ClearSpace to launch the first active debris removal mission with Arianespace Vega C
Switzerland
Greater Lausanne Region
*Ranking placements are for Geneva-Lausanne
MEMBERS:
Innovaud
The fundraising and exits of Vaud Deep Tech startups show that our region is a proven breeding ground for success, both for entrepreneurs and investors.
Highlights
Lausanne is the capital of the French-speaking canton of Vaud, one of Switzerland’s fastest growing regions and a Deep Tech innovation hub. Situated in the heart of Europe, the Greater Lausanne Region has emerged as a global hub of research and innovation. Many breakthrough technologies have been developed here, including the Nespresso coffee machine, Logitech mouse, Scala programming language, and the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse.
One of the wealthiest regions in Europe, more than 2,000 technology companies employing approximately 50,000 highly skilled professionals are based here, and Vaud has the highest startup density in Switzerland. In 2022, regional startups attracted CHF 548.6 million ($615 million) in funding, and the ecosystem saw more exits than ever before. A record 13 tech firms were acquired by private companies.
Ecosystem by the Numbers
NUMBER OF UNICORNS
(H2 2020 - 2022)
Sub-Sector Strengths
Cybersecurity
The Greater Lausanne Region is famous for its high level of research in all sectors of Cybersecurity and trust technologies. It is home to the EPFL Innovation Park, the Trust Valley — and its Tech4Trust program — and the unlimitrust campus, which fosters startups around the notion of the economy of trust. Scaleups CYSEC, a European data security company, and NetGuardians, an award-winning Fintech helping financial institutions to fight fraud, are based here, as are world leaders in surveillance and encryption ELCA and Kudelski.
Cleantech
In 2004, Lausanne became one of the first European cities to obtain the European Energy Award GOLD label. CleantechAlps is a Swiss networking initiative led by the French-speaking cantons and Bern and supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. Its mission is to promote Western Switzerland as a European center for clean technologies. Leading companies in the sector include Agtech scaleup Ecorobotix and Spacetech/debris removal scaleup ClearSpace.
Life Sciences
Located at the heart of the Swiss Health Valley, the Greater Lausanne Region is home to many globally recognized research centers and companies active in Life Sciences and health. The region’s main hospital, the CHUV, was ranked among the 10 best hospitals in the world by Newsweek in 2021. Leading Life Sciences companies include SOPHiA Genetics, DistalMotion, Lunaphore, and ONWARD. In June 2023, Lunaphore was acquired by Bio-Techne after raising a CHF 40 million ($44.8 million) Series D round three months earlier.
Reasons to Move Your Startup to Greater Lausanne Region
Quality of Life
With its many lakes and mountains, Greater Lausanne Region offers easy access to nature and a wide range of sports. The terraced vineyards of Lavaux are a UNESCO world heritage site, and the cultural calendar includes the Montreux Jazz Festival. The Fondation L’Hermitage, the Swiss Film Archive, and the Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne are among the region’s arts venues. The Platform 10 arts district includes the Photo Elysée and the MUDAC museums.
Industrial Expertise
Switzerland has an established reputation for precision and high quality, and new innovations are emerging from the Greater Lausanne Region’s traditional industries. Vaud is home to a number of drone developers, and this industry has created several hundred jobs in the region. The Joux Valley Technical School, where watchmaking began in Vaud, trains future designers, builders, manufacturers and micro-mechanics. Several other technical schools also train apprentices in industrial skills.
Access to International Talent
The Greater Lausanne Region is home to a highly qualified, international talent pool. The University of Lausanne, the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, IMD, and the Lausanne Hospitality & Business School are some of the world-renowned institutes that have helped establish the region as a leader in research, and the Swiss apprenticeship system creates highly specialized talent. International workers are drawn to the high quality of life and multilingual environment.
Selected Startup Organizations
Startup Genome Members
Key Ecosystem Players
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