Thomas Cueni of Interpharma, the Association of Pharmaceutical Research Companies of Switzerland, on the trend of major international companies developing significant operations in Switzerland; how 70 percent of employees at the top pharma companies are foreigners; and why the pharmaceutical industry is the exception to the rule when it comes to de-industrialization.
Over 40 life science companies have their international headquarters in Switzerland, and many more have regional headquarters. Can you give us an overview of the importance of the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector for the Swiss economy?
The average job in the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland contributes around 600,000 Swiss Francs per year (USD 607,986) to GDP, more than three time the average in the EU
