Message

In 2025, Switzerland topped the global innovation rankings for the fifteenth consecutive year in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index. This consistency, including continued strength in creative outputs, reflects a mature ecosystem where science, enterprise, and collaboration translate ideas into impact. It is a position to both celebrate and steward carefully.  

Looking ahead, prudence and focus matter. Recent analyses of Switzerland’s innovation landscape, including a study commissioned by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and conducted by leading research institutions such as ETH Zurich’s KOF Swiss Economic Institute, EPFL, and the University of St. Gallen, highlight emerging pressures beneath the country’s strong global rankings. While many companies continue to innovate, the research points to a gradual slowdown in research and development activity among some firms, particularly SMEs, driven by rising costs, regulatory complexity, talent shortages, and uneven access to financing and collaboration networks. In such an environment, our philosophy is simple: we must redouble our efforts to support industry and ensure that scientific advances translate into practical value.

Our public-private, non-profit mandate to apply cutting-edge‑ research where it delivers tangible value for industry and society has never been more relevant. Against a backdrop of modest economic growth and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, CSEM has demonstrated financial stability and resilience supported by the agility of our teams and the trust of our partners. In 2025, CSEM’s total revenues reached CHF 117.6 million, a growth of 2% versus 2024, reinforcing our ability to deliver impact across sectors. With Switzerland’s renewed pathway into Horizon Europe, via the European Union’s transitional arrangement effective January 1, 2025, we are also re-engaging with European peers to accelerate joint innovation and extend its real-world impact for clients.