In a groundbreaking new study released today, Switzerland cements its position as a leading force in the worldwide Deep Tech arena, with innovative startups collectively generating over $100 billion in value. This extensive report highlights the country’s rapid ascent from a hub of academic excellence to a global powerhouse of science-driven innovation.
While Silicon Valley, Berlin, and Paris continue to dominate headlines for technological breakthroughs, the Swiss Deep Tech ecosystem is quietly showcasing remarkable growth and resilience. The “Deep Tech Nation Switzerland 2025” report—produced through a collaboration between Dealroom, Startupticker, and venture capital firms Founderful and Kickfund—paints a comprehensive picture of Switzerland’s technological landscape. It traces the journey of its research institutions, patent activity, venture investments, and advanced-stage company development, spanning over five years and analyzing more than 1,500 startups.
Key figures underscore Switzerland’s rising prominence:
- Swiss Deep Tech firms have amassed a combined enterprise value exceeding $100 billion.
- Between 2019 and 2025, the country allocated an unprecedented 60% of its total venture capital to Deep Tech ventures, a figure unsurpassed globally.
- The country ranks first in Europe and third worldwide for Deep Tech venture capital per capita, bolstered by a strong domestic research base and increasing international investments.
- Nearly 96% of late-stage funding rounds are led by global investors, predominantly from the US and EU, signaling international confidence.
- Swiss universities ETH Zurich and EPFL rank just behind Oxford and Cambridge in Europe for the creation of Deep Tech spinouts, emphasizing academic strength as a driver of innovation.
The report also spotlights emerging sectors where Swiss startups are making significant strides—particularly in artificial intelligence, climate and energy, robotics, and biotech. Since 2021, AI and machine learning companies now constitute 23% of new startups—almost double their previous share—highlighting a burgeoning pipeline born at the intersection of top-tier research, entrepreneurial talent, and sector-specific investment.
Switzerland’s leadership in space and biotech sectors further underscores its strategic importance. Geraldine Naja of the European Space Agency lauded the country’s recent launch of the European Space Deep Tech Innovation Centre in Villigen, describing it as a “testbed” for European autonomy in space technology. Severin Schwan, CEO of Roche, praised Switzerland’s biotech ecosystem, noting the close-knit concentration of pharma expertise around Basel and its role in fostering groundbreaking biomedical innovation.
Despite these successes, the report points out an ongoing challenge: the limited availability of late-stage capital within Switzerland. While funding for AI-focused startups surged—approaching one-third of total deep-tech investments in 2024—local investment at later phases remains relatively constrained, representing both a hurdle and an opportunity for growth.
Industry leaders see immense potential in Switzerland’s emerging Deep Tech landscape. Chris Keller of AWS highlighted the country’s leadership in AI patents per capita and its vibrant startup environment. Meanwhile, the establishment of dedicated innovation centers, such as the European Space Deep Tech hub, exemplifies how Swiss innovation is translating scientific excellence into practical, global applications.
Looking ahead, the report’s authors aim to expand their analysis, charting progress in key hubs like Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, and Basel. The goal is to provide entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers with a clear view of Switzerland’s evolving Deep Tech ecosystem—affirming its status as a global leader shaping the future of innovation.
You can find the Korean version of this article here.
