According to Switzerland Deep Technology Report 2025, Switzerland has surpassed any other country in the proportion of venture capital investment in deep tech, showcasing its potential in technological innovation. The report highlights that from 2019 to 2025, about 60% of Switzerland's venture capital will be directed towards deep tech, a figure that significantly outpaces other nations. The value of the country's deep tech ecosystem has already exceeded 100 billion dollars, with early-stage startups raising a total of 1.9 billion dollars last year, and expected to increase to 2.3 billion dollars by 2025.
Deep tech refers to technologies based on significant scientific or engineering innovations, encompassing fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials, biotechnology, robotics, and clean energy. These technologies typically require long-term research and development cycles and substantial capital investment.
This report was produced by the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation, a non-profit organization backed by telecommunications company Swisscom and banking giant UBS, with the aim of driving innovation in Switzerland. It was released in collaboration with startup data platforms Dealroom.co and Startupticker. After analyzing over 1,500 startups, it was found that deep tech companies have generated a total enterprise value exceeding $100 billion.
Additionally, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have been ranked among the top four universities in Europe for nurturing deep-tech startups, following only Oxford and Cambridge. Alex Stöckl, a founding partner at the venture capital firm Founderful, notes that while Switzerland excels in fundamental research, the next decade will see scientists and engineers leading the transformation of these research outcomes into global businesses.
Currently, AI and machine learning startups are major beneficiaries of Switzerland's deep tech investments. It's expected that by 2024, nearly a third of deep tech funding will flow into startups prioritizing AI, reflecting a threefold increase compared to 2020. This influx of capital spans various fields, including humanoid robotics software and chocolate sorting algorithms. Meanwhile, Switzerland's traditional strengths in robotics technology, climate tech, and biotechnology continue to grow, bolstered by significant funding rounds for companies like Neustark, Neo Medical, and Transmutex.
The report highlights a notable gap: nearly 96% of late-stage investments come from global rather than local funds, indicating that Switzerland still has opportunities to further develop its local investment capabilities. Stöckl has evaluated Switzerland’s tech ecosystem as Power Source, asserting its rightful place on the global stage. Data shows that apart from deep tech investments, Switzerland boasts the highest number of unicorn companies per capita in Europe, consistently holding the top position in the Global Innovation Index for 13 consecutive years.
