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Situated in the heart of Europe, Geneva has long been a hub for high-level international business, drawn to the unique conditions offered by our city: beautiful setting, ease of access, excellent infrastructure, exceptional business opportunities and a huge network of innovative entrepreneurs and global decision makers. Geneva – the heart of knowledge exchange in Europe
W e are proud to have been named the ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ by scientists from the National University of Singapore, University of California and Curtin University in Australia. In addition, the World Economic Forum has ranked Switzerland as the most competitive country in the world – for the seventh consecutive year. Switzerland also leads, and for the fifth consecutive year, the Global Innovation Index, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization, INSEAD and Cornell University. Today our economy is thriving. We are home to high value-added clusters not only in banking and finance, commodities trading and trade finance, but also in biotech and medtech, flavours and fragrance, cleantech, watchmaking and luxury goods, microtechnologies and ICT. It is a testimony to the exceptional business opportunities and framework conditions that Geneva offers. As a knowledge hub, an extraordinary amount of brainpower is packed into our small territory: in addition to our top-ranked universities, research institutions and medical facilities, we are developing innovative approaches to knowledge exchange and collaborative working in life sciences with the creation of Campus Biotech. We are also home to two of the largest scientific projects ever launched: the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and the new Human Brain Project. At the heart of global governance with 35 international organisations and 250 NGOs including the UN, the WHO and the WTO headquartered in the city and 168 nations (169 including Switzerland) represented in Geneva by a permanent mission or similar, it is a truly international hub. These organisations not only form part of our long tradition of meetings, but their presence offers unparalleled opportunities for knowledge exchange and networking. We offer the largest congress and exhibition capacity in Switzerland and a first rate hotel infrastructure with 122 hotels and 9,600 hotel rooms, including Switzerland’s largest hotel. As you are about to discover, whether in terms of infrastructure, innovation, education, human resources, labour market or quality of life, Geneva really is your best business and meetings location. On behalf of Geneva’s government, I hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you to our region. Pierre Maudet State Councillor Department of Security and the Economy, Geneva
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C I CG and Palexpo
Meet in Geneva Home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the WHO and more than 280 international organisations and NGOs, Geneva has a long tradition of hosting international meetings.
Palexpo – live space Palexpo is one of Switzerland’s largest, fully-integrated international convention and exhibition centres. Just a ten-minute walk or two minutes by direct bus from the international airport and its underground railway station, Palexpo is a 15-minute drive from downtown Geneva. More than 1,500 hotel rooms across all categories can be found in the immediate vicinity. Palexpo has a distinguished track record of hosting large-scale international annual events, such as the Geneva International Motor Show, The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, Vitafoods International and many major rotating international congresses. Palexpo / 106,000 sqm of exhibit space / 40 newly refurbished meeting rooms, seating from 10 to 2,500 in each / Additional conference rooms with unlimited seating capacities can be built
Geneva’s enviable infrastructure offers the largest hotel and catering capacity in Switzerland, and meetings facilities for both small meetings and large congresses with exhibitions in purpose-built, ultra-modern world-class design centres International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) Ideally situated just off the Place des Nations (UN), within easy reach of the principal international organisations in Geneva, the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) offers versatile meeting space for up to 2,200. The spacious lobby is perfect for exhibitions, receptions and banquets and connects to the outside terrace. Just a few steps away from the CICG, the recently renovated CCV offers capacity for up to 150. CICG / 22 conference rooms from 20 to 2,200 seats / 8 rooms equipped for interpretation / 39 offices / 4,000 sqm of exhibition space / M!P Restaurant - 600 seats, a terrace of 800 sqm plus a bar / CCV overview: 5 conference rooms from 20 to 150 seats; one room with 4 interpretation booths; 4 offices; 160 sqm of exhibition space; 1 restaurant area www.cicg.ch
in an exhibition hall www.palexpo.com
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B iotech and l i fe sciences
Connecting communities
Dr Benoit Dubuis
Geneva has all the ingredients needed to make a biocluster efficient, says Dr Benoit Dubuis, director of the Foundation Campus Biotech and president of the BioAlps association.
