André Hoffmann
Vice Chairman of Roche Holding and Co-Chair, World Economic Forum

Innovating with integrity, purpose and accountability: Switzerland's role in shaping the future of biotech

Switzerland's biotech ecosystem stands today at a defining moment. With a strong base of jobs across the broader life sciences sector, sustained growth, and a remarkable capacity to attract global talent, it is clear that our country has built one of the most dynamic and competitive environments for innovation in the world.

But success brings responsibility.

As we look at the continued expansion of biotech, from therapeutics to diagnostics, and increasingly into industrial biotechnology, we must ask ourselves a fundamental question: what kind of innovation are we scaling, and to what end?

The strength of Switzerland lies not only in its scientific excellence, but in its ability to connect disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. The diversity and internationality of our talent pool is not just a statistic. It is a reflection of openness, collaboration, and a shared ambition to solve complex global challenges.

In a world facing unprecedented environmental and societal pressures, biotechnology has a critical role to play. It offers powerful tools to rethink how we produce, heal, and sustain life. Yet, innovation alone is not enough. We must ensure that these advances contribute to a resilient and equitable future.

This requires a shift in mindset.

We need to move beyond short-term performance metrics and embrace a more systemic view of value creation, one that integrates environmental boundaries, long-term health outcomes, and societal impact into the core of business and investment decisions. Switzerland, consistently ranked as the global leader in talent competitiveness, is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation.

A strong pipeline of startups and a growing presence among leading innovation ecosystems demonstrate not only entrepreneurial energy but also the willingness to explore new frontiers. The challenge now is to guide this momentum responsibly. This means fostering ecosystems that encourage long-term thinking, supporting collaboration between public and private actors, and ensuring that regulatory frameworks enable innovation while safeguarding trust.

Ultimately, the future of biotech will not be defined solely by technological breakthroughs, but by our ability to align innovation with the broader needs of society and the planet. Switzerland has the assets, the talent, and the credibility to lead by example. The question is whether we are ready to fully embrace this responsibility.

"In a world facing unprecedented environmental pressures, biotechnology offers powerful tools to rethink how we produce, heal, and sustain life."

— André Hoffmann