More and more biotechnology companies are moving into PARK INOVAARE, the innovation park at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). Startups from the field of basic pharmaceutical research or early-stage drug development benefit in particular from the proximity to PSI’s large-scale research facilities, including the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL, inaugurated in December 2016.
Since 2016, nine companies have moved to PARK INNOVAARE, four of which come from the biotechnology sector. According to Nils Gebhardt, deputy managing director at PARK INNOVAARE, there is now “a small but outstanding community of companies offering their services to pharmaceutical companies around the world”. PARK INNOVAARE now plans to develop its innovation ecosystem further into this direction, according to a statement.
The innovation campus will be expanded by 2020, creating more than 35,000 square metres of ultra-modern, highly flexible spaces for laboratories, cleanrooms, workshops and offices at the innovation site in Villigen. Thanks to this expansion, there will also be enough space to house research centres of large companies.
“Due to its excellent economic conditions, the canton of Aargau will be able to draw even more companies and workers to the Villigen site,” said PARK INNOVAARE.
