Reports + factsheets

Pentapharm, a science-based company located in the Basel area, is a leading international supplier of high-quality biochemical materials for various applications in hemostasis. The company also specializes in the development and manufacture of essential pharmaceutical ingredients. At the core of Pentapharm's success is the dedication to innovation, exemplified by cutting-edge solutions in coagulation diagnostics. Pentapharm serves neighboring countries from Switzerland and has sales offices in the USA and China. The company recently made the strategic decision to enter the Spanish market.

Under its Alpine White brand, Cobea AG offers a solution for creating brighter smiles, not just in its home country of Switzerland but in many others as well. In its next expansion phase, the company plans to launch its teeth whitening and care products on the Brazilian market too. The journey has not always been plain sailing but S-GE and the Swiss Business Hub in São Paulo were two of the partners that helped smooth the way.

A review of the new medical device regulatory landscape in Brazil

ANVISA’s new regulation for medical devices, RDC 751/2022, brings positive changes in terms of more modern and consolidated regulations, facilitating the market entry of Swiss medtech companies, especially Software as Medical Device (SaMD) and nanomaterials.

For the fifth time in a row, Switzerland is taking part in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Under the motto "swisstech for extended Worlds", 25 young Swiss companies will be showcasing their trendsetting innovations from 5 - 8 January 2023. Switzerland Global Enterprise and Presence Switzerland are organizing Switzerland's presence at this important trade fair - also with the aim of positioning Switzerland as the world's leading location for innovation and technology.

For around 100 years, the SIGVARIS GROUP has been producing products and solutions in the field of medical compression therapy. The medical technology company is headquartered in Winterthur and has production facilities in Switzerland, France, Poland, the U.S., and Brazil, as well as branches in nine countries and sales partners in more than 70 countries across all continents. In an interview, Erich Kutter, Area Sales Manager Export, explains the role that local partners play when tapping into new markets.

Just some 40km from the Swiss border, the new pole offers a unique ecosystem for Swiss companies who are already active in Italy or monitoring upcoming clusters. Both, ABB and Novartis were pioneers and started their collaboration as part of the alliance called Federated Innovation.

BÜCHI generates 97% of its turnover abroad. With 20 subsidiaries and numerous sales partners on all continents, the company is consistently pursuing its go-to-market strategy.

Telemedicine has been a topic in Austria for quite some time now, but it has gained a lot of importance due to coronavirus and the accompanying distance rules. The Swiss Business Hub Austria met with the expert in telemedicine, Dr. Andrea Vincenzo Braga, for an interview and talked to him about the current situation in telemedicine in Austria.

Due to the significant growth of the medtech sector in Chile (+25% since 2016) and the increasing demand for more innovative and sophisticated medical devices, it is an interesting market for Swiss medtech exporters. Find out from Swiss representatives abroad how to be successful in the Chilean market.

The Medtech market in Chile has been growing steadily and reached a market size of 979 million USD in 2019 (+25% since 2016). With a 95% import rate, the main suppliers are international companies. Learn why a Swiss or Liechtenstein medtech company should not overlook Chile as an export market in this interview with Beat Strüby, Chief Executive Officer of Medic Solutions.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) have rolled out a single registration platform for all medical device market authorization called GHAD. According to updated guidance issued by SFDA and as per July 2021, local and foreign Medical Devices manufacturers are request to register or renew their licences under the new system GHAD. Here’s what Swiss medtech exporters need to know about it.

Switzerland will be participating in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for the third time in a row. From January 11-14, 2021, Switzerland Global Enterprise will accompany 23 Swiss start-ups to one of the world's most important consumer electronics trade fairs. As part of the SwissTech campaign, the companies will showcase their innovations to a global audience and represent Switzerland as the world's leading location for innovation and technology.

The following article is a sneak peek of the report about medtech market in Central Eastern Europe prepared by Swiss Business Hub Central Europe. The whole report is available for download. 

"With Switzerland Global Enterprise, we were able to establish promising contacts with potential investors and customers in the medtech sector at the right moment."

Swiss startup Topadur Pharma AG successfully showcased itself at the digital edition of the BIO International Convention 2020, the substitute event for the attendance-based trade fair in the USA that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Topadur CEO Reto Naef likes the virtual format.

"With Switzerland Global Enterprise, we were able to efficiently establish new contacts in South Korea. During the business trip, interesting relationships were established with companies, with whom we are now talking about specific projects."

The “Ex-Tarifário” is an initiative of the Brazilian government created to reduce the import tax, applicable to products that do not have a national similar and that meet certain criteria. In this way, it encourages imports by facilitating access to innovative foreign solutions in the local market and protecting local suppliers of similar solutions in Brazil.