T he Lake Geneva region is the according to Science magazine. The biotech and medtech sectors in BioAlps are experiencing double-digit annual growth with Geneva’s competence in pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biotechnology, microtechnology, precision instruments and medical devices continuing to attract multinational healthcare and life science companies. Dr Benoit Dubuis, president of the BioAlps association, says that it is this combination of disciplines that gives the cluster its edge: “The healthcare sector today is integrated with multi- disciplinary approaches; we have all these competencies here, developed at the universities and prestigious research institutions such as UNIGE, hepia and EPFL. These are bases for generating innovation and growth. We also have a highly 'Number one cluster for life sciences research in continental Europe,' specialised workforce and a very efficient financial sector in Geneva, which are keys to the success of our cluster. Geneva has all the ingredients that make a biocluster efficient.” Also executive director of the new centre of excellence Campus Biotech Geneva, and development director of the Wyss Centre, Dr Dubuis explains the mission of the new eco system created at Campus Biotech: “Campus Biotech is a new centre of excellence in biotechnology and life science research. It focuses on pure science and its translation into practical outcomes that have an impact on society
“The sector relies on a vibrant community, which collaborates and meets around conferences. Campus Biotech itself hosts many major conferences,” says Dr Dubuis, adding that, for him, it is the spirit of Geneva that makes it so good for meetings: “We have a lot of international institutions, people come here ready to talk and discuss, to meet and plan for success. Geneva is easy to access, and we have the infrastructure. Connectivity is vital, with Europe and the world; congresses are definitely one of the best ways to connect the communities. We want to create a Pavlovian response, so that when people think about life sciences and healthcare, they think about the Health Valley.”
and the world. Campus Biotech is expected to generate a vast range of opportunities, bringing impetus and investment to this vital economic and scientific sector.” This new ecosystem is benefiting both start- ups and scale-ups, and the Wyss Centre offers resources and expertise to accelerate progress from neuroscience research to clinical solutions in order to improve the lives of people with nervous system disorders. “For example, we hire highly experienced people in fields such as manufacturing, IP and regulation, which can really help new projects and start-ups. A lot of start-ups have highly motivated and innovative people who do not necessarily understand industry requirements. This makes a real difference.
BioAlps Geneva is part of BioAlps, the most diversified life science cluster in the world. The BioAlps cluster ranks among the top three world centres for added-value growth for the life science industry, along with Shanghai in the People's Republic of China and Cambridge in the United Kingdom. / 935 biotechnology, pharma, medtech, nutrition, cosmetics, services, associations and investing companies / 500 private and public research laboratories / 39 research institutions, universities and university hospitals with relevant capabilities and expertise / 51 private and public innovation support mechanisms (start-up incubators, science parks, technology transfer offices, promotion offices, coaching entities, venture capital funds and innovation accelerators) / 7 cantonal support organisms / 26,000 professionals employed by the industry and 5,000 researchers and scientists in the life sciences
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P article physics
“We have a lot of scientists and brains; it’s a great place to meet with people”
Frederick Bordry, CERN
Discovering the unknown CERN is where physicists and engineers investigate the fundamental structure of the universe. Frederick Bordry, director of accelerators and technology, helps to explain.
O ne of Europe's first joint ventures, the world-famous European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN, is a byword in innovation, underlined by The Global Innovation Index 2016 report, a leading reference on innovation, which cites CERN as an example of a highly
successful international initiative.
CERN's main area of research is particle physics.
The discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 and the Nobel prize in
2013 catapulted CERN to international prominence. Today more people than ever
want to visit; of the 100,000 per year able to do so, another 200,000 are disappointed. Frederick Bordry, director of accelerators and technology CERN, explains: “We are a centre of innovation, we put a lot of people together. On site we have 2,400 staff, 1,600 PhD holders, serving a community of 13,000 users. At any given moment there are 7 or 8,000 people on the CERN site. For anyone wishing to work in an international way, this is a great place to visit.” For anyone hosting a meeting in Geneva, a visit to CERN offers a huge plus; Bordry points out that around 10-15 large congresses per year request a visit. CERN’s location is a key part of its success, according to Bordry: “It is very important for us to be here as Geneva is so international. We have a lot of contact with the WMO, WIPO and many other international organisations in Geneva. For me, Geneva is the heart of Europe. It’s easy to access, it’s a really nice city and it has all the international organisations, the research institutes, universities and HUG. We have a lot of scientists and brains; it’s a great place to meet with people.”
CERN / Europe’s first scientific international organisation, founded in 1954, CERN is both a first-class centre for fundamental research and a pioneering adventure in international collaboration with 22 member states / With more than 13,000 scientists from around 100 countries, CERN is a laboratory for the world / Engineering for CERN, especially in cryogenics, superconductivity, vacuum, microelectronics and civil engineering, gives companies experience and technologies that they can apply elsewhere / The World Wide Web was invented at CERN to help particle physicists around the world to communicate. Now CERN is the central hub of a ‘computing grid’ that harnesses vast amounts of computer power through networks across the world
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B LOCKCHAIN HUB
Blockchain hub and sustainable investments Geneva is fast becoming a blockchain hub and pioneer in the field of public support for initial coin offerings (ICOs)
G eneva is an international centre of innovation in the field of blockchain. It has initiated various pilot projects – both in the public and private sectors – using distributed ledger technologies, which are being brought from laboratory to market through a new high-level gathering named Geneva Annual Blockchain Congress. Geneva is home of the Swiss Blockchain Association, aiming to federate national blockchain players, extend the blockchain community and position Geneva as a leader in this segment. Geneva also launched a Blockchain Lab program, an open platform that provides support, training and expertise to entrepreneurs developing blockchain applications, including projects that significantly modify existing business models. For example, 15 of the world’s major companies recently formed a new venture in Geneva known as Komgo, with the objective to digitalise the trade and commodities finance sector through a blockchain-based open platform. In parallel with blockchain, Geneva has drafted a guide to support and evaluate ICO (initial coin offering) projects interested in launching on its territory, regardless of their state of advancement. This world first aims to support ICO project leaders in their search for the best launch pad for their activities, while ensuring consistency within the administration and compliance with local legislation. Geneva’s initiative, which marks the development of a ‘Blockchain Valley’ in Western Switzerland, is also supported by a centre of expertise consisting of local
specialists in the legal, academic, technical, marketing, tax, banking, compliance and public sector fields. In addition to keeping information up-to-date, these experts are responsible for monitoring the ICOs, ie sorting out the projects and taking into account their operational aspects to facilitate the implementation process as much as possible.
Geneva thus provides entrepreneurs with clear procedures and the possibility of promoting their issuance of tokens, whether the latter is in progress or already completed. It also proposes to put stakeholders in contact, according to their needs, with relevant actors in the local ecosystem.
Geneva, the future Silicon Valley of the responsible economy
One third of sustainable investments worldwide are generated by the Swiss financial sector, a performance to which Geneva actively contributes. As the most active multilateral governance centre in the world and the global operational base for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the canton of Geneva is a key crossroads for green and social finance. Geneva's unique know-how in this field is still relatively unknown beyond diplomatic circles and some insiders. The State's authorities are working to raise awareness among the general public regarding this exceptional ecosystem, the engine of unprecedented synergies that is reflected in the International Network of Sustainable Financial Centres (FC4S), which in April 2018 chose Geneva as the host of its global headquarters. This new institution, the result of a public-private partnership at
the local, national and international level, perfectly complements Geneva's network of fintech start-ups and microfinance specialists, to which is added a unique density of more traditional actors, from the academic, banking and innovation worlds in the broad sense. The competitiveness of Geneva’s financial centre is based on innovation and openness to new models, particularly those based on cutting- edge technologies. This is precisely one of the projects carried out by the Sustainable Finance Geneva association, an entity supported by the city. In this case, the idea is to promote a dialogue between institutions willing to invest and companies that generate positive social and environmental impacts. Geneva, in part thanks to the political vision of its authorities, has the potential to become a ‘Silicon Valley’ of the responsible and inclusive economy.
