” he says.

The canton of Geneva is well known for its very pro business environment, strategic European location, history of innovation, and high standard of living, factors which have attracted major multinationals as well as thriving smaller companies to set up opera-tions there. “Through multiple bilateral agreements there is lack of bureaucracy when it comes to jobs, laws and corporate operations here in Geneva, and the city’s high standard of living and central location make it easy for companies to attract talented human resources,” François Longchamp points out.

In addition, Geneva has a very diverse business sector which includes fi nancial services (especially private banking and wealth management), watchmaking and international headquarters. Geneva is proactive in maintaining growth in every segment of its economy, and is increasingly becoming known as a hub for hedge funds and commodities trading.

Flexible, effi cient and reliable business culture

François Longchamp explains that one of Geneva’s biggest assets is that its culture and business envi-ronment are not only fl exible but also reliable and effi cient. He adds, “We are also the only canton in Switzerland that created more jobs in 2009 than in 2008. The government has an open dialogue with the

François Longchamp, President of the State Council for the Canton of Geneva and State Councillor for Solidarity and Employment for Geneva

business community, and Geneva has a long standing tradition of quality.”

As for the future, Geneva is making major investments in its infrastructure, including more than 1.04 billion over four years to build an underground railway passing beneath Lake Geneva, and €278.8 million to expand the canton’s international airport, already one of Europe’s busiest. Building more housing is another goal.

Geneva’s economic strategy, according to François Longchamp, takes into account the canton’s limited space. He says, “We will focus on core sectors and indus-tries where we can provide expertise, and then build those strategically. Geneva’s unique mixture of qualities will continue to support and enhance innovation and productivity.”

45

Geneva: Warm Welcome for Visitors Geneva, one of the world’s most international cities, is one of Switzerland’s top tourism destinations. With its picturesque setting on Lake Geneva, many parks and gardens, historic architecture, lively cultural scene, gourmet restaurants and outstanding shopping oppor-tunities, Geneva has something to please any traveller.

“Must see” sites include Geneva’s lakefront with the iconic jet d’eau (water fountain) which has become a symbol of the city. Originally built in the 19th century as a vent from a hydraulic installation, it was equipped with a pump which now drives jets of water 200 km per hour up to a height of 140 m. Another unique attrac-tion is the Flower Clock in the Jardin Anglais (English Garden), a symbol of Geneva’s famed watch industry. A blend of fl oral art and high technology, the working clock has a dial composed of over 6,500 fl owers. Its second hand is the longest of any clock in the world (2.5 m).

Place Neuvelt is the city’s cultural hub, home of the Grand Theatre, the Conservatory of Music, and the famed Rath art museum (one of the city’s 40 museums), while the Place du Bourg de Four in Geneva’s Old Town has been a meeting place and business hub since Roman times. Other sites include Saint Peter’s Cathedral, built in the 12th century and extensively remodeled over the years; Reformation Wall honouring the religious movement; and the imposing United Nations building. The suburb of Carouge is another popular attraction for its trendy boutiques, antiques dealers and restaurants.

Exceptional services for business travellers

For business travellers, Geneva offers the highest quality facilities, and the Geneva Convention Bureau provides a range of services to ensure the success of interna-tional events. Headquarters of the United Nations and the International Red Cross, as well as of many other international organisations and companies, Geneva attracts thousands of people each year for meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

Reformation Wall in Geneva

Geneva is also a shopper’s paradise. It is the watch capital of the world, a centre for exquisite jewelry, and a source for all kinds of high quality Swiss and imported items. Shoppers can take a break by taking a cruise on Lake Geneva.

Geneva is easy to reach from anywhere in Europe by air, rail or road, and its international airport has con-nections to destinations all over the world. Effi cient ground transfers are available from the airport to the city centre and hotels. Geneva rolls out the welcome mat for visitors.

Canton of Geneva

46

SWITZERLAND

46

Hotel InterContinental

Ultimate in Five-Star Services in the Heart of Diplomatic DistrictThe fi ve-star Hotel InterContinental Genève offers superlative facilities and services in the heart of the city’s diplomatic district just 10 minutes from the inter-national airport. The 18-storey hotel is surrounded by parkland, with Lake Geneva and the Alps visible in the distance. The United Nations building and the offi ces of other international organisations -- as well as Geneva’s Old Town, the Ariana Museum, the Botanical Gardens and other top sites -- are all nearby.

The InterContinental Genève is often chosen as a venue for high profi le international meetings and events, and has hosted around 400 Heads of State and 4,000 government ministers since it opened in 1964. The hotel is continually being upgraded to ensure that guests’ expectations are not only met but exceeded in every way.

Competitive edge

The InterContinental Genève is a proud member of the global InterContinental Hotels and Resorts group, which includes luxury hotel and resort facilities in key locations in 60 countries. As Michel Perret, General Manager points out, “Of course, having the InterCon-tinental chain’s support gives us a competitive edge in terms of adaptability and fi nances to provide the best possible service that we can.”

The hotel has 334 rooms of which 102 are suites, and it employs a staff of 300 to ensure the highest quality personal service. Michel Perret says, “We have invested €56 million (CHF80 million) in revenues in the hotel’s latest renovation project, which includes the ultra luxurious 220 sq m Clarins Institute and Day Spa, which offers stone therapy, massage, and lymphatic drainage. Our hotel also offers other unique features that we are proud of and that set us apart from other upscale hotels in Switzerland. For instance, New-York based designer Tony Chi has given his own personal touch to the hotel’s ground fl oor and the fi rst fl oor public areas.”

Exceptional facilities for executive travellers

For business visitors, the InterContinental Genève has 16 newly renovated multifunction meeting rooms which can be adapted for any sort of event and are equipped with cutting-edge technologies. A large exposition space and the Grand Ballroom complete the hotel’s meeting facilities, all of which are easily accessible.

Other services for executive travellers include executive suites, a fully staffed business centre with secretarial services, high-speed Internet and WiFi access, personal computers available for guests’ use, a technical concierge to sort out any technical issues, mobile telephone rental, and much more.

Upscale spa services

To unwind, guests can pamper themselves in the Spa by Clarins at InterContinental, with its Zen-like atmos-phere and views of Mont-Blanc. The ultimate antidote

47

7-9 Chemin du Petit-SaconnexCH - 1211 Geneva

Phone.: +41 (0) 22 9193939 Fax: +41 (0) 22 9193838

www.intercontinental.com

to stress, the spa blends aromatherapy and photother-apy into an extensive menu of treatments for the face and body. Clarins, renowned for more than 50 years for luxury beauty treatments and now the number one body care brand in Europe, delivers unrivalled results.

Guests can work out in the InterContinental’s state-of-the-art fitness centre or take a swim in the hotel’s 20 m heated outdoor pool, open from May till September. Tennis courts, a jogging trail, sailing on the lake, golf, and skiing are other options for active guests.

Additional services include boutiques, a beauty salon, airline and car rental service, a tour desk, a travel agent, foreign currency exchange, dry cleaning, and more.

Inventive food and beverage options

The InterContinental Genève is well known among both locals and guests for its food and beverage options. The elegant Woods restaurant with its graceful wooden arch and wine cellar includes both a relaxed salon and a more formal dining room. Chef Didier Quesnel creates gourmet delicacies featuring seasonal ingredients.

Les Nations bar is an elegant choice for drinks; it also has a large selection of books and a variety of magazines, and serves light lunches and snacks. Guests can relax on comfy leather couches and listen to live piano music as they enjoy their cocktails. O’Bar offers drinks around a fireplace as well as creative cocktails, light meals and snacks served all evening until the early hours of the morning and live music Wednesday to Saturday evenings.

