Leading industries and companies
Life Sciences and Chemical Industries
Basel has the highest density of successful Life Sciences companies world wide. With Roche and Novartis, the headquarters of two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies are located in Basel. But that is only half of the big picture. The Life Sciences cluster in Basel also comprises many smaller companies (SMUs) and a continually growing number of successful start-ups. Basel is part of the tri-national Bio Valley stretching from Basel to Strasbourg in France. It is not just the local pharmaceutical, bio- and medtech companies that profit from this dynamic cluster of Life Sciences enterprises. All other branches of trade take advantage of its innovative potential, too. The agro-business, the chemical industry and nanotechnology are also well represented in the Basel area, with companies that include Syngenta, Lonza, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Clariant and Huntsman. Medical technology is focusing increasingly on the interface between Life Sciences and medical technology. With Straumann and Synthes, two world leaders are already based here in Basel.
Logistics and Commerce
Its optimal location and public transportation system, with the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, the Swiss Rhine Harbour, the international railway stations and excellent connections to European motoway networks, make Basel into the logistics centre of Switzerland. The main road and rail routes for Europe all intersect in Basel, and global logistics players like Panalpina make excellent use of this. Trading companies have also always been well represented in the Basel region.
Creative Industries (Art, Fashion, Design, Architecture)
Art, design and architecture play an outstanding role in Basel, and are closely linked to its economy. The annual BaselWorld trade fair has turned Basel into one of the most significant commercial centres for the watch and jewellery business. Over almost 40 years, Art Basel has established itself as the leading trade fair for contemporary art worldwide, and Basel architects – with Herzog & de Meuron as the biggest stars – are internationally acclaimed.
Financial Services, Insurances and IT
As a top business location, Basel also is a prime financial centre, where, among others, the UBS, the world’s second-largest asset manager, and the Bank for International Settlements have their headquarters. In addition to financial services, which include insurance, private banking and risk capital companies, leading IT organizations also offer their services here.
Find more details on industries and leading companies in Basel here