Geographical Coverage
CTC was founded and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is a long-standing preferred supplier to world’s leading Life Science companies as well as SME’s and start-ups across Switzerland and Europe.
Switzerland
We have a range of locations that might fit your family, lifestyle and culture! There is something in this part of the world for anyone. Each of the areas has its own distinct feeling whilst still having a Swiss identity which is one of the many amazing parts of living here.
The Life Science industry in Switzerland is one of the key drivers for the country's wealth. In 2018, over 80 bn CHF or 25% of the export came from the Pharma and MedTech industries. The gross value added in the pharmaceutical industry was about 36 bn CHF.
If you'd like to learn more about the different regions in Switzerland then continue reading below.
Basel & NW Switzerland
The region of North-Western Switzerland consists of the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Aargau. The largest city in North-Western Switzerland is Basel, the origin and headquarters of CTC.
The Basel region is a global leader in the life sciences sector. The companies Roche and Novartis maintain their headquarters here and more than 40 other companies as well. Other global players have hubs here: Actelion/J&J, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Unparalleled across the globe, no other location exhibits such a high concentration of life science jobs. From top-of-the-line research groups over to biotech entrepreneurs and patent specialists, Basel counts approximately 700 life science companies with more than 30,000 experts amongst its ranks. http://www.lifesciencesbasel.com/en/.
Basel is a lively city situated where the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany meet making it a melting pot of European culture. Basel is a riverside city with an amazing history, beautiful architecture and a bustling arts scene. With all the international companies and its specific location, Basel is a host to a variety of languages. The local dialect is 'Baseldytsch' but most people in the city will also be able to speak in German, French and English!
Espace Mittelland
The region ‘Espace Mittelland‘ consists of the cantons Bern, Freiburg, Neuenburg and Solothurn.
Here you will find the local affiliates of Draeger, GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic, Stryker, Vifor Pharma and others.
Bern is the Swiss capital – and mostly German speaking. Part of the 'Berner Oberland‘ is the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Region. There, you will find one of the most spectacular and highest touristic sites in the Swiss mountains. In canton Fribourg, two thirds of the population are speaking French and the reminder mostly (Swiss) German.
Bassin Lémanique / Swiss Romande
The cantons of Geneva and Valais are jointly called 'Bassin Lémanique' or 'Swiss Romande'.
Here are located the Swiss affiliates of Celgene, DuPont, Elli Lilly, Novimmune, Sanofi (and others).
In Geneva, many Not-for-Profit companies have been founded close to the U.N.O. and WHO: e.g. Drugs for Neglected Diseases DNDi, Medicines for Malaria Ventures MMV.
The Swiss Romande is differentiated by the language switch from German over to French.
Most of the people in this western region live in the Lemanic Arc which is close to Lake Geneva, another popular destination for visits. This area has a mix of rolling green hinterlands and lakeside towns and cities. You'll very rarely be stuck for something to do here. Geneva is the largest city and is the capital of this canton.
Zurich, Zug, Lucerne & NE Switzerland
Over the last decades, a Life Science cluster has been developed in the region around Zurich, Zug and Lucerne.
Many global players have set up local affiliates there: 3M, Abbot, AbbVie, Allergan, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ferring, Gilead, J&J/Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Merck KGaA, MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme), Novartis, Pfizer, Roche Diagnostics, Sandoz, Siemens, Takeda, Teva and others.
Zurich is the largest of the Swiss cities and the capital of its canton. It is considered one of the best cities to live in due to its high living standard, its amenities and attractions are evidence of this. Whilst in Zurich, make sure you try out the delicious Zürcher Geschnetzeltes!
A small way from Zurich is Lucerne and the centre of Switzerland which is predominantly the German-speaking portion. In size, it's smaller than its northern counterparts but it makes up for that in spirit. Lucerne is a popular tourist destination and has a number of memorable features such as its waterside position and its many bridges.
Zug and Schaffhausen are not as well known as Zurich or Lucerne. Zug is known for its advantageous tax system and Schaffhausen due to its position close to Germany.
Ticino and Valais
Within the cantons of Ticino and Valais you may also find some pharmaceutical companies. In Ticino, there is a long history of small and midsized companies. In Valais, you will find some chemical suppliers to the pharmaceutical industry.
Ticino: From German, to French, to Italian – there is nothing that Switzerland doesn't offer. Ticino is a canton that lies closest to the Italian border on the southern side of the country. Although Italian is dominant in this area it's still a bi-lingual area in which most people will also speak (Swiss) German.
This is a popular location for finding amazing Swiss wines as evidenced by the many vineyards in the area. Lugano is the main city in the region and has a beautiful climate which is perfect for visiting the lakes and the Alps.
The canton of Valais is widely known for the Matterhorn and resort towns such as Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. The wine industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. There are also a large number orchards in the area, and saffron is also gathered here. About two thirds of the population speak French, most others (Walser) German.
Europe
CTC has offices in both Basel, Switzerland and Frankfurt, Germany so we are happy to help you find roles, talent and offer other services to you if you are located throughout Europe. We have an international and experienced team that can help you find what you are looking for, in the language you are most comfortable with. If you would like to speak to one of our team-members to gain some guidance, please get in touch via the contact form below.
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Frankfurt Office
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