Ideal base for exploring Geneva area

Guests at the InterContinental Genève learn to appreci-ate the city’s charms. Michel Perret points out, “Geneva

has the best of both worlds. It is the most open canton in Switzerland with 45% of the population made up of expatriates. In addition, the best skiing is a very short drive away, and of course there are plenty of world fairs and expositions that take place in Geneva. Switzerland as a whole is ideally located in Europe as a destination for business or leisure travel, and in Geneva there is something to do year round, from skiing in the winter to festivals in the summer.”

The InterContinental is the ideal base for exploring Geneva and its wealth of attractions for visitors.

Canton of Geneva

Cantons of Basel

Basel Ranked Switzerland’s Fastest Growing Economy•

Chamber of Commerce Helping to Bring Business to Basel•

Global Capital of Life Sciences•

“We have seen the most market growth of all Swiss regions, which

is especially impressive because Switzerland is already at such a

high level”Christoph Brutschin, State Councillor for Economy for the

Canton of Basel-Stadt

49

Cantons of Basel

Basel Ranked Switzerland’s Fastest Growing EconomyBasel has earned the distinction of being the Swiss region with the fastest growing economy for the past 15 years. Christoph Brutschin, State Councillor for Economy for the Canton of Basel-Stadt, explains, “We have seen the most market growth of all Swiss regions, which is especially impressive because Switzerland is already at such a high level. Typically, we have an average growth of some 3% to 4% per annum across growth cycles. Basel’s growth is generally double the Swiss average.”

Basel is performing well even during the current global fi nancial crisis, although it does not expect to register growth this year, its growth rate is just mar-ginally negative, unlike in other Swiss regions and in other countries.

According to Christoph Brutschin, Basel’s stellar economic performance is primarily the result of its thriving life sciences sector. Banking and fi nance make up Basel-Stadt’s second biggest sector, followed by logistics, including its ports and airport activities. An additional plus for Basel is that “new technology-based sectors such as nanotechnology emerge due to the strong industrial base and the deep technological know-how in the region,” the State Councillor says.

The Canton of Basel-Stadt owns or has major stakes in the Basler Kantonalbank, the Port of Switzerland, the local utility, MCH Group (formerly MCH Swiss Exhibition), universities and hospitals, mostly giving autonomy to these organisations to ensure maximum effi ciency.

Providing support for local companies

The cantonal government places a high priority on supporting the local private sector through attrac-tive framework conditions, mixed offi ce/lab space for start-ups and support for an effective knowledge transfer between companies and universities. Govern-ment is committed to being responsive to local enter-prises and is keen to discuss key issues directly with CEOs and other managers.

Christoph Brutschin, State Councillor for Economy for the Canton of Basel-Stadt

The canton can also broker building space for companies looking to enlarge their operations. “Many companies based here are currently expanding, which shows that they believe in the future and capabilities of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. There is a pool of expertise and know-how present in the canton, which gives high-tech companies more added value than any fi nancial incentives we could provide,” Christoph Brutschin says.

Two major private sector investors in Basel are Roche and Novartis, both of which are currently expanding and upgrading their headquarters and centres for research and development in Basel. As Christoph Brutschin points out, these well-established and other newly arrived investors are attracted by Basel’s very highly skilled workforce, international environment, strategic location and value added attractions for business. Christoph Brutschin welcomes contacts with business leaders looking into opportunities in this dynamic Swiss canton.

50

SWITZERLAND

50

Chamber of Commerce Helping to Bring Business to BaselThe Basel Chamber of Commerce is playing a key role in enhancing the city’s attractiveness as a business base. Now with more than 2,000 members, which include over 800 enterprises, the chamber covers the cantons of Basel-Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.

Dr. Thomas Staehelin, President, explains, “We have three main missions: to help stimulate the fl ow of exports from the region, to provide our members with services, and to enhance the local business environment so that it fulfi ls the needs of corporations based here in the Basel area. We work to enhance the tax climate and to promote a healthy cultural and business envi-ronment. We also serve as the intermediary between the government and the local private sector.” He adds that one of the chamber’s main challenges is to ensure government support for business in Basel.

Basel is rated Switzerland’s second most important business location and the country’s third most attrac-tive base for business. The top three economic sectors in and around Basel are life sciences, fi nance, and logistics. As Dr. Thomas Staehelin points out, “We have an exemplary life sciences sector here in Basel, with many research institutions and companies which are prominent in their fi elds.”

Basel Airport

Hub for business between France and Germany

The cantons of Basel also enjoy a very strategic location which offers Switzerland’s only access to the sea via river transport as well as easy access to France and Germany since Basel is on the border between France and Germany. In addition, since it is a bilingual area, Basel has developed an important role as a hub for business connections between Germany and France. “Along with all these attractions, our work force is extremely skilled and we have great compatibility with the EU, thanks to the region’s bilingualism and our busy inter-national airport,” Dr. Thomas Staehelin says.

The Basel Chamber of Commerce welcomes the chance to form more partnerships with international companies, particularly ones involved in export-oriented activities. Dr. Thomas Staehelin points out, “People go to Berne for politics and Zurich for fi nancial services, and Basel has its thriving business activities. We work together with the government and the private sector on a number of initiatives and we are committed to maintaining a business-friendly atmosphere.” The Basel Chamber offers a wide range of services to its members and hopes to attract more member companies which can add value to Basel and its region.

51

Cantons of Basel

Basel: Global Capital of Life SciencesBasel 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 multination-als 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 infrastruc-ture but also for its unique tri-national 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 multi-lingualism and openness to other cultures. People in this region are very open to joining the EU, for example.” Basel’s health-care 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 cross-border 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 Uni-versity 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 nanotech-nologies and clinical morphology.

Basel’s political stability, business- friendly government and interna-tionalism 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 environ-ment 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.”

52

SWITZERLAND

52

Basel: Life Sciences HubBasel has grown to become Europe’s life sciences hub, home to some of the world’s most successful pharmaceuti-cals giants as well as smaller enterprises in the pharma-ceuticals, chemicals and biotechnology industries which are providing a wide range of products and services. Basel is the hub of the BioValley region, which now has over 900 life sciences companies.

Basel’s advantages as a life sciences centre are its long history of achievement in life sciences; a sup-portive business environment; high quality of life; well-established research and development activities in life sciences; exceptional human resources; and a strategic location bordering Germany and France.

The nonprofi t BioValley Basel organisation works to promote the local life sciences sector and to provide networking opportunities. According to BioValley Basel, around one in ten employees in the Basel region is employed in the life sciences sector, whether as a researcher, technician, lawyer, manager, bus driver, plant worker, university professor or student. Around 1,000 to 2,000 new jobs are created in the local life sciences sector every year, and life sciences companies in the Basel area achieve a combined annual turnover of over €75.2 billion.

Global giants Novartis and Roche based in Basel

One of the prominent leaders in Basel’s life sciences sector is Novartis, founded and based in Basel and now the third largest pharmaceuticals company in the world. Novartis employs 12,000 people in Switzerland and generates more than 40,000 related jobs, mainly in the Canton of Basel.

Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO, notes that the Basel area is becoming increasingly important as a hub for pharmaceuticals research and develop-ment. Novartis opened its state-of-the-art Novartis Campus in Basel as a means of encouraging further groundbreaking R&D. The Novartis mission state-ment explains, “Novartis is designing our global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, as an inspiring environment that fosters innovation and business excellence.” In 2008 alone, Novartis boosted its R&D budget by 12% to reach €5.41 billion, one of the

highest R&D investments relative to sales (over 17%) in the industry. Novartis was created in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz; the original Ciba, Geigy and Sandoz were all founded in Basel.

Roche, founded in Basel in 1896 by young entrepre-neur Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche, has grown to become a multinational pharmaceuticals enterprise known for the pioneering role it plays in healthcare. An innovator of products and services for the early detection, pre-vention, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, Roche’s mission is to create added value in health-care by focusing on its expertise in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.

Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and in drugs for cancer, transplants and other conditions. Roche employs over 80,000 people in 150 countries. In Basel, Roche employs around 1,200 highly skilled pro-fessionals in its Basel Pharma Research Centre, which focuses its research on the central nervous system as well as on metabolic and vascular diseases, especially on type two diabetes, which the World Health Organi-sation ranks as one of the most challenging health problems of the 21st century. The focus of the centre’s research on the central nervous system is on Alzheim-er’s disease and depression, two diseases which affect millions of patients. Schizophrenia and anxiety are additional fi elds of scientifi c focus.

Dynamic local players

Basel’s life sciences sector benefi ts from close ties between research facilities and business. The Univer-sity of Basel’s Life Sciences Training Facility (LSTF) is dedicated to the study of DNA and RNA at the level of the entire genome, and for seven years the LSTF has been providing to the research community access and training to an Affymetrix platform and related instrumentation and software. LSTF has recently implemented the latest Affymetrix GeneChip technol-ogy for genome-wide genotyping (SNP 500K and 6.0 Arrays) and gene expression (Gene-level and Exon-level Arrays).

Small and medium-sized companies dominate Basel’s life sciences sector. As Martin Neff, Head of Economic Research at Credit Suisse, points out, “The life sciences sector is fi rmly in the hands of small and medium-sized companies. Even though Novartis and Roche together

53

Cantons of Basel

obviously have by far the most employees, over 90% of Basel’s life sciences companies are SMEs. And, when put together, the value of these for the region is not to be underestimated.”

One local success story is Sovias AG, which is well known for its innovative scientific and technical services for customers in the chemicals and pharma-ceuticals industries. The company aims to open new

offices in the Canton of Basel (in Kaiseraugst) this year.

The Life Sciences Network Basel organises networking events for professionals in local life sciences companies; a recent event focused on mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals industry. For life sciences companies and the professionals who work for them, the Canton of Basel is the ideal base for business.

54

SWITZERLAND

Hegenheimermattweg 125CH- 4123 Allschwil

Phone: + 41 61 567 16 00 - Fax: + 41 61 567 16 01www.polyphor.com

54

Polyphor Ltd

PEM - a New Class of DrugsPolyphor is a Swiss biotech company providing innovative products with high therapeutic benefi t to the patient and high quality drug discovery support to its pharmaceu-tical industry partners.

Innovation in drug discovery

In the 13 years since its foundation, Polyphor has established a solid track record of innovative contributions to drug discovery using its proprietary Protein Epitope Mimetics (PEM) Technology. PEM Technology allows Polyphor to discover fully synthetic “PEMdrugs” with powerful therapeu-tic effects. Most recently, Polyphor demonstrated the power of its PEM Technology through the discovery of a whole new class of antibiotics – a once in 20 years scientifi c achievement!

Protein Epitope Mimetics (PEM) – a new class of drugs

•PEMaremedium-sized,fullysynthetic, structurally well-defi ned molecules

•PEMmodulateprotein-proteininteractions very effectively and in a highly selective manner

•PEMTechnologyenablesefficientoptimisation of the pharmacologi-cal properties of PEMdrugs

•Straightforward,highlyautomatedproduction at reasonable costs

PEMdrugs are functional minimisations of proteins

Polyphor has validated its PEM Tech-nology multiple times. PEMdrugs have been shown to interfere with complex protein-protein interactions in a highly selective way. Polyphor’s most advanced candidate POL6326, currently in clinical Phase II trials, demonstrates that PEM Technology can provide drugs that are safe and effi cacious in man.

PEMdrug pipeline

POL6326 – a very potent, versatile and well-tolerated CXCR4 inhibitorPOL6326 is currently in Phase II clinical studies for blood stem cell transplantation. It has further potential in the treatment of leukemia patients and tissue repair (e.g. infl am-mation, heart attack, renal failure, diabetes) and in the treatment of asthma.POL7080 – a highly selective antibiotic using a novel mechanism of actionPOL7080 is an antibiotic PEMdrug candidate poised to enter the clinic that acts against the dangerous multi-drug resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.POL6014 – a highly selective protease inhibitor targeted to pulmonary deliveryPOL6014 is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme elastase. It has been optimised to treat pulmonary diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, prima-rily associated with cigarette smoking. It can be administered to the lungs while systemic exposure remains low.

PEMfi nder® collaborations with partners in the pharmaceutical industry

Polyphor offers its pharma partners access to PEM Technology through PEMfi nder® collaborations. In this way, partners can exclusively select the therapeutic targets to which PEM Tech-

nology will be applied. Co-founder and CEO, Dr. Jean-Pierre Obrecht notes that “such PEMfi nder® collabo-rations are an ideal starting point for more strategic alliances which allow us to broadly and rapidly exploit the full potential of PEM Technology.”

Globally connected and head-quartered in Allschwil/Basel

Polyphor is an internationally focused biotech company that has established a wide network of partnerships with pharma companies, CROs and uni-versities in Europe, the USA and Japan. Headquartered in Allschwil, near Basel, Polyphor is located within one of Europe’s most dynamic and outward looking life science clusters. Dr. Jean-Pierre Obrecht emphasizes, “Polyphor has selected Allschwil as home base because the location provides an excellent environment for drug discovery. Supportive authorities, access to a rich pool of skilled scientists and high quality of life attract biotech startups and global players alike.”

Further expansion in Basel

In 2008, Polyphor combined all of its operations into a new research building, which was built to Polyphor’s specifi c needs and which provides room for further expansion. Polyphor plans to further develop and strengthen its home base in Basel and to expand the portfolio of PEMdrug candidates, both on its own and together with its Pharma partners.

5555

Key Transport and Logistics HubBasel has become a top logistics hub thanks to its strategic location linking Switzerland, France and Germany and its exceptional multimodal transport infrastructure. Hans-Peter Wessels, Councillor of State for Transport and Construction for the Canton of Basel, explains, “Despite its small physical area, the canton of Basel has been Switzerland’s most rapidly growing canton for

Rhine bank

the past 10 years, and for the most part this is due to its strong infrastructure and strategic location along the Rhine River. Around 13% of Switzerland’s export revenues are from shipments passing through Basel on the Rhine, thus making this canton, and its transport industry in particular, critical for the future development of Switzerland as a whole.”

56

SWITZERLAND

Shipping on the Rhine

The Port of Basel handles around 3 million tons of petroleum product imports per year and around 1.5 million tons of iron and steel products, as well as liquid bulk cargo, agricultural products, powder and granu-lates, food concentrates, raw building materials, gravel and sand, machine parts, and oversized goods such as ships and vehicles. The port offers modern multimo-dal facilities (including storage facilities for all types of products) and has speedy connections to water, rail, air and road networks. As Hans-Peter Wessels points out, “The Port of Basel is a hub of diverse invest-ment and economic activity, and the canton plans to expand the port to further enhance connections for key logistics companies and investors.”

