Swiss Medtech warns of declining industrial competitiveness

The Swiss medical technology industry is experiencing a decline in location attractiveness despite continued growth, according to a study by the industry association Swiss Medtech. While the sector saw an average revenue growth of 5.5 percent in 2024 and 2025—growing roughly twice as fast as the overall Swiss economy—current growth rates have fallen below the ten-year average of 6.4 percent.

The industry, comprising approximately 1,400 companies with a total revenue of 26 billion Swiss francs, employs nearly 72,000 people. It contributes about 10 percent to Switzerland's industrial value added and provides the third-largest contribution to the country's trade surplus at 5.5 billion francs.

However, several warning signs have emerged. More than half of the surveyed companies (53 percent) rate the competitiveness of Switzerland as worse than it was five years ago. Furthermore, 43 percent of companies currently plan no new investments, the lowest level recorded since the survey began. There are also concerns regarding the migration of innovation, as access to new technology know-how is becoming a primary driver for foreign investment, surpassing traditional medtech expertise. Employment growth has also slowed significantly, with only about 200 net new jobs created recently, compared to a ten-year average of approximately 1,500 per year.