Beat Vonlanthen (left) and René Jenny (right) discuss the challenges and opportunities for the life sciences sector in Switzerland.

Two of the key figures in the Swiss life sciences industry hail from Fribourg. The first is René Jenny, who is the current President of GRIP-Pharma and former President of the European Healthcare Distribution Association (GIRP) in Brussels. The second is Beat Vonlanthen, who served as President of Swiss Medtech until May 2024. In this joint interview, the men share their thoughts on the challenges, opportunities and hopes that are driving this strategic sector, both regionally and nationally. They also explain what their respective organizations do and highlight the issues facing the life sciences industry.

What contribution do GRIP-Pharma and Swiss Medtech make to the life sciences sector in Switzerland generally and in the canton of Fribourg specifically?

René Jenny: GRIP-Pharma is the professional association of the life sciences sector in French-speaking Switzerland. Our mission is to help our members sharpen their competitive edge by facilitating knowledge-sharing and defending their interests in dealings with the cantonal and federal authorities. We also make every effort to put our members in direct contact with healthcare agencies and provide them with continuing education opportunities, such as conferences and working groups on topics like quality assurance, regulation and political affairs.

Beat Vonlanthen: Swiss Medtech represents the interests of the medical technology industry. Nationally, the association supports over 1,400 companies which collectively employ 70,000 people and generate a sales revenue of 20 billion Swiss francs. It drives technological innovation by advocating for innovation-friendly conditions, facilitating access to international markets and encouraging collaboration within the sector. Regional initiatives like Swiss Medtech Romandie help to elevate Fribourg and Western Switzerland as major players in the national life sciences arena.

What are the main challenges facing these organizations, and how best should they respond to them?

Beat Vonlanthen: The sector faces considerable challenges, not least the administrative hurdles involved in implementing the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Although these are essential for guaranteeing product safety, they have slowed down the process of bringing innovations to market and have led to a supply-side shortage of medtech products because there are not enough bodies to handle certification. The fact that there is still no institutional agreement between Switzerland and the European Union further complicates matters and jeopardizes the competitive edge that our firms have on the European market. We need to resolve this situation and find ways to overcome these obstacles and safeguard our standing.

René Jenny: I agree that regulatory density is dampening innovation and delaying patient access to new treatments. An exacerbating factor is that we don’t have a framework agreement with the European Union. This situation cancels out the benefits of the mutual recognition agreement on medical devices and medicines and prevents us from taking part in major R&D programs. We need to take urgent action to improve our relations with the EU. Added to this is the relentless pressure on drug prices, which is leading to lots of products being withdrawn from the market because the manufacturers can no longer cover their production and marketing costs. This is the reason behind the current drug shortages in Switzerland.

In terms of innovation, what opportunities do you see for Switzerland’s life sciences sector?

René Jenny: Switzerland has always been a life sciences leader, but we need to turn our scientific advances into concrete solutions with commercial potential. Personalized medicine is one promising avenue for Switzerland because it plays to our strengths in biotechnology and genomics. What’s more, the growing integration of digital technologies like AI, telemedicine and connected devices opens up massive opportunities for better patient care. The key here, in my opinion, is providing support for innovation, particularly through incubators, accelerators and public and private funding.

Beat Vonlanthen: I totally agree. The opportunities for innovation are legion thanks in particular to digitalization and advances in materials technologies. Having lived with diabetes for 40 years, I’ve experienced firsthand the incredible progress that has been made, like the launch of glucose monitors that connect to your smartphone. Medical device miniaturization and the use of artificial intelligence open a host of promising new avenues for innovation. However, we need to put in place a sound legal and ethical framework for these technologies.

How can Switzerland maximize its competitive advantage in the life sciences?

Beat Vonlanthen: Ensuring that the best possible framework conditions are in place is critically important. Federal and cantonal authorities must work closely with companies to stimulate innovation. In Fribourg, we have already laid solid foundations thanks to high-potential start-up development initiatives. The region is therefore well-equipped to spearhead innovation in the sector. Swiss Medtech has also joined forces with its German and Austrian counterparts. It culminated in the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement last year. This alliance allows us to shape regulations at the European level, which will be decisive for our continued competitiveness in the long term.

René Jenny: I too believe that stronger public-private collaboration is a must. The Fribourg ecosystem, with its numerous universities, technology campuses, support programs, clusters and healthcare institutions, provides fertile ground for projects that combine academic research and industrial expertise. If we are to consolidate our international standing, speeding up regulatory processes in Switzerland and increasing R&D investment – which is already very generous – need to be at the very top of our to-do list. Deeper integration of sustainability considerations could also give our life sciences sector a real competitive advantage over other players and countries.

What is your assessment of collaboration between industry, the authorities and academic institutions?

René Jenny: Collaboration between these different players in Switzerland is admired internationally and is among the best in the world. Initiatives like Tech Transfer, based at the University of Fribourg, is a perfect illustration of the synergies that exist between industry and higher education. Let’s take it one step further and work towards greater and closer involvement of start-ups in these projects. This could accelerate innovation, especially in the digital health field.

Beat Vonlanthen: These collaborations are a major strategic asset for Switzerland. Companies have a clear interest in working closely with universities and universities of applied sciences to develop innovative products. Providing start-ups, especially in the medical technology sector, with active support not only bolsters our position in the global market but also stimulates the innovation ecosystem.