Medical technology in Switzelrand has a great heritage as well as a promising future. Covernment attention in recent years has resulted in the launch of special medtech programmes while many cantons have made medtech the focus of their innovation policies. Rightly so, for medtech has short R&D cycles and requires a convergence of future-critical knowledge and technologies. Furthermore, it serves a growing global market. The Swiss medtech sector comprises around 700 firms that are wholly or partly focussed on midical technology. Of these, 300 manufacture their own products - either under their own brand or as an OEM. With 70% of goods produced being shippped abroad and only 30% being sold in the home market, Switzerland is a net medtech exporter. An estimated 45'000 people are employed in the sector. While that is only 1.4% of the national workforce, they produce 5.0 % of the total $ 180 billion (2007).

Where does the strength come from?

Switzerland with its history in precision mechanics has a valuable asset. Namely the watch industry which started in 18th century developed a high level of skills and knowledge, and it is noteworthy that the present medical technology clusters are also in the same regions as the watch industry, primarily the areas of Jura, Lake Geneva region, Basel and Solothurn, but also Zug, Bern and Zürich. These regional clusters are represented by the regional cluster organisations which are shown on the map below. The Industry is represented by various organisations. The most important ones are;  FASMED and  the Medical Cluster.