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I nfectious diseases
Clean hands save lives
Professor Didier Pittet, HUG (University Hospitals of Geneva), explains why Geneva deserves the title of healthcare capital of the world.
S ometimes it’s the simple ideas that are the best. Asked to run a campaign by the World Health Organization to promote clean hands in patient care, Professor Didier Pittet’s response, an alcohol–based hand rub solution, now saves five to eight million lives a year. It also led to people from all over the world beating a path to his door at the WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety. Currently head physician and director of infection control at HUG and Faculty of Medicine, Professor Pittet explains why Geneva deserves the title of healthcare capital of the world: “We have HUG, the largest institution of its kind in Switzerland, and the University of Geneva faculty of medicine. We are also linked to very important major stakeholders in health, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), whose HQ is right next door. We have a lot of NGOs linked to health, making us a very specific area for global health priorities - and we are based in Geneva’s Valley of Health, dense with med and
biotech. We attract top researchers from around the world; Geneva is also number one in obtaining grants.” This concentration of leading stakeholders makes Geneva ideal for healthcare meetings. “We have a lot of medical and healthcare associations based here, including the International Federation of Nurses and the International Federation of Physicians. Both WHO and the UN are keen to have people participate in programmes here, or run their own. Our excellent links with public and global health bodies and our unique proximity to them facilitates connections: people can come from their office for a two-hour session and lead a group, and people can go and visit, this makes it very special.” Geneva’s premier position in the healthcare field, coupled with an excellent quality of life and easy international access, makes it very appealing to healthcare professionals. As Prof Pittet says: “It is a privilege to be working here.”
HUG Created in 1995, HUG, the leading Swiss university hospital group, is part of a tradition of excellence in medicine and science dating back hundreds of years. The HUG group brings together eight Geneva public hospitals and 40 outpatient units throughout the canton of Geneva. / The WHO has awarded HUG the status of referral centre in six areas, including patient safety and prevention of infection / HUG has made 70 agreements involving more than 30 countries / HUG works regularly with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit, Swiss Rescue, Médecins sans Frontières, Terre des Hommes, Children Action and Sentinelles / HUG promotes global access to care and patient safety at two international conferences: Geneva Health Forum and the International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control.
"We attract top researchers from around the world; Geneva is also number one in obtaining grants” Professor Didier Pittet
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N eurosurgery
Ahead of the game
Professor Karl Schaller
The Geneva clinical neuroscience centre is a leader in the treatment of various neuro- pathologies, says Professor Karl Schaller, of the Department of Neurosurgery, HUG, thanks to a dense concentration of highly competent people and institutions.