Unique tri national airport

Basel also offers access to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg International Airport (EuroAirport), which is located on French soil around 4 km from Basel and operated jointly by Switzerland, France and Germany, all of which have access to the airport without any customs or border restrictions. The airport handles over 4.2 million passengers and 107,000 tons of freight per year and has become a key transport centre for such diverse cargo as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, high tech products, automobile parts and perishable goods. The airport’s cargo handling area has the capacity to handle 150,000 tonnes of freight per year.

EuroAirport aims to expand to keep up with growing demand. The new development will be accessible by both French and Swiss road networks and will have a Franco-Swiss customs offi ce. The expansion will enhance the airport’s attractions as a base for transport and logistics fi rms; 70 logistics companies already operate there, including four express mail/parcel services and three airline assistance agents.

Hub of major rail lines and road corridors

Basel is also a key European hub for road and rail transport. The German, French and Swiss motorway systems link up in Basel, and commercial vehicles can be loaded onto trains at the Basel border to travel across Switzerland on the ‘rolling highway’.

Basel is also on the major railway line between Paris and Zurich, and is the most important rail junction in

the Jura region and one of the busiest in Europe. The inauguration of the TGV Est Européen (high speed Eastern European train line) in mid 2007 slashed travel times by rail between Basel and Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich.

Basel is also located on the Antwerp/Basel-Lyon rail freight corridor (European Corridor C), which passes through Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland to link Antwerp, one of Europe’s largest ports, to leading European industrial centres. The European Commission’s objectives for this corridor are to increase the volume transported by 55% by 2020, with a reduction in transport time of 15%. The EC’s goal is to encourage shippers to choose rail rather than road transport on this busy route.

Basel also has a good, convenient and affordable public transportation system and has projects in the works to upgrade and expand its parking facilities. Hans-Peter Wessels says that his goal is “to improve possibilities for parking in the city for inhabitants, visitors, clients and businesses.” Around 10,000 un-marked parking spaces will be transformed into marked and regulated parking to “bring about improvements in business activities and employ-ment,” he says.

Supportive environment for logistics companies

Many international logistics firms have operations in Basel. Major logistics enterprise Agility, for example, transferred its European headquarters to Basel to take advantage of the canton’s highly supportive business environment as well as its exceptional infra-structure. Basel offers a pro-business government, skilled human resources, and a well-established cluster of transport and logistics services providers, and exceptional quality of life.

As Hans-Peter Wessels points out, “What makes Basel a special area is its international appeal. Basel is adjacent to France and Germany, and a very signifi -cant portion of its working population is composed of immigrants who add to the canton’s cultural and business diversity. Basel has a very open culture that is receptive to new people and new ideas, and this has been one of the contributing factors towards its rapid growth.” As a base for transport and logistics companies, Basel – Europe’s logistics hub – has it all.

57

Cantons of Basel

Agility

Basel – Logistics Hub for EuropeAgility, a global logistics enterprise, chooses Basel as its European Headquarters. Located in the heart of Europe, the region offers excellent access to everything a logistics company requires.

The global provider of world-class logistics services estab-lished its European headquarters in Basel and is very pleased with its decision. Beat Simon, CEO of Agility Europe, explains, “We couldn’t be happier with the cantonal authorities and the support they have given us here in Basel. Basel has a long tradition of being home to the logistics sector; there is immense industry know-how and talent available in the region from which we can profi t. Basel is a prime logistics location within Europe.”

The company’s mission is to serve as a leading global provider of integrated logistics, bringing effi ciency to business and government supply chains in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Agility contains two dynamic business groups: global inte-grated logistics and defence and government services.

Agility now has 37,000 employees in over 120 countries, grown both organically and through mergers with companies that have been in the logistics business for over 100 years. Beat Simon explains, “Agility focuses on an individual customer approach and personal service, on in-depth local knowledge of the markets and industries and on navigating investment risks together with our clients. Europe is an integral part of a worldwide network with special focus on emerging markets.”

Diverse portfolio of products and servicesAgility offers air, sea, contract logistics and road freight services as well as a combined sea and air freight package, which allows clients to benefi t from the time savings of air transport and the cost savings of shipping. Consulting for integrated supply chain solutions is also part of its service portfolio. “To us, logistics is much more than transport services. We offer to leverage the hidden potential in our customers’ supply chains,” Beat Simon says.

The company has launched extensive corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives. “We believe that good corporate citizenship is a long-term invest-ment in the future of our business, our society, and our planet,” says Beat Simon

In Basel, Agility partners with local schools and offers internships to qualifi ed students. “These programs are providing added value to the entire industry and the region, which secures its future prospects,” Beat Simon points out. “Agility believes in the future development of Basel-Stadt, which invests signifi cantly in its attractiveness for our industry. It is a politically and economically stable environment that offers highest quality of life. This makes us feel confi dent – in business and in private life.”

St. Jakobs-Strasse 220 - 4002 Basel, SwitzerlandPhone: + 41 (0) 61 316 51 51

www.agilitylogistics.com

Beat Simon, CEO Europe

Canton of Zurich

Switzerland’s Economic Powerhouse•

Zurich Chamber of Commerce Confident about Canton’s Future•

Life Sciences Fastest Growing Economic Sector•

“Zurich is one of Europe’s foremost financial locations, and is home

to many large international concerns and firms”

Regine Aeppli, President of the Government Council of the Canton of Zurich

59

Zurich Chamber of Commerce Confi dent about Canton’s FutureThe Zurich Chamber of Commerce plays a major role in the life of the canton of Zurich. In addition to providing a forum for business leaders in the canton, the Chamber also handles many other issues, including three upcoming referendums concerning airport noise.

The Chamber also serves as an essential liaison between the government and the private sector. Dr. Lukas Briner, Director, says, “The Swiss believe that a relatively marginal role of government intervention is the key to a progressive country, for example one which will be able to emerge from the current global fi nancial crisis with a healthy economy. However, we are working to provide a network of companies within the cantonal government to further facilitate the spread of infor-mation and innovation in Switzerland. In addition, we work as a medium for arbitrage in which we mediate confl icts between the private sector and the govern-ment through serving as an intermediary.”

Well prepared to cope with fi nancial crisis

Concerning the effects of the fi nancial crisis on the canton of Zurich, Dr. Lukas Briner says that Swit-zerland in general and Zurich in particular had

Winterthur Churches in Zurich

prepared the necessary fundamentals for surmount-ing challenges like the current crisis. He explains, “No doubt the local economy is weaker due to the infl uence of the crisis, but we are still quite strong. Beginning in the late 1990s, there was a lot of innova-tion and restructuring of industry within Switzerland and this has prepared us well to adapt to the onset of economic challenges. When the crisis hit us, Switzer-land’s economy was at a very strong level, which has been very fortunate for us.”

The Chamber of Commerce aims to help reinforce Swit-zerland’s international reputation as an ideal base for business. Dr. Lukas Briner says, “It is important for Swit-zerland to be acknowledged and recognised for what it really is. Contrary to some media reports, it is not a tax haven for criminal interests! We have been abiding by the same laws since the end of the Second World War, and have a proud, longstanding tradition of consistent moral codes and a very stable political system.”

The Chamber of Commerce is very confi dent about the future of Switzerland and the future of the canton of Zurich. Dr. Lukas Briner says, “Switzerland is committed to trying to differentiate itself and remain internation-ally competitive by focusing on its high level of progres-sion and development.”

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SWITZERLAND

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The Canton of Zurich is a key driver of Switzerland’s economy, and the city of Zurich, although relatively small by global standards, is Switzerland’s biggest city as well as the canton’s economic and cultural centre. Around two million people live in the canton, representing one quarter of Switzerland’s total population. The Canton of Zurich is made up of 171 communes divided into 13 districts, all governed by a 180-member Cantonal Parliament.

Economic success storyFactors that have contributed to the Canton of Zurich’s economic success are favourable conditions for companies; moderate taxes which are among the lowest in Europe; a highly qualifi ed local workforce; excep-tional transport infrastructure; speedy local, regional and international travel connections (including the world’s densest public transport network); and excellent quality of life.

Internationally renowned universities (including the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, the University of Zurich and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur) are further advantages. Companies located in Zurich can also benefi t from clusters of dynamic companies in the fi nancial services, life sciences, and information and communications technology sectors, among others.

Much more than fi nancial services

Zurich is particularly well known for its fi nancial services, and has combined tradition and innovation in keeping the local fi nancial sector strong in spite of the global crisis. Other leading sectors include life sciences, a relative newcomer to the canton which is already thriving, particularly concerning medical tech-nology. The Zurich area is also developing a reputa-tion for its innovative companies producing high-tech niche products, for example in the automotive and space industries. Creative activities are also developing rapidly in Zurich and now employ more than 53,000 people and generate annual turnover of more than €11.5 billion.

President cites canton’s research strengths

Commenting on the canton’s economic success, Regine Aeppli, President of the Government Council of the Canton of Zurich, explains, “Zurich is one of Europe’s foremost fi nancial locations, and is home to many large international concerns and fi rms. Within Switzerland, Zurich is considered an economic motor, and it is an internationally renowned centre for academic research. Private research centres have also established themselves here – for example, the IBM Research Laboratory in Rüschlikon, the Microsoft Development Centre, and the European research laboratory of the Internet company Google. The synergy between research and commerce attracts a great deal of young talent and expertise from all over the world.”

Companies which have chosen Zurich for their interna-tional headquarters include Baxter Healthcare, Cititrust (Switzerland), Dow Europe, General Motors Europe, H.B. Fuller Europe, IBM Zurich Research Laboratory, Hewlett-Packard International, Millenium Biologix, XL Insurance Global Risk, Kraft Europe, Vasco Data Secu-rity and many others.

Mayor focusing on sustainability

Zurich continues to diversify its economy. Corine Mauch, Mayor of the city of Zurich since March 2009, strongly supports Zurich’s sustainability efforts and welcomes the support for climate change which local citizens have demonstrated. She says, “Zurich voters have anchored sustainability in the city constitution. It is an obliga-tion for us to develop our city in a sustainable way. We must also diversify our economy and strengthen sectors other than the predominant fi nancial industry. Life sciences and ‘Clean Tech’ are two clusters with future potential.”

The mayor points out proudly that Zurich reduced its carbon emissions by 8.3% between 1990 and 2006, and its citizens have voted to reduce their emissions from six tonnes per person in 1990 to one tonne per person in 2050. Not surprisingly, Zurich has been awarded the gold standard in the European Energy Awards for the past several years.

Canton of Zurich: Switzerland’s Economic Powerhouse

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Town centre Zurich

Mayor Mauch emphasizes Zurich’s EU ties. She says, “Joining the EU will be the right thing to do. We are situated in the very heart of Europe. We exchange 60% of our exports and 80% of our imports with EU countries. Global issues like the impact of climate change or migration across borders affect Switzerland and the EU alike and cannot be approached by a single nation. Switzerland and the EU have a lot to offer to each other. To be the odd one out would put us at a growing disadvantage.”

Cultural hub

Zurich is not only a business centre but is also known for its lively cultural scene and international population. As

Regine Aeppli explains, “Google alone employs people from 40 nations here in Zurich. In fact, every fourth inhabitant in the Zurich area comes from another country.”

The city of Zurich has many theatres, museums, art galleries, cinemas, concerts, exhibitions, clubs and res-taurants, and is within easy access of areas of great natural beauty. Mercer International Inc. publishes regular quality-of-life reports on the world’s cities, and has rated Zurich number one several years in a row. The rating is based on such factors as employment, housing, rec-reational facilities, education, personal safety, transport and medical care, and in all of these and more, Zurich is a winner.

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SWITZERLAND

Life Sciences Fastest Growing Economic SectorThe life sciences sector is the fastest growing economic sector in the Canton of Zurich, which has already earned a reputation as one of the leading life science centres in Europe. It is the base in Switzerland of global pharma-ceuticals leader Pfi zer and of many other prominent life sciences enterprises.

Dr. Thomas Heiniger, the canton’s State Councillor for Health, explains, “The life sciences cluster in the canton of Zurich strongly works to support innovation and further the development of this important sector within Switzerland. Zurich’s life science sector has been growing by more than 4% a year, and the cantonal State Council for Health in Zurich, along with the city’s Executive Council, is working hard to attract interna-tional businesses into our thriving healthcare and life sciences activities.”

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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 inter-national 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

Incubator within Zurich’s Biotech Centre offers strong support for start-ups.

Life Science Zurich project launched in 2001

Key drivers in Zurich’s life sciences sector are the Univer-sity of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technol-ogy 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 insti-tutes within the university (including the University Hospital of Zurich) and ETHZ as well as other life sciences organisa-tions 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 economi-cally 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 internation-ally competitive very quickly and we welcome more inter-national investment in this sector,” Dr. Thomas Heiniger concludes.

Canton of Zurich

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Pfi zer

Global Pharmaceutical Leader Continues to Focus on Research and Development

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Pfi zer is the world’s largest research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company. Founded in 1849 and now headquartered in New York, Pfi zer achieved overall revenues of €37.3 billion (US$50 billion)* and spent €5.8 billion (US$7.8 billion)* on research and development in 2009. The Pfi zer group is responsible for some of the most effective pharmaceutical products on the market today. Pfi zer, which is listed on the New York, London, Euronext and Swiss stock exchanges, lives up to its motto, “Working together for a healthier world.”

systems are encouraging people to switch to generic drugs, there will always be a place for high quality pharmaceuticals from reliable producers like Pfi zer. He says, “The challenge we have now is to help people focus more on the value of health instead of the cost of drugs. There is some pressure on consumers to switch to cheaper drugs, but such drugs often do not offer the best protection for patients. This is where we have to start thinking broader to help the Swiss healthcare system become the best it can be.”

Investing in long-term health

Switzerland already has an impressive record in healthcare, with an average life expectancy of 73 years of full health. “Other countries cannot match this. We have to consider the value of investing in additional healthy years,” Dr. Ralph Studer says. This is especially true for diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease which will triple by 2050 due to demographic changes.

Commitment to bringing innovation to patients

Pfi zer’s recent innovations include a novel cancer medicine that both cuts off the blood supply that feeds tumors and destroys cellular reproduction, a new pres-cription medicine and accompanying support plan designed specifi cally to help smokers quit, as well as a medicine for neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders. Thanks to its focus on research and development and to its commitment to long-term strategies, Pfi zer continues to bring innovative medicines onto the market.

More than 150 pharmaceutical products in Switzerland

In Switzerland, Pfi zer offers more than 150 pharmaceuti-cal products for human beings and animals which play a key role in the country’s healthcare sector. Pfi zer achieved almost €223 million(CHF320 million)* turnover in 2009 and anticipates a rise to €279 million (CHF400 million)* in 2010 thanks to its acquisition of Wyeth. The combined company will create one of the most diversifi ed enter-prises in the global healthcare industry.

