In the latest global technology alliance, the Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and Switzerland Tourism have invited innovative startups from India, Canada, Italy, France and the US, chosen through a competition, to tour the country and take in the facilities for hi-tech R&D and manufacturing, especially in robotics.
Indian tech start-up Unbox Robotics, which provides supply chain logistics to e-tailers, was adjusted winner from India in the recently concluded ‘Tech Week' programme backed by the Swiss government, has shown keen interest in Swiss expansion.
According to Unbox Robotics CEO and co-founder Pramod Ghadge, the Swiss Smart Factory at Biel, which showcased an assembly line that could be customised to put together diverse products, was ideal for manufacturing high-value products.
Several Indian companies already have a presence in Switzerland. Dr Reddy's Labs and Chennai-based Zifo RnD Solutions have set-ups in Basel, which is known as the gateway to Europe with a port on the river Rhine. Anke Hollnagel of Basel Area Business and Innovation says a base in Basel will help companies reach up to 500 million customers across Europe in a day.
Techparks and universities across the country were melting pots attracting people from all over the world. The Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, one of the top universities globally, boasts of 120 nationalities among its 13,000 students.
According to Sirpa Tsimal, director investment promotion at S-GE, Switzerland offers quality on both the work and leisure fronts. Investors and professionals get top of the line R&D facilities in robotics, life sciences and other hi-tech areas, with an equally high quality of life outside work.
