The strategy of specialties requires big and continuous efforts in research and development. This strategy can be maintained only if the companies continuously succeed in introducing and marketing innovative products on the international markets. Without the profits of these new products, the necessary research and development expenses associated with innovation could not be financed by privately owned companies.

New technologies play an important role in ensuring the future economic success of the companies. While biotechnological methods are gaining importance as research and manufacturing tools in the life-science area (health care and agriculture), the development of research intensive, customer specific solutions is a cornerstone in specialty chemicals - not only products and formulations, but rather a comprehensive application system.

The leading position of the Swiss companies, compared to other countries, can be explained primarily by the high share of pharmaceutical research. This position demonstrates the decisiveness of the Swiss companies to remain in leading positions of scientific and technological innovation.