Dr. Ralph Studer, Managing Director of Pfi zer Switzer-land, explains that at a time when many state healthcare

Dr. Ralph Studer, Managing Director

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Canton of Zurich

Pfizer AGSchärenmoosstrasse 99CH-8052 ZürichSwitzerlandTel. +41 (0)43 495 71 11Fax: +41 (0)43 495 72 80info.ch@pfizer.comwww.pfizer.ch, www.pfizer.com

Pfizer Switzerland is based in the canton of Zurich, unlike many global pharmaceutical enterprises which chose Basel as their base in Switzer-land. Explaining why Pfizer picked Zurich, Dr. Ralph Studer says, “Zurich is one of the world’s cities with the highest quality of life. With our European headquarter for the “Estab-lished Products”-part of the business located in Zurich, we profit from a high-level infrastructure, including close proximity to the airport (approximately 10 minutes) and many competitive advantages. Zurich is an exceptionally friendly environ-ment for global companies. We have political stability here, with incredibly favorable working conditions. There are many positive points.”

Support for local initiatives

Pfizer Switzerland has formed a number of local alliances, including with the University of Zurich and its Pfizer research foundation has made major investments in local life sciences initiatives. “We have invested €3.3 million (CHF4.75 million)* in award money for research achievements to date. We grant an annual award of €20,920 (CHF30,000)* up to €83,682 (CHF120,000)* distributed to local scientists who are particularly inno-vative in their respective fields,” Dr. Ralph Studer points out. Pfizer Swit-zerland also supports the Swiss Heart Foundation.

Partnering in research efforts

Pfizer, both in Switzerland and worldwide, will continue to focus on research and development, both on its own and in partnership with other companies. Dr. Ralph Studer explains, “We build business development part-nerships with other organisations to find innovative technologies and common ways of working together

and furthering research in all areas of life sciences.”

Dr. Ralph Studer is very positive about Pfizer’s future. He notes that the company, both in Switzerland and worldwide, works closely with local authorities and has developed long-term strategies which continue to focus on innovation. He says, “We are committed to growth, and we are prepared for the future. In Switzerland we have one of the best healthcare systems, due to the devel-opment of drugs and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, and also because of our significant invest-ment in research and development of approximately €5.8 billion (US$7.8 billion)* worldwide. This will allow us to continue to adapt to the industry’s ever evolving market.”

Concerning the particular role Pfizer Switzerland will play in the coming years, Dr. Ralph Studer says, “Pfizer

Pfizer Building © Eduard Hueber/archphoto.com

has the commitment to put the patient and the customer in the centre of everything we do and to leverage on the knowledge and the synergies of all countries across Europe. We try to contribute with positive signals from Switzerland throughout the region. We believe in working with other leading sectors and institutions, because we know only by doing this we can truly prosper in the international community.”

*Exchange rate by April, 2010: 1e=1.434 CHF; 1e=1.340 US$

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Cutting-Edge ICT Sector Benefi ts from Local R&DThe Canton of Zurich has become a highly sought after location for companies involved in knowledge and value creation, including ICT enterprises. Interna-tional ICT leaders like Microsoft, IBM, Google, Cisco Systems, Siemens, Philips, Hewlett-Packard, T-Systems, Sony Overseas, Sun Microsystems and EDS are active in the greater Zurich area and benefi t from the canton’s excellent business and research environment.

Foreign investors will fi nd a large pool of multilingual ICT professionals in the Canton of Zurich who are experienced in developing software and solutions for a wide range of industries, including for the control of manufacturing and automation equipment, mobile services, Internet services, banking and pharmaceu-tical applications, among others. Opportunities for investment in the canton’s ICT sector include research partnerships, establishing support and sales subsidiar-ies, and setting up international headquarters.

Internationally renowned research and education institutes

A major attraction of the Zurich area for ICT companies is the presence of internationally renowned research and education institutes which have a history of close collaboration with the business sector. Microsoft Swit-zerland partners with the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) in a research programme focusing on systems software and is currently funding seven projects, including one on boosting computer security and another on making super computers more portable.

IBM has opened its wafer processing lab to a university research group in a project through which students test and refi ne the design of cutting-edge devices; IBM not only receives functioning prototypes but also access to a steady supply of trained engineers who can work with the newest technologies.

In the fast-growing fi eld of bioinformatics, ETHZ offers courses through an interdisciplinary program

at its Institute of Computational Science. Zurich based researchers have developed a powerful new bioinfor-matics programming language known as DARWIN and are participating in BioOpera, an important component in grid computing for bioinformatics. Sun Microsystems has invested in ETHZ as a Centre of Excellence in bio-medical research.

At the University of Zurich, long time data archiving is the focus of a study for the Database Technology Group. ETHZ’s hyper-database research group and information and communication systems research group specialise in middleware systems and heterogeneous database systems, while the Computer Graphics Laboratory explores new fundamental methods for interactive image acquisition and generation, scientifi c visualisa-tion, virtual reality and medical simulation.

Global leaders choose Zurich

The canton’s highly skilled, multilingual workforce is a key reason IBM has been operating its European research centre in the Zurich area on its own campus in Rüschlikon since 1962. The mission of the IBM Research Zurich lab is “to cultivate close relationships with academic and industrial partners, serve as one of the premier places to work for world-class research-ers, promote women in IT and science, and to help drive Europe’s innovation agenda,” according to its mission statement. Employing a diverse multinational staff of highly qualifi ed professionals, IBM Research Zurich is involved in many joint projects with uni-versities throughout Europe, in research programs established by the EU and the Swiss government, and in co-operation agreements with research institutes of industrial partners.

Google chose Zurich for its European R&D centre and opened its innovative new offi ces there in January 2008. The Zurich operation is Google’s biggest outside the US, covering some 12,000 sq m and employing over 300 engineers of more than 40 different nationalities. Focuses of Google’s Zurich centre include product man-agement and software engineering. Google’s Zurich based software engineers are developing next genera-tion technologies and working on advanced informa-

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tion retrieval algorithms, massive scalability and storage solutions, and large scale applications that enrich the user experience, among other projects.

An exciting development in Zurich’s ICT sector in recent years has been the increasing number of start-up companies involved in mobile communications, the integration of IT solutions, Internet services and appli-cations, network security, encryption systems, bioin-formatics, packaged software and more. Zurich’s ICT workers are employed in the banking, logistics transport, and automation sectors as well as in consulting firms that specialise in integrating software and networking solutions.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Zurich’s ICT sector is known for innovation and entrepreneurship, and many of the canton’s ICT

companies focus on supplying software to specialised niches. One example is EDS Corporation of Plano, Texas, which employs some 1,000 people in Switzer-land and recently invested in a new Air Transporta-tion Centre of Excellence in Zurich. This initiative supports the company’s global and regional growth strategy for its portfolio of applications development, maintenance and management services for airlines, airports and aircraft maintenance service providers. “The stable yet independent economy, excellent skill sets and favourable economic working conditions and regulations make Switzerland the perfect place to invest,” says Stefan Leser, EDS Vice-President and Managing Director Transportation.

With its clusters of innovative ICT companies and inval-uable support systems for ICT research and develop-ment, Zurich’s ICT sector is certain to remain on the cutting edge.

Canton of Zurich

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SWITZERLAND

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Microsoft

Global IT Leader Playing Key Role in Local EconomyMicrosoft has been present in Switzerland for 20 years, growing from a small offi ce to a dynamic enterprise employing more than 500 people. In addition to marketing and selling Microsoft solutions, Microsoft Switzerland is involved in many local research projects and operates a development centre which focuses primarily on voice over IP technology. Microsoft Switzerland has been growing steadily with a two digit growth rate on average over the past years.

Microsoft Switzerland works closely with local companies and government, including partnering with ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne) in a research programme focussing on embedded software. “We are currently funding seven projects, including one on increasing security on computer systems and one on making super computers more portable,” explains Peter Waser, Microsoft’s Country General Manager for Switzerland.

The global Microsoft group has a policy of allowing country directors to develop locally relevant research and development programmes as well as investments. As Peter Waser points out, “This approach allows us to be as competitive as possible here in Switzerland.”

Technology development and integration

Microsoft Switzerland also follows Microsoft’s global strategy of concentrating on two types of innovation: developing new technologies and integrating them into new products. Peter Waser explains, “Microsoft is very strong in integrating technology into one very ‘natural’ interface. Without these two types of innovation working together, the computing and IT industries would not be able to progress and develop new products that would continue to serve communities and making them more effi cient and productive.”

In line with this focus on putting new technologies to use, Microsoft Switzerland is involved in programmes to help Swiss workers adapt to technological evolution. “If people cannot adapt to changing operating systems and new IT software, then we will not be able to progress. To meet this challenge, we are participating in several initiatives to build a platform that allows people to train themselves online concerning new developments in the digital world,” Peter Waser says.

Peter Waser points out that Microsoft is playing an important role in the Swiss economy. He says, “We cooperate with local partners who make their business out of our products and solutions, and as a result we nurture 14,000 jobs in Switzerland in conjunction with the partners we are close to. One study found that every dollar invested by Microsoft in Switzerland generates 8 dollars for our partners. Switzerland as a whole is a global leader in per capita investment in information technology.”

Microsoft Schweiz GmbHRichtistrasse 3

CH-8304 WallisellenSwitzerland

Phone: +41 (0)78 844 62 45www.microsoft.com

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Leisure and Cultural Attractions Help Ensure High Quality of LifeZurich, famous as a fi nancial services hub, is also a dynamic cultural and tourism centre, and the Canton of Zurich’s tourism attractions are not only drawing visitors but also helping to ensure an enviable quality of life.

Quality of life a determining factor

As Willi Meier, CEO of the Greater Zurich Area, points out, “When a region is ranked one of the global leaders in ‘hard’ factors like favourable taxes, infrastructure and a supportive environment for business, ‘soft’ factors can often make the difference for companies choosing a location. For a company to be sure of attracting the best human resources, it must be able to guarantee an attractive quality of life.” Zurich has made sure it scores at the top of the “quality of life” list. In fact, Zurich has been ranked number one in quality of life for several years in a row in a study conducted by Mercer Human Resources.

Zurich’s Old Town

Most visitors begin their visit to the canton in the city of Zurich, whose Old Town (the Altstadtbummel)

offers picturesque architecture as well as a wealth of trendy restaurants and boutiques. Other popular attrac-tions include taking a cruise on the Limmat River or Lake Zurich, or basking in the sun in the popular beach resort of Strandbad Mythenquai on the lake. Käferberg Mountain, which offers a pleasant backdrop to much of the city, has walking trails and splendid panoramas.

The city’s historic landmarks include Fraumünster Cathedral, which dominates the Münsterplatz, and the larger Grossmünster Cathedral across the Limmat River. Kyburg Castle (Schloss Kyburg), which dates back to the 11th century, is now open for special exhibits.

Natural beauty a plus

Google is one international investor in Zurich whose employees are very happy with their company’s choice of location. Randy Knafl ic, Head of Recruitment for Google in Zurich, says, “Going for a swim in the Limmat in the summer, riding my bike or hiking along the trails in Uetlibert, and admiring the Alps every morning when I get up: this is my daily life. Google is able to attract employees from all over the world here to Zurich thanks to the city’s quality of life.” Zurich’s attractions are pleasing both visitors and residents alike.

Zurich

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Hotel zum Storchen

Luxury Hotel Providing Exceptional Service Since 1357The Hotel zum Storchen on the banks of the Limmat River in the heart of Zurich has been renowned for its hospitality for 650 years. The luxurious property offers 70 elegantly decorated rooms and suites and a wealth of special services. As General Manager Jörg Arnold points out, “Service and daily contact with our guests are very important in our hotel, which has been owned by the same family since 1938.” In fact, the zum Storchen concierge staff’s motto is ‘Making the impossible happen’.

Why should visitors to Zurich choose the zum Storchen? Jörg Arnold says, “We have an ideal location, including outstanding scenery. The zum Storchen is Zurich’s only hotel on the river, and it is the perfect base for exploring everything Zurich has to offer. In addition, the hotel has a special, understated style which our regular guests appreciate.” He adds that while Zurich is known as a business city, it also has a very lively cultural scene which includes a fantastic city opera. It is also a clean city with a manageable size and is known for its educational institu-tions. The zum Storchen is just a two-minute stroll from the famous Bahnhofstrasse, a 10-minute walk from the main train station and 20 minutes by car from Zurich’s international airport. It is near all Zurich’s cultural, business and shopping attractions.

Focus on service and added value

Service and added value differentiate the zum Storchen from other hotels. Jörg Arnold explains, “We try to create the most value we can for our guests. We do not cut prices but rather add more services. For example,

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Canton of Zurich

Am Weinplatz 2CH-8001 Zürich 22

SwitzerlandPhone: +41 44 227 27 27

Fax: +41 44 227 27 00www.storchen.ch

we do not charge for late checkout and we have reduced fees for no shows by corporate customers. We never have blackout dates. We also communicate very well with our corporate customers, to whom we offer a special corporate rate which has not been increased this year.”

The zum Storchen is named for a pair of rare black storks who nested on the roof of the hotel when it was new, back in 1357. During a storm, the storks’ nest was blown off the roof and a black egg was found on the pavement. It is now on display in the hotel’s lobby, and tradition says that it brings luck to all who touch it. Good luck is just the beginning of what the zum Storchen offers its guests.

The hotel’s owners have invested some CHF 30 million over the past decade to maintain the highest possible standards of quality and service throughout the hotel. Jörg Arnold says, “zum Storchen will always have its market, because the hotel’s standards of quality are the highest. Our newly renovated rooms and suites, which

are larger than the norm, will make the hotel even more appealing, for example to our Middle Eastern and Russian clients who prefer larger rooms. We have doubled the size of some rooms, from 20 sq m to 40 sq m. We attract a diverse clientele, and my goal is to never have more than 20% of any demographic.” The zum Storchen has also previously extended its courtyard to create space for the room expansions and all renovations will be fully completed by April 2010.

All the hotel’s air-conditioned rooms and suites are equipped with high-speed and wireless Internet access (free to business travellers), satellite TV, pay TV and radio, minibar, cosmetics bar, safe, and an ISDN telephone with voice mail, bathrobes and slippers, and special bedding as well as antiallergenic pillows and duvets on request. Chambermaid service is offered twice daily and room service is available 18 hours per day. All rooms are provided with fresh fruit, flowers and mineral water daily and a delicious breakfast is for free. Non-smoking rooms are available and dogs are permitted in the rooms. All rooms offer lovely views of either the Limmat River or Zurich’s Old Town.

Exceptional food and beverage choices

The zum Storchen is known for its exceptional food and beverage offerings. The Rotisserie restaurant

is the perfect choice for gourmet meals and wines served in a cozy dining room with an open fireplace. In another mood, the Storchen Terrace offers outdoor dining over-looking the scenic Limmat River, day or night. The Storchen Bar serves light lunches and evening cocktails, and guests can enjoy live piano music. Barchetta is a popular choice for light meals, wines and delicious cap-puccinos, while the Boulevard Café serves meals and snacks outdoors under the lime trees.

The hotel contains meeting facili-ties for banquets and gatherings of up to 120 people, with various sizes of meeting rooms available to suit guests’ needs. The zum Storchen concierge team is skilled at making any type of event a success. Business and leisure visitors to Zurich will find a special home away from home at the historic zum Storchen.

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Apartments Swiss Star

Value-Added Serviced Apartments That Make Guests Feel at HomeApartments Swiss Star offers 420 serviced apartments in and around Zurich which provide, both business and leisure travellers, a home away from home in Switzerland. Swiss Star, founded in 2004 in Kloten, has already earned a strong reputation for its winning combination of attractively furnished, well-equipped apartments, fair rental rates and high-quality housekeeping services. Swiss Star’s apartments are a very desirable alternative to hotels for short or long stays in the Zurich area. Ranked number one in Zurich, Swiss Star focuses on offering tastefully furnished apartments at fair rates.

From studios to three-bedroom units

Each Swiss Star apartment is elegantly furnished and features a fully equipped kitchen with a glass and ceramic topped cooker, a dishwasher, a combination convection and microwave oven, a refrigerator, and all necessary utensils and dishes. Each apartment also has a well-appointed bathroom and comfortable beds. Weekly cleaning with a change of towels and bed linens, along with parking facilities on request, are also part of the package. Wireless LAN with 24 hour Internet access is standard service in every Swiss Star apartment as well as television and a DVD player. Private telephone lines are available on enquiry. Addi-

tional beds, including children’s beds, are available for an extra charge, and guests can bring their pets under certain conditions. Daily rates are offered up to 29 days and discounted monthly rates are especially calculated for a longer stay.

Swiss Star provides a number of options, since its apart-ments range from studios to three-bedroom units. Albert Blättler, CEO, explains, “The serviced apartment concept was not well known here in Zurich when I started the company. Most visitors just stayed in hotels. But I realised that many people, especially those coming here for a longer time, might prefer a furnished apartment where they could feel more at home.”

Thanks to Swiss Star’s excellent facilities and services as well as its attractive prices and added-value extras, the business was an immediate success in Kloten and Albert Blättler soon expanded to Oerlikon and downtown Zurich. Now Apartments Swiss Star offers apartments throughout metropolitan Zurich, with two townhouse complexes in Aussersihl, a complex in the coveted Wal-lisellan district, a location near Zurich’s trade fair centre in Oerlikon with panoramic views, a townhouse complex in downtown Oerlikon, a quiet yet central location in Niederdorf, a complex in Kloten with easy access to the international airport, a facility in Oberstrass near Zurichberg and a complex in Irchel near the Univer-sity of Zurich, and two quiet locations in the exclusive Wiedikon neighbourhood.

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Canton of Zurich

Business travellers seeking value for money

Most of Swiss Star’s clients are business travellers looking for value for money, Albert Blättler explains. He says, “Now that we offer three-bedroom apartments, execu-tives can bring their whole family with them, whether they plan to stay for a couple of months or a couple of years.” Most of the company’s clients are from Europe, mainly Germany, France, and the UK.

Swiss Star also has a number of corporate clients. As Albert Blättler points out, “Right now companies are looking carefully into their budgets and avoiding five-star hotels for their travelling executives. We have nice apartments, with modern furnishings and all kinds of services, including mail delivery to the guest’s door.”

Impressive 85% occupancy rate year round

Swiss Star has achieved an enviable 85% occupancy rate year round with an even higher rate in summer. The global crisis has not had any negative effect on the company, no doubt thanks to its value-added offering. Now Albert Blättler plans to expand more into the

leisure travel sector as well as continuing to serve business travellers.

Describing the Swiss Star difference, Albert Blättler says, “What sets us apart is that we really concentrate on making our guests feel at home. We stock the refrig-erator before a guest arrives and make sure that every-thing is working, from the Internet to all the appliances. For the price of a hotel room, our clients can have a spacious, well-equipped apartment with a personal touch.” In addition to its personalised services, Swiss Star prides itself on its flexibility, focus on maintaining its apartments and furnishings in tip top shape, and perks like free Internet connections.

The Zurich area is an ideal choice for both business and leisure visitors and all parts of the metropolitan area are served by high quality mass transit systems, making every Swiss Star apartment within easy access of the city’s top business districts and tourist sites. Albert Blättler says, “You can reach a lot of things in Zurich in only five to 10 minutes, and the airport has connections all over Europe. When you come to Zurich, Swiss Star is ready to be your home away from home.”

Obstgartenstrasse 248302 KlotenSwitzerland

Phone: +41 (0)43 255 57 57Fax: +41 (0)43 255 57 58

www.apartments-swiss-star.ch

74

SWITZERLAND

Museums and festivals

Zurich is the home of the Swiss National Museum, which focuses on Switzerland’s long history, and the topnotch local universities have their own popular museums. The art scene in Zurich is also well developed and includes the Löwenbräu Complex and the Kunsthaus (Museum of Fine Arts), where the largest collection of fi ne art in Switzerland is held.

Zürifäscht, a triennial public festival featuring music, fi reworks, and other attractions, is the largest public festival in Switzerland and will be held this year July 2-4. Zurich’s Street Parade each August is a summer highlight and has become one of Switzerland’s premier carnivals. Other festivals include Sechseläuten, the spring festival of the guilds and burning of the Böögg; Zürcher Theatre Spektakel, an international theatre festival; and Kunst Zürich, an international contemporary art fair.

Zurich offers a tempting collection of fashionable boutiques and art galleries, and with its multicultural pop-ulation, the city also has fi ne restaurants featuring cuisines from all over the world. For music and theatre lovers, the Zurich Opera House (Zürcher Opernhaus) is one of the principal opera houses in Europe, and the Schauspiel-haus Zürich is the city’s main theatre complex.

Thanks to its exceptional infrastructure, the city of Zurich makes an excellent base for touring nearby attractions as well as Switzerland’s other cities; Berne, Basel and Lucerne are all easily reached by train or car from Zurich.

Popular day trips

Popular destinations for day trips include touring local vineyards and visiting picturesque towns like Uetliberg and Winterthur. Uetliberg is only 20 minutes from Zurich’s city centre by train (line S10), which runs twice every hour. One of Uetliberg’s attractions is the Planetary Path (Plan-etenweg), a series of free outdoor exhibits on the solar system. The path runs along a mountain ridge and offers spectacular views across Lake Zurich.

Winterthur, less than 30 minutes by car northeast of Zurich’s city centre, is famous for both its fi nancial services and its art galleries. Many tourists come here from Zurich to view the collection of paintings at the Sammlung Oskar Reinhart am Römerholz on the Haldenstrasse, which includes works by Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens and Van Gogh. Historic landmarks in this picturesque small city include St. Laurenz Church, built in the middle of the 13th century. The River Eulach fl ows through the heart of Winterthur.

The colourful city of Baden is also nearby; it offers Fit-nesspark Hamam Baden, where visitors can pamper themselves with Oriental spa treatments. All around Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) visitors will fi nd charming villages, res-taurants, hiking trails and water sports facilities.

Art Museum Winterthur

Nestling amidst hills and lakes, the Zurich region offers a unique combination of lifestyle, indulgence, beautiful natural surroundings, and the arts.

Destination Zurich

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