Edition 1/2015 www.berneinvest.com Conversation Uwe E. Jocham, Senior VP and General Manager, CSL Behring AG Business CTI Swiss Medtech Award for medical technology innovation in Münsingen VeinPress GmbH and its innovative system for measuring central venous pressure Research & Development How innovations in medicine make it to the hospital bedside sitem-insel AG in Bern Living Global learning in the Canton of Bern A new campus for the International School of Berne Switzerland – your future business location KPMG in Switzerland supports you with experienced specialists. We provide valuable local knowledge and assist you in your market entry. Our experts help you with setting up your company as well as managing tax and legal requirements. Hans Jürg Steiner, Partner Tax Partner & Office Manager KPMG, Hofgut, CH-3073 Gümligen-Bern T: +41 58 249 20 57 E: [email protected] www.kpmg.ch/InvestCH © 2014 KPMG Holding AG/SA, a Swiss corporation, is a member of the KPMG network of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss legal entity. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks. FINAL_INSERAT_bernecapitalarea_EN_280x210_110914.indd 1 11.09.2014 13:55:28 Contents / editorial 3 Conversation 4/5 “The motivation of our workforce in the Canton of Bern is second to none” An interview with Uwe E. Jocham, Senior VP and General Manager, CSL Behring AG Business 6–8 “We have expanded our successful base in the Canton of Bern” Switzerland – your MPS Precimed SA in Corgémont 9–11 CTI Swiss Medtech Award for medical technology innovation in Münsingen future business VeinPress GmbH and its innovative system Dear reader, for measuring central venous pressure Innovation and medical technology are two prominent themes location Research & Development running through this edition of bernecapitalarea. Innovation plays a key role in our economy’s advancement and growth, 12/13 How innovations in medicine and the Canton of Bern is home to a strong cluster of inno- KPMG in Switzerland supports you with make it to the hospital bedside sitem-insel AG in Bern vative medical and medical technology companies. Innova- experienced specialists. We provide valuable tion and medical technology are therefore firmly anchored in An ecosystem for Switzerland’s leading innovators local knowledge and assist you in your market 14–16 our Economic Strategy for 2025 and are also my focal areas INNOCAMPUS AG in Biel/Bienne entry. Our experts help you with setting up your in the 2014–2018 legislature. company as well as managing tax and legal Living requirements. The strength of the Swiss franc poses major challenges for 17–19 Global learning in the Canton of Bern the export-oriented Swiss economy and tourism. To ensure A new campus for the International School of Berne Switzerland does not become a pure service economy, we Hans Jürg Steiner, Partner will continue to need innovative industrial companies going 20 Excitement, entertainment and enterprise Tax Partner & Office Manager under one roof forward. Promoting knowledge transfer and innovation is KPMG, Hofgut, CH-3073 Gümligen-Bern The multifunctional Tissot Arena for sports therefore a top priority. T: +41 58 249 20 57 and events in Biel/BIenne E: [email protected] To make this happen, the Canton of Bern has initiated two Competition pioneering projects. The first is our candidacy for Biel to become one of the network locations for the Swiss Innova- 21 Relaxing weekend break in Biel/Bienne tion Park, where we intend to bring research, development www.kpmg.ch/InvestCH Win a relaxing weekend break in Biel/Bienne and manufacturing together and improve knowledge and technology transfer. Bern Economic Development Agency 22 New arrivals in the Canton of Bern Secondly, a National Center of Excellence for Translational New companies in the region Medicine and Entrepreneurship is being created in Bern. 23 Networking – the key to innovation This center, known as sitem-insel, aims to facilitate the Promoting innovation in the Canton of Bern translation of discoveries in the fields of medical research and industrial development into clinical applications. In this edition of bernecapitalarea you will read about the companies and people that are the driving forces behind the Publication details advancement of our canton. I hope you enjoy it! Publisher, concept and chief editor: Bern Economic Development Agency (BEDA), Münsterplatz 3, CH-3011 Bern, tel.: +41 31 633 41 20, www.berne- Yours truly, invest.com Text: Julia Weber Photography: Daniel Rihs, Bern Design: Casalini Werbeagentur, Bern Translation: Marianne Creola, lingua-communications, Thun Printed by: Haller + Jenzer AG, Burgdorf. Printed on FSC-certified paper. Circulation and publication method: “bernecapitalarea – magazine on business, science and living in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland” is published twice a year in German, French and English and has a circulation of 4,000 Andreas Rickenbacher, member of the Government copies. Picture credits: Daniel Rihs (p. 1, 5–13, 16–19), provided by Tissot Arena (p. 20), Art Déco Hotel Elite (p. 21). All rights reserved. Articles and of the Canton of Bern, Minister of Economic Affairs pictures may only be reproduced with the express consent of the publisher. © 2014 KPMG Holding AG/SA, a Swiss corporation, is a member of the KPMG network of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss legal entity. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks. FINAL_INSERAT_bernecapitalarea_EN_280x210_110914.indd 1 11.09.2014 13:55:28 4 A conversation with Uwe E. Jocham “The motivation of our workforce in the Canton of Bern is second to none” An interview with Uwe E. Jocham Senior VP and General Manager Uwe E. Jocham explains why Lengnau was CSL Behring’s number one choice for the location of its new production facility and how it will be producing antihemophilia drugs there. Originally there were 45 locations across the technology. Recombinant manufacturing uses a cul- world vying for CSL Behring’s new production ture medium instead of plasma proteins. Genetically site. Why did Lengnau ultimately succeed engineered microorganisms in fermentation systems where others like Singapore failed? produce special coagulation factors that are subse- “Unlike in other countries, in Switzerland we can count quently made into ready-to-use drugs in complex on political stability and liberal labor laws with an ex- cleaning and formulation processes.” cellent social partnership. Peaceful labor relations are an essential element of our economic system. But it What will your new facility in Lengnau was a head-to-head race with Singapore right until mean for the region? the end. One of the key factors that made us opt for “Our Lengnau production facility will strengthen Bern Lengnau was the extremely positive experience we as a medical and business center, the Medical Cluster, have had at our existing headquarters in Bern. Open- and industry and jobs in Switzerland in general. It will ing a new facility nearby will enable us to tap into this provide a particularly strong boost for the know-how and our established networks and build high-tech region to the south of the Jura “I want to play on them. The Bern capital area offers every aspect of mountains and therefore also for the Swiss an active role the value-added chain in the entire healthcare sector Innovation Park at Biel/Bienne. By opening in shaping with all the services and suppliers we need: from in Lengnau we are reinforcing the bridge medtech to biotech and pharma to research and between biotechnology in the Lemanic Arc business and applications in high-end and mass medicine, as well area and the Basel pharma/biotech strong- research.” as all the relevant business associations and political hold. Besides creating hundreds of jobs, authorities. In addition, the excellent educational and we will also be providing new synergies in the region, research institutions in the Canton of Bern provide us such as between the universities, the Medical Cluster with a first-class workforce.” and the precision industry.” How will you be approaching protein recovery To what extent will the Canton of Bern as an R&D in your new factory in Lengnau? center benefit from CSL Behring’s expansion? “In Lengnau we are investing CHF 300–400 million in “I and many of our key people have been active in a new production facility for blood clotting factors that research and teaching at various universities and are not extracted from plasma but with recombinant hospitals such as the University of Bern and Inselspital for many years. We intend to intensify these collabora- tions in the future. One example is sitem-insel AG. About the company This new National Center of Excellence for Transla- CSL Behring is one of the leading manufacturers tional Medicine and Entrepreneurship, of which I am of plasma protein biotherapeutics, with produc- vice-chair of the board, will be working closely with tion facilities in Bern (CH), Marburg (D), Kanka- our production bases in Lengnau and Bern.” kee (USA), and Melbourne (AUS). The US-head- quartered CSL Behring Group employs about Why did you decide to focus on high-tech 12,000 people in 27 countries worldwide, more biotechnology in Bern, a region rather better than 1,300 of whom are based in Bern. In fiscal known for its long tradition in the healthcare 2013/2014 the Australian parent company CSL sector? Ltd achieved a turnover of USD 5.5 billion. The “The motivation of the high-skilled workforce in the Bern base contributes around 40% of CSL Canton of Bern is second to none. This not only Limited’s turnover. makes for a great working environment but also a highly productive one. Our company is firmly embed- A conversation with Uwe E. Jocham 5 “Even as a pharmacy student I was dreaming of being an entrepreneur and saving people’s lives.