As cornerstones of the Irish economy, the pharma and life sciences sectors have contributed vastly to the attractiveness of Ireland to foreign companies. In present times of change, the country remains one of the largest exporters of pharmaceuticals in Europe, keen to position itself as a global innovation leader. This aim, combined with challenges brought upon by the Covid-19 crisis, opens ups key opportunities for Swiss companies with innovative products or solutions.

Bcomp Ltd is making an international name for itself with renewable, innovative natural fibers and has already received several technology awards. Bcomp CEO and co-founder Christian Fischer is keynote speaker at the Aussenwirtschaftsforum and will talk about how his team is taking off internationally with sustainability and pioneering spirit. 

The spotlight has been on Silicon Valley for a long time, but Canada has success stories to tell that rival those of its Southern neighbour. The tech sector in Canada and notably Toronto has been booming. Learn more about the opportunities for Swiss companies.

Currently nearly 40’000 people are employed by one of the 554 organizations active in life science within the sole city of Vienna. The present article shows the booming Austria’s life science industry and why it is a chance for Swiss SMEs to grow their business. Major takeaways are: strong funding, tax advantages, security and quality of life, skilled employees, ties between scientific and business community, and much more.

With Germany’s health care system in the state of upheaval, the digital health care movement is proceeding with unprecedented speed. The innovative Swiss start-up mentality, which is mainly attributed to the favorable rules & regulations Swiss companies face while founding and developing innovative business ideas besides the beaten track, allows to seize these rising opportunities now. Join the Swiss Start-Up Tour Digital Health on their roadshow through Germany in Mai 2019 and meet the digital health Swiss start-up community as well as German health care interlocutors!

Asia’s Medtech market is expected to have a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8% and is on track to overtake the EU as the second largest market globally by 2020. Singapore is well-placed as a market and a gateway to the regional markets for Medtech companies to delve into with these initiatives.

Thanks to its innovative Geolife technology, Bioma SA's chemical-free products significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, livestock farming, environmental remediation and wine production, and also promote animal and human welfare. For its re-entry into the Mexican market, the Ticino-based company relied on the expertise and support of S-GE.

Five new procedures for application will be opened in 2019 under Operational Programme "Innovation and Competitiveness". In the period 2019-2020 Swiss companies can participate in tender procedures for delivering machinery, equipment and specialized software to Bulgarian enterprises for for about 400 million euros.

Integra Biosciences AG has grown rapidly in recent years,  including in China. The Zizers-based company was able to hire a sales manager in China thanks to the support of S-GE. A stroke of luck for everyone involved.

Large state projects and private initiatives are implemented in the Romanian healthcare sector infrastructure. The presence of Swiss companies on a rapidly growing market is well below potential.

Roger Zbinden, Head of the Swiss Business Hub Korea, explains why Swiss life science companies should not automatically think first of China or Japan but consider the dynamic Korean market with its export potential and as a stepping stone to Asia.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has updated its clearance policy for the import of medical devices. The new regulations concern non-sterile and non-measuring devices and came into force in September 2018.

Thanks to the strong dominance of the private sector and increasing medical tourism, stomatology is one of the fastest growing medical service segments in Poland. Swiss dental technology providers can benefit from this.

The origins of Dixi Cylindre SA, based in Le Locle (NE), go back to 1924. Established to manufacture parts for the watchmaking industry, Cylindre SA’s turning workshop was acquired by the Dixi group in 1959. Over time, the company expanded and obtained several certifications. In 2018 it was able to establish a long-term partnership with a French medical technology company thanks to EEN.

The imports of medical devices grew by 26% from January to June 2018 (in comparison to the same period in 2017), showing that there are many opportunities to be explored by Swiss medtech companies in this sector.

Mauritius has become one of the fastest advancing destinations in the fields of Medical Technology and Treatment in Africa. While the official mandate for all African countries remains to start or increase manufacturing their own medical equipment, the reality today still sees rapidly growing imports from outside Africa in order to meet existing and up-coming demands and therefore presents a variety of business opportunities for Swiss companies.

Hong Kong relies heavily on imports to satisfy its medical equipment needs since the city’s medical equipment production is low. Switzerland is regarded as a country with quality healthcare and a reliable partner in medical sciences.

Since 1 July 2014, Switzerland has been the only continental European country to have signed a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with China. In the FTA’s fifth year, the University of St.Gallen, the Chinese University of International Business and Economics, and the Nanjing University have joined forces to analyse its economic impact for the first time.

Nanotechnology initiatives and development in Malaysia are aligned with a growing global revenue of nano-enabled sectors. The new government seeks to promote and drive its industry 4.0 to move forward to improve its technology development and bring positive impacts to its society. Potential technology partnerships with Swiss companies with expertise in Industry 4.0 are in demand.

Colombia’s aim is to be recognized by 2032, as a leader in the development, production, marketing and export of high value-added products derived from the sustainable use of biodiversity. Swiss expertise and technology in biotech industry could help to reach this objective.