Merck

What is the focus of Merck’s activities in Switzerland?

Merck stands out as one of the most important multinational companies in the sector, with a presence in both the Swiss pharmaceutical and life science fields. Merck Switzerland covers the entire pharmaceutical value chain, from the supply of key components to the research, production, and distribution of medicines and therapeutic solutions.

Active in the country since 1929, the Group, with its business areas in healthcare and life science, plays a prominent role and continues to increase investments to expand its presence and operations in the country. The number of locations reflects the growth and importance of the company within the Swiss pharmaceutical sector. Merck has six production and life science facilities that produce high-quality, specialized products for international markets. Merck exports from Switzerland to over 140 countries worldwide.

The healthcare division operates in the canton of Vaud through its production site in Aubonne, its state-of-the-art biotech development centre in Corsier-sur-Vevey, and the research and sales hub in Eysins. The life science division is present in Buchs (canton of St. Gallen), Schaffhausen, and Altdorf (canton of Uri) with manufacturing sites. Moreover, the EPFL office is dedicated to promoting research and development (R&D). Zug serves as the headquarters for the healthcare division.
 

What characterizes the Greater Zurich Area as a biotech location?

Switzerland is a place where innovation, manufacturing excellence, and expertise come together. The unique political and commercial positioning of the Greater Zurich Area is advantageous for biotech companies, ensuring strong connections to global markets and fostering a robust, future-oriented biotechnology industry. Most importantly, these favourable conditions are sustainable in the long term.  

What value does Merck bring to Switzerland?

Our mission is all about sparking discovery and elevating humanity and helping create, improve, and prolong patients’ lives. Through our presence and activities, we contribute to the sustainable growth and development of both Switzerland and the five cantons in which we are present. We are an increasingly relevant player for the Swiss economy, both in terms of size and in terms of its production capacities, corresponding to approximately 4.4% of exports of the total Swiss chemical-pharmaceutical sector. Over the past 10 years, we have invested over CHF 1 billion in Switzerland, significantly contributing to the growth of the pharmaceutical sector.

Beyond economic value, we build cognitive capital by investing in R&D, education, innovation, and clinical trials. We also build strong social capital through the creation of quality employment and through our portfolio of medicines and therapeutic solutions that improve the quality of life for Swiss residents. Merck employs over 2’600 employees making us the fourth-largest company in terms of employment size. Our considerable investments in R&D underline our dedication to science and technology to find solutions to some of today’s toughest challenges and create more sustainable ways to live. 

We are also actively involved in developing educational projects for the next generation of scientists, such as the SPARK Program. This global skills-based volunteering initiative provides community service opportunities across its our global network, with a focus on science and education. Moreover, we are leading the Merck Youth Barometer, which captures trends and perceptions of the younger generations. 

Finally, we are deeply committed to environmental sustainability and the protection of natural resources in Switzerland. We consistently work to reduce our energy consumption and CO2 emissions, contributing to improving the country’s overall performance by decreasing waste production and reducing water consumption.

What sets Merck apart as an employer in Switzerland?

We recognize that our success is intrinsically tied to our employees’ health and well-being. Our priority is to create a work environment that champions and fosters belonging and inclusion (B&I). We currently employ over 2’600 colleagues from more than 50 countries and have one of the most active B&I communities in Switzerland with seven active Employee Resource Groups. We are very proud to have been recognized as one of Europe’s Top 100 Most Diverse Companies by the Times-Statista ranking in 2023.

How is Merck contributing to a family-friendly workplace culture?

We care for our people and strive to create a caring culture to support employees in their critical and special moments in life. We support family planning through initiatives such as a gender-neutral parental leave policy. More recently, we introduced the fertility benefits, which cover fertility treatments such as IVF and egg-freezing to help our employees realize their dream of becoming parents from the first day of work, also applicable to employees’ partners and from the first day of work. Moreover, we launched the caregiver leave policy allowing employees to take care of relatives with severe diseases or after accidents. We support flexible working options to better balance work and family life.

It is my privilege to lead and work with fantastic and talented teams to pioneer impactful, inclusive, and sustainable solutions in healthcare that improve people’s lives for the better.