Switzerland leads the world in innovation – not by chance, but by design. For 14 years in a row, it has ranked #1 on the Global Innovation Index, thanks to its world-class universities and research institutions, strong public–private collaboration and a stable, competitive R&D environment. But expectations are changing. Invention alone is no longer enough. As health threats rise, public trust declines and budgets tighten, innovation must now be measured by what it delivers – real-world solutions with measurable impact for societies. That means bridging discovery and delivery: through translational science, policy-relevant research, and partnerships that turn ideas into impact – in Switzerland and globally.
How Switzerland Sets the Stage for Impact
What makes a country truly innovative isn’t just output: it’s the strength of its foundation. Switzerland’s education, research and innovation ecosystem is underpinned by favourable framework conditions: high-quality education, competitive public research funding, strong public–private collaboration, international openness and a stable policy environment. Switzerland consistently ranks first because it excels across all of these dimensions.
With over CHF 22 billion spent on R&D each year – more than 3% of GDP – and two-thirds of that from the private sector, Switzerland offers one of the world’s most dynamic and integrated environments for science and innovation. This foundation isn’t just a source of national pride – it positions Switzerland as a role model for how innovation systems can turn excellence into meaningful, sustainable impact.
Turning Innovation into Global Impact
The global context is shifting, and fast. Investment in health and development is under pressure. Donor budgets are contracting. The termination of USAID has brought longstanding programmes to a halt, and Switzerland itself has announced cuts to international cooperation totaling CHF 430 million through 2028.
At the same time, the world faces mounting challenges: climate-sensitive diseases, rising antimicrobial resistance and fragile health systems stretched by conflict, migration and disinformation. The risks are transnational – and the need for coordinated, science-based solutions has never been greater.
Switzerland has the tools to lead – but the test now is what we choose to do with them. Delivery isn’t just a development concern – it’s a strategic imperative. It’s tied to global stability, health security and Switzerland’s ability to remain relevant, resilient and influential on the international stage.
A Platform for Translational Innovation
Switzerland doesn’t just generate ideas – it has the infrastructure to turn them into lasting impact. That vision is taking shape in the vibrant life-science hub in Allschwil, just outside Basel, where research, entrepreneurship and impact-driven science meet.
This ecosystem is built for translation. It brings together the capabilities needed to move innovation from the bench to the real world – with space to test, adapt and scale solutions in collaboration with global partners that are made to work in practice, not just in theory.
Swiss TPH is deeply embedded in this environment. As one of the first major institutions to establish its headquarters at this life-science cluster, we are fully integrated into its scientific and entrepreneurial network. We collaborate with a broad range of partners from the Innovation Office at the University of Basel and the Department of Biomedical Engineering (DBE), to companies such as Basilea and the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE). Together, we work towards developing practical solutions that strengthen health systems and tackle some of our most pressing health issues of today.
For over a decade, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) has appointed Swiss TPH – in collaboration with the University of Basel and supported by the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern – as the Swiss Leading House Africa. This initiative takes a bottom-up approach by strengthening scientific cooperation between Switzerland and countries across the region, fostering collaborative research, innovation partnerships and entrepreneurial exchange. The leading house concept – similar to Swissnex – is one of many ways Swiss TPH ensures that Switzerland’s innovation extends beyond borders – and delivers where it matters most.
Swiss TPH: Where Innovation Meets Impact
The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)'s mission is to improve people’s health and well-being – in Basel, Switzerland and around the world. As an anchor of excellence, a translator of knowledge into action, and a convener of partnerships that give science lasting value, we bridge research, education and implementation with purpose and passion.
What sets us apart is not only the breadth of our expertise, but the way we work: with integrity, scientific rigour and a deep commitment to equity and partnership. With nearly 1,000 staff and students and over 400 active projects in 126 countries, we operate at the intersection of research, systems and real-world application – from climate and environmental health to infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health system transformation, taking into consideration social, economic and cultural contexts.
Each year, Swiss TPH contributes around 500 peer-reviewed publications – not just to advance academic knowledge, but to shape policy, improve services and ensure that innovation translates into measurable public health outcomes. We are a trusted partner to governments, research institutions and multilateral organisations – valued for our independence, our systems perspective, and our consistent ability to turn evidence into action.
This is what leadership in health innovation looks like: grounded in science, driven by purpose and committed to making sure Switzerland remains not only a source of great ideas, but a driver of lasting impact.
What It Takes to Deliver on Innovation
Switzerland’s position at the forefront of global innovation reflects decades of deliberate investment in education, research and innovation. But global leadership today is not defined by what we fund or invent. It’s defined by what we deliver.
What’s needed now is clear:
- Provide stable, flexible funding to institutions with a track record of delivery, like Swiss TPH
- Align science, diplomacy and development cooperation behind shared, outcome-focused goals
- Strengthen translational capacity across research, education and innovation
- Invest in partnerships that connect Swiss excellence to global health impact
Real impact requires alignment, across science, policy and funding, and a shared commitment to outcomes. It’s not enough to invent; we need coordinated, committed partnerships that are grounded in trust and built to scale.
At Swiss TPH, we’re ready. With our roots in Basel, Switzerland and our reach across the world, we are built to turn evidence into action and innovation into impact.
Switzerland’s position as the world’s innovation leader is no accident. It reflects decades of investment in science, education and collaboration – and an ecosystem built on trust, rigour and purpose. These are the foundations. But what comes next will be measured not by what we know – but by what we deliver.