Swiss-made insulin pens and orthopaedic implants are being caught in the crosshairs of global trade tensions, but the effects of tariffs on the industry is still unclear. They might not develop blockbuster drugs or dominate headlines like pharma giants Novartis and Roche, but thousands of little-known medical device companies quietly power global healthcare from Switzerland. From screws for orthopaedic implants to precision tools for surgery, medical devices are used for diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, and treatment. “Switzerland has a very favourable labour framework that allows companies to really innovate, thanks to universities that systematically rank in the global top ten and the presence of big corporate entities that either have working offices or headquarters in the country,” says Andrea Biasucci, CEO of Confinis, a consulting firm in the field of medical devices. In 2023, 1,400 medical equipment companies were active in Switzerland, a very high density of players in a ...