W e are sitting in the first hybrid neurointerventional suite in the world, built in 2008 and refurbished in 2015. It's in here surgeons use another Geneva creation - augmented reality technology applied for neurovascular repair. Karl Schaller, Chief of the Department of Neurosurgery, HUG, outlines Geneva’s strengths: “We are strong in numerous areas, but we are in the champions’ league when it comes to neurosurgical treatment of three different pathologies. First, the treatment of neurovascular disease, such as cerebral aneurysms. This includes a strong body of research, including big data management, high performance computing and haemorrhage risk simulation, where we are ahead of most others. Second, the treatment of otherwise untreatable epilepsy disorders, for which we are internationally known - conjointly with the “It will be possible to create a synergy unparalleled in Europe, if
unit of epileptology. And, third, minimal invasive spinal surgery.” Today, Geneva is at the forefront of the most exciting developments in the field. “Our work in the future,” says Prof Schaller, “Will be increasingly affected by the creation of hybrid humans, where an interface is created between the human nervous system and neuroprosthetic devices; neurosurgery as we know it will disappear. On the one hand, it will continue to be bloody and rough as the incidences of cranio-spinal trauma increase due to the growth of armed conflicts and the affects of an ageing society in the Western world. On the other hand, we will transform into access providers for the targeted therapy of neurodegenerative diseases, dementia and other situations requiring neural repair. These problems can be approached with the help of engineers and biologists.“ The creation of Campus Biotech brings together specialists in the health sector from every field in clinical, experimental and computational neurosciences with biologists and specialists in cognitive neurology and engineering. “It will be possible,” says Prof Schaller, “to create a synergy unparalleled in Europe, if not the world.” Along with colleagues at HUG, Prof Schaller founded the Swiss
Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery (SFITS), embedded in the campus of HUG. He says, “We are about to build what I hope will be the first neuro-cognitive suite in this part of the world – in our new OR at HUG, to carry out psycho-physiological experiments in anaesthetised patients. We are working with Campus Biotech to develop the technology necessary to survey functions during brain surgery. It requires enormous expertise on both the technical and medical side.” There are many reasons to choose Geneva for both meetings and as a place to live and work, says Prof Schaller: “Location, location, location, and people, people, people. For a small city Geneva provides highly competent people and institutions in a very condensed fashion. I had the option to leave but the longer I was here, the less I wanted to leave again.” World leaders / The treatment of neurovascular disease / The treatment of otherwise untreatable epilepsy disorders / Minimally invasive spinal surgery
not the world” Professor Karl Schaller
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Doing the right thing P aediatric l iver transplants
We have the support of the whole of Switzerland, says eminent Professor Barbara Wildhaber, head of the University Clinic of Paediatric Surgery. And that additional quality of ‘Swissness’ also means being correct, reliable, respectful, friendly and open-minded. Whatever we need, we have it, she says. T he Swiss Centre for Liver Diseases in Children, Geneva, enjoys an international status far greater than its size. Within the rare field of hepatobiliary surgery, the survival rate in transplants of more than 90 per cent is one of the highest in Europe, a success due in no small part to Barbara Wildhaber, director of the University Centre of Paediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, head of the University Clinic of Paediatric Surgery and surgical director of The Swiss Centre for Liver Diseases in Children. “Paediatric liver transplantation is extremely important to Geneva as we are the only ones doing it in Switzerland,” says Prof Wildhaber. “We have a very high level technical plateau: whatever we need, we have it. We work very closely with other stakeholders, with the university and research institutions. We have the support of the canton, the government, and indeed the whole of Switzerland. I think we can be very proud of what we do.” The unique nature of the centre attracts health professionals to Geneva. Prof Wildhaber is hopeful that Geneva will host the IPTA (International Paediatric Transplantation Association) in 2019 or 21. “People like to come to Geneva,” she says. “It is a wonderful city, it’s a nice environment, we have a high quality medical sector and we are a known place with the WHO, the UN and the International Red Cross. “It’s culturally and politically interesting and a nice city with nice people.”
Cutting-edge medicine HUG leads the way in medical imaging and has spearheaded the development of robot-assisted and minimally-invasive surgery. It has the only high-security diagnostic laboratory (level 4) in Switzerland. HUG's work is recognised nationally and internationally in many disciplines: / Cardiovascular disease / Complex disorders in childhood and adolescence / Liver/pancreatic diseases and diabetes / Musculoskeletal medicine and sports medicine / Genetic medicine / Neurosciences / Oncology
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C ommodities trading and trade f inance
A world leader
Home to the major trading houses, the WTO, the International Trade Centre and the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva is a key hub in commodities trading and trade finance.
