LIFE SCIENCES & Health

At the heart of Health Valley

The canton of Vaud is home to a very significant number of high-quality infrastructures as well as knowledge and expertise in the field of life sciences. Indeed, the region is often referred to as "Health Valley."

The University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud (CHUV) plays a central role in the sectors of medical care, research, and training. It develops ambitious projects such as "Neurotech,” a platform that is unique in Europe and which is dedicated to the evaluation of the impact of new technologies in the field of neurosciences. The department of oncology, led by Professor George Coukos, conducts renowned international work into cancer research, while Agora, a center devoted to cancer research, will be inaugurated in 2018 and will feature 300 researchers and doctors.

The region has positioned itself at the forefront of research in these domains, and also in the fields of neurosciences, immunology, nutrition, and cardiovascular diseases. Innovative disciplines such as bioinformatics, medical imaging, and robotic surgery are also developing rapidly.

The canton has almost 400 businesses and as many laboratories active in life sciences, and the ecosystem in Vaud is continually being enriched by the creation of start-ups. In 2016, new companies in Health Valley attracted 7.4% of global venture capital investment in the sector.

Around 60 companies from abroad, including Medtronic and Becton Dickinson, have chosen to develop their industrial activities and services in the region.

Find out more about Life Sciences in Vaud

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Our success stories

Merck

Merck develops advanced treatments in the canton of Vaud. Now, the German multinational plans to expand its production capacity in the region.

Incyte

Incyte Biosciences International Sàrl, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Lausanne, Switzerland, is an integrated global oncology company focused on transforming the lives of cancer patients with leading-edge medicines. It is working on new medicines to advance the treatment of various forms of acute and chronic leukemia, lung cancer and other difficult-to-treat cancers.

Lunaphore

Lunaphore has developed a device used to analyze and identify cancerous tissue in less than 15 minutes. The startup plans to market its technology to hospitals and research labs.

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News and events

9/21/2020

Swiss Medtech Day

The annual Swiss medtech day brings together various payers in the medical technology industry to discover and discuss new trends in the industry. A wide range of activities including poster sessions, award ceremony and networking awaits the visitors.

Kuursal, Bern

8/24/2020

Two Vaud start-ups among the three finalists of the Swiss Medtech Award!

Aleva Neurotherapeutics SA and Rheon Medical are in the running to win the CHF 50,000 prize, which will be presented at the Swiss Medtech Day on 21 September. Aleva, a spin-off of EPFL, develops implants for brain stimulation for major neurological pathologies such as Parkinson's disease. Rheon Medical has developed a drainage system as the optimal surgical solution for glaucoma, an eye disease that affects more than 70 million people worldwide.

7/31/2020

Call for projects

Are you developing a promising technology in the field of applied neuroscience or neurotechnology? Do you intend to bring it to the market? This joint EPFL-Wyss Center call for projects might be for you.EPFL & the Wyss Center have joined forces to invest in the neuro technologies of tomorrow, and accelerate the journey from bench to market. The partnership will provide funds to selected projects for up to 100’000 CHF per project, as well as access to the combined network and resources at both institutions.

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