Science is international. It is based on well equipped regional centres, consisting of universities, private research institutes and companies. Europe hosts such research nodes in many scientific disciplines.
Nearly half of the world-wide research expenditures are in Switzerland. Since some years the research activities of Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical companies abroad show a particularly dynamic development. Increasingly, successful research is the result of an innovative process within a world-wide network.
Swiss companies have had an extensive international network of research centres for decades. For example, Novartis and Roche operate not less than seven large research centres outside Switzerland, namely in US, United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.
Moreover, co-operation with third companies and universities has become noticeably more important in recent years. The major investments in biotechnology and genetic engineering companies, as well as the tight network of research alliances and license agreements, illustrate the international nature of our research efforts. Biotech companies are particularly important in identifying and developing new ideas, new technologies and innovative products. Companies in Basle currently allocate around 20 % of their R&D budgets to co-operative projects with external research groups. |
