Top 3 reasons why Greater Zurich is Europe’s emerging hotbed for DeepTech companies and talent

1. DeepTech density: A concentrated engine of BigTech, R&D, and high-value spinouts 

Switzerland is one of Europe’s most productive DeepTech ecosystems, excelling both per capita and in total value created. 

A leader in both total and per capita spinout value

According to the European Spinout Report 2025 by Dealroom, Switzerland ranks third in Europe in total DeepTech and Life Sciences spinout value, behind only the UK and Germany. When adjusted for population, Switzerland ranