Switzerland and the Nordics consistently rank among the world’s top innovation leaders, with both regions boasting world-class research institutions and cutting-edge biotech ventures, providing excessive collaboration opportunities between the two.
The Nordic delegation, arranged by SwedenBIO with the support of The Life Science Cluster, and Medicon Valley Alliance, consisted of 7 Swedish companies. The companies enjoyed full conference participation with access to networking and partnering opportunities and the chance to participate in site visits after the conference. Start-ups could also use the opportunity to pitch during the event. The Nordic pavilion attracted plenty of interest from the around three thousand conference guests.
One of the key highlights on the Nordic delegation’s agenda was the Swiss-Nordic Roundtable discussion, titled “The Nordics and Switzerland Innovating Together: Translating Innovation into Biotech Ventures”. The roundtable, moderated by Marjo Puumalainen from SwedenBIO, brought together influential voices from both ecosystems to explore how innovation can be more effectively translated into viable biotech ventures.
Key takeaways from the roundtable discussion:
1. Understanding the Ecosystems
Martyna Wroblewska of BaseLaunch emphasized the importance of structured support for startups in Switzerland, outlining how BaseLaunch guides companies from ideation to market. She highlighted challenges such as bottlenecks in scaling and the need for better access to international funding.
From the Nordic side, Kush Punyani of Smile Venture Hub pointed to the unique innovation culture in Sweden, underpinned by policies like the teacher’s exemption, which allows academic inventors to retain rights to their discoveries. He stressed the critical role of accelerators and business coaching in helping early-stage Nordic biotech startups bridge the gap between science and entrepreneurship, while noting that fundraising remains a persistent challenge.
2. Collaborative opportunities & synergies
Investor Veronica Gambillara Fonck of Pureos Bioventures shared insights from her firm’s recent investment in Swedish startup AnaCardio, illustrating the potential for cross-border investments. She discussed differences in startup readiness between the regions and called for more aligned investor networks to build scalable ventures together.
Meanwhile, Jonas Juhlin, CEO of Mavatar, shared his company’s 2024 seed funding journey, describing both the opportunities and hurdles Nordic startups face when seeking capital abroad.
They concluded with a shared vision: to ensure that scientific breakthroughs don’t remain in the lab but translate into tangible healthcare solutions faster and more efficiently through partnership.
Swiss Biotech Report 2025: A snapshot of resilience and growth
The Swiss Biotech Report 2025, themed “Power of international alliances”, underscores Switzerland’s continued leadership in life sciences, even amid global headwinds. The total capital raised reached CHF 2.5 billion in 2024, marking a 22% increase over 2023, and underscoring Switzerland’s position as a resilient and innovative hub in the global biotech landscape.
Looking ahead
This inaugural Nordic presence at Swiss Biotech Day symbolizes a broader shift toward pan-European cooperation in life sciences. As ecosystems become increasingly interconnected, collaborations like this will be key to addressing global healthcare challenges, fostering investment, and transforming innovation into lasting impact.
Continuing this momentum, a Swiss delegation is set to participate in the upcoming Nordic Life Science Days 2025, further reinforcing the bilateral commitment to long-term innovation partnership.