C ommodity trading and trade finance is one of Geneva’s leading sectors. Second in Europe only to London for international trade, Geneva has 400 companies handling the majority of global transactions in sugar, coffee, grains, rice, oilseeds and petroleum related products. This cluster of international trading firms is supported by a concentration of banks that understand their specific business and financing needs, handling 40-60 per cent of global transactions of the various commodities. Known for its short-term financing expertise, Geneva banks have also
developed medium and long-term structured financing. Always looking ahead, commodity trade finance departments are currently working on the introduction of blockchain technology into trading processes. Trading companies can count on a reliable international network, with easy access to stock markets and liquidity. They are also supported by insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms, forwarding agents and inspection, verification, testing and certification services, as well as shipbuilders.
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E conomics and management
The Geneva advantage The economics and management sector in Geneva is helping to address some of the world’s most pressing problems. Professor Marcelo Olarreaga, Dean of Geneva School of Economics and Management, explains.
“H undreds of multi-national companies are headquartered in Geneva along with the UN, the Red Cross and the UNHCR. As interactions between human rights, business and sustainable development has become more important, getting business and organisations together allows us to tackle problems from a much more interesting global perspective rather than just a narrow business angle,” says Professor Marcelo Olarreaga, Dean of Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM). This unique combination of institutions - including the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of Geneva - renowned in the field of international economics, plus the private sector and international organisations, creates the Geneva advantage. Home to multinational companies operating with global rules written at the WTO, the UN Conference for Trade Centre and Development (UNCTAD), which looks at the interaction of international trade and economic development and how it can be used as an engine for development, positions Geneva at the very forefront of this area. Addressing the challenges “Geneva is an extremely exciting city for my field of international trade,” explains Prof Olarreaga. “Addressing the challenges and the pushback we face on understanding global integration is very important.
“The future of international trade will depend on how it addresses the big challenges facing the world today” Professor Marcelo Olarreaga
International trade can make a difference, such as the introduction of labour clauses in trade agreements, not yet in place at the multi-lateral level. The WTO here in Geneva is the place to look at how trade affects workers. Environmentally, international trade agreements can limit emissions, or can make both social and economic levels coincide with regulation. The future of international trade will depend on how it addresses the big challenges facing the world today.” Knowledge frontier “We have joint research projects with international organisations where we are pushing the knowledge at the frontier of economics and management, trying to better understand how things work in
order to address their research questions,” says Prof Olarreaga. Seminars in the fields of economic development and international trade, co-organised with international organisations, the Graduate Institute, the WTO and the UNCTAD, meet every week to look at the new developments and assess where the frontier of knowledge lies in these key fields. The school also leverages its knowledge creation through collaborations with public and private sector partners. The Institute of Applied Economic Research (IREG) links the GSEM with locally based firms and the regional and federal public administration to jointly tackle the important challenges they face.
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F lavours and fragrances
R&D -intense sector
Flavours and fragrances is proving to be a vibrant sector with strong growth. Its top players have been based in Geneva for decades.
G eneva is a world reference in flavours and fragrances. The two top players of the industry, Givaudan and Firmenich, were established in Geneva in 1985. Together, they generated in 2017 a turnover of nearly CHF 8 billions. They also invest 10 per cent of their income in research and development every year. It is said that Givaudan and Firmenich are reaching more than 3 billion consumers every day, whether through their flavours contained in food and drinks, or the fragrances included in cosmetics and household detergents. As pioneers in organic chemistry, Givaudan and Firmenich are the cornerstones of a strong flavours and fragrances ecosystem in Geneva and its region, with more than 400 companies active in the sector, representing around 10,000 jobs. Both Givaudan and Firmenich see Geneva as the ideal location for this R&D-intense sector, providing not only a highly educated workforce, but privileged
access to their best customers: the world's number one multinational manufacturers of beauty, household and fabric-care products, pharmaceuticals, food and drinks. Close proximity to clients such as Geneva-based Procter & Gamble, Elisabeth Arden, Shiseido and Coty allows for ongoing consultation and close business relationships. Firmenich is a family-owned company that employs some 7,000 people worldwide, broken down into approximately 63 sites, including more than 30 dedicated to production. With an annual growth of 7.5 per cent per year since 1989, the group covers around 14 per cent of world market share, against approximately 20 per cent for Givaudan, which ranks among the top 30 stock market valuations in Switzerland and has a workforce of around 8,900 employees, distributed in a network of more than 80 factories.
