In 2024, 36 companies established operations in the Basel Area with the support of Basel Area Business & Innovation—26 of them in life sciences, representing nearly three-quarters of all new arrivals. This marks a slight increase over the previous year, surpassing the long-term average of 32 new company settlements. The newcomers hail from 16 different countries, with 24 companies from Europe, six from the Americas, and six from Asia.

A growing life sciences cluster

The life sciences sector remains the driving force behind economic growth in the Basel Area. What’s particularly notable is the widening geographic spread of new company settlements. Foreign life sciences companies are increasingly choosing to set up in Basel-Landschaft and the Jura, not just Basel-Stadt—a sign that the region’s innovation ecosystem is maturing and expanding.

“Our efforts to extend the life sciences cluster across the entire Basel economic region are paying off,” says Christof Klöpper, CEO of Basel Area Business & Innovation. “With more companies choosing Basel-Landschaft and the Jura, we are building a richer, more diverse innovation landscape that benefits the entire region.”

A key driver of this expansion is the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, which is attracting biotech, medtech and healthtech companies to its three locations in Allschwil, the Novartis Campus and the Jura. The region is also seeing increased interest from ICT and service sector companies, further strengthening its economic base.

Basel Area’s investment strategy recognized as the best in Europe

The Basel Area’s success in attracting businesses has not gone unnoticed. fDi Intelligence, the investment division of the Financial Times, ranked Basel Area Business & Innovation’s investment promotion strategy as the best among Europe’s smaller cities—a strong endorsement of the region’s ability to attract high-value companies and investments.

Startup growth continues with strong investment

While the number of startups supported by Basel Area Business & Innovation in 2024 declined to 67, this figure remains in line with historical trends. More importantly, investment in startups remains strong. Startups supported by BaseLaunch and DayOne, the region’s two leading incubators, attracted 478 million Swiss francs in funding last year—a major boost for the local economy and the innovation ecosystem.

The outlook for job creation is equally promising. Companies that launched or relocated to the Basel Area in 2024 expect to create over 700 new jobs in the region within the next five years.

A thriving future for the Basel Area

With steady company growth, increasing international appeal, and strong investment flows, the Basel Area is reinforcing its position as a global leader in life sciences innovation. As the economy continues to expand, it is strengthening its foundation and creating new opportunities for businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs alike.

Read our Annual Report 2024.