Economic mission to Switzerland: Biotechnology (innovative therapies and human-based test models)
Bern & Basel, Switzerland, 9 - 11 September 2025
Are you active in the field of development and manufacturing of promising innovative therapies or human-based test models? Are you a researcher, entrepreneur, engineer, clinician, business developer or policy maker, and would you like to connect with Swiss experts to exchange knowledge and explore possibilities for cooperation? If so, join the economic mission to Switzerland from 9 to 11 September 2025.
The mission is conducted under ministerial guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and delegation from VNO-NCW. This mission thus offers a combination of public-private representation and an opportunity to strengthen your international ambitions, expand your network in Switzerland, and explore new collaboration and business opportunities.
Switzerland is a world leader in biotechnology, with major companies such as Roche and Novartis. The Swiss market offers abundant opportunities for companies providing medical innovations, biotechnological products, and innovative therapies. The Netherlands and Switzerland can strengthen their leading positions through collaboration, thereby contributing to groundbreaking medical solutions.
During the visiting program to Bern and Basel we bring together experts from both ecosystems to connect. In this program track ‘Biotech (innovative therapies & models) we will focus on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), cell and gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and model systems (such as Organ-on-Chip and Organoids). We explore collaboration and business opportunities dedicated to faster, smarter, better, and more affordable development, production, and availability of new therapies for patients.
For whom?
If you are an researcher, entrepreneur, engineer, clinician, business developer or policy maker, affiliated with a knowledge institution, (academic) medical centre, (technology) start-up, scale-up, company or government organisation, and are you active in the theme mentioned above, participating in this mission could be of interest to you.
Concept program
Tuesday 9 September (Bern):
- Arrival in Bern, travel on your own arrangements
- Informal introductory dinner with the Dutch ambassador
Wednesday 10 September (Bern)
- Kick-off meeting, under ministerial guidance
- Site visit (TBC: sitem-insel)
- Networking lunch
- One-on-one matchmaking (please note: only if you registered for this upon your application)
- Trade reception with Swiss stakeholders
Thursday 11 September (Basel)
- Joint bus trip to Basel
- Site visits (TBC: Roche and Novartis)
- Networking opportunities
- Debriefing and closing of the mission
- Travel back to the Netherlands on your own arrangements
Costs
Participation costs €950 per organization. This fee allows for two people to attend. Please note that each person must register separately. An additional fee of €475 applies for each extra participant.
Included are participation in collective program components, individual matchmaking, local support from the organisation, and local transportation (linked to the mission program). Travel and accommodation costs, as well as personal transfers, are at your own expense and risk. After the registration deadline, you will receive suggestions for travel and accommodation as soon as possible.
Participation
If you interested to participate, please register before 30 June, 2025 via the registration form. Registration and the automatic confirmation of receipt do not yet mean that you are participating in the mission. You will receive a final confirmation of your participation after the registration period closes.