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E arth and environmental sciences The future is written in the past The Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Geneva addresses some of the fundamental issues facing humanity today. Professor Rossana Martini explains why their work is vital contributing to a better survival of humanity in the context of ongoing climate change.
Professor Rossana Martini
“G eological processes that have shaped the Earth represent major hazards for humanity,” says Professor Rossana Martini, director of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Geneva. “We use the deposits produced during recent events as a Rosetta Stone to interpret Earth history, the present as a key to the past and the past as a key to the future. "If we look at hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or water pollution, it is easier to understand and further picture human’s vulnerability to natural disasters and anthropogenic impact on the present world. Our mission is to understand feedbacks between the Earth and these environmental factors to mitigate natural hazards and develop a sustainable society. "The national and worldwide recognition of our department benefits from an interdisciplinary approach to develop new concepts and tools in economic geology, addressing the challenge of securing sustainable raw materials, both for now and future generations." This approach offers a unique opportunity in the field," says Prof Martini: “At the University of Geneva, Earth and environmental sciences are part of a
“The hospitable planet Earth, a unique feature in our solar system, can turn against us if we do not use resources in a
working with the GCB on the bid for the General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics for 2023 and hope to succeed once again.” Live, work, invest For people in the Earth and environmental sciences sector, Geneva is a fantastic place to live, work and invest. “We are a welcoming human-sized city,” says Prof Martini, “Geneva offers a mix of intellectual stimulation and inspiring people in science and technology, enabling dialogue between science and society.” City of science Geneva has a unique density of science and cultural centres and hosts a vibrant scientific community producing knowledge through cutting-edge research. One of the oldest universities in Europe, Geneva University has more than 18,000 students from 150 countries and offers 290 degrees, including many domains of excellence in research including life sciences, physics of elementary particles, astrophysics and Earth and environmental sciences.
sustainable way” Professor Rossana Martini
single academic structure providing the main training centre on these subjects in western Switzerland. This is further supported by various research programmes aiming to develop new approaches and technologies promoting sustainable development and reducing the human
impact to global climate.” Meet in Geneva
The international exposure and scientific strengths of our department are attracting professionals to meet in Geneva, says Prof Martini. “In 2014 we organised the 19th International Sedimentological Congress, and co-organised the Gordon Research Conference in 2016. We are currently
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O ther clusters
With a multitude of NGOs and agencies, world-class trading operations, a centre for finance, sustainable energy options and leading flavour and fragrance companies, Geneva may be THE international city. Unparalleled opportunities for prof
Cleantech Geneva is a thriving cleantech hub, home to key stakeholders in the field of the environment and sustainability. Top research universities and labs, international organisations and NGOs and innovative companies in the field are playing a key part in Switzerland’s commitment to produce 50 per cent of Swiss energy from renewable sources by 2030. Switzerland leads the way in sustainable energy options: solar power (Genève Aéroport has a solar field that is the largest in Europe, based on a technology developed at CERN in Geneva), wind turbines, biomass, bio-diesel, bio-gas, thermal engineering and hydraulics. Geneva’s cleantech cluster hosts companies backed by global players such as ABB Sécheron, DuPont de Nemours and Sunpower Systems. Start-ups and local companies such as Cleanfizz or TVP Solar are carefully nurtured, able to count on the support and creativity of various institutions for their development. Training programmes, applied research, tech transfer and coaching are available, together with outstanding competences from hepia (the University of Applied Sciences), the University of Geneva, CERN and SIG (Industrial Services of Geneva). Geneva also hosts key events in the cleantech sector such as the European Future Energy Forum.
Banking and finance The birthplace of asset-management, Switzerland has long been synonymous with banking. Geneva’s financial sector, most famously its private banks, has built a reputation for reliability and confidentiality. Today, Geneva’s financial sector includes 104 banks, of which 46 are foreign-owned. The volume of assets under management in Switzerland is CHF 6,651 billions, which represents 25 per cent of all assets under cross-border management worldwide. The Geneva Economic Cluster also comprises companies providing infrastructure to financial institutions, as well as software developers and other product and service providers. Adaptive and innovative, Geneva is looking ahead to the changes that technology is bringing to the financial sector. The Geneva Financial Centre (GFC) is active in the independent association Swiss FinTech Innovations and promotes related events. Geneva represents itself as a hub for sustainable finance and financial technologies (fintech), investing continuously in transformational aspects of finance such as the impact of blockchain and artificial intelligence on cybersecurity, as a major differentiating factor. The financial sector generates 35,600 jobs and accounts for 12 per cent of Geneva's GDP.
Watchmaking and luxury goods
Swiss watchmakers have been the world’s leaders of the industry over the past four centuries. Geneva leads the field in terms of excellence and craftsmanship. The suburb of Plan-les-Ouates (nicknamed Plan-les-Watch) has become a district devoted almost entirely to fine timepieces. Companies such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Frederique Constant, Alpina and Vacheron Constantin combine old world craftsmanship with state-of-the-art computer-aided design and precision machinery. Founded in 1839, the Geneva-based family company Patek Philippe created the three most complicated timepieces ever created. One of which, the ‘Supercomplication’, sold at auction in 1999 for 11 million US dollars, the highest price ever paid for a watch. Geneva is also famed as a centre of luxury goods. Not only is it home to the finest fashion stores - 90 per cent of the most prestigious brands are represented - but some of the top companies have their world or European headquarters here. Among them, Geneva-based Richemont, one of the world’s leading luxury goods groups and a true showcase of the excellence of its industrial know-how abroad, includes several of the most prestigious names in the industry including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Alfred Dunhill and Montblanc. The luxury industry is the third largest employer sector and responsible for 70 per cent of the Canton’s exports.
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essionals to connect and do business
“We have a lot of scientists and brains; it’s a great place to meet with people”
Frederick Bordry, CERN
International organisations and NGOs
international activities and numerous informal and institutional contact opportunities, Geneva today is the main global centre for world co-operation and offers unparalleled opportunities for professionals to connect and do business.
numerous intergovernmental organisations (IGOs), some 250 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and around 240 permanent diplomatic missions to Geneva, bringing the international community numbers close to 40,000. Thanks to its
Since the League of Nations was established in Geneva in 1920, it has established a solid, enviable and well- known reputation as THE international city. The sheer number and diversity of the agencies, organisations and NGOs based in Geneva are none the less staggering: no fewer than 168 nations (169 if you include Switzerland) are represented in Geneva by a permanent mission or similar. Two thirds of the United Nations’ activities take place in Geneva, which naturally has the largest concentration of UN personnel in the world. Today, Geneva hosts the world headquarters for the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), to name but a few. All of the UN’s major fields of work – health, labour issues, intellectual property standards, human rights, humanitarian action and disaster relief, economic, trade and development activities, disarmament, science and technology, as well as research and training, are carried out in Geneva. This core has, in turn, attracted
2018 geneva XV
GENEVA: CENTRALLY LOCATED
A ccess
0 km Geneva – Welcome to downtown Europe 300 Scale along the equator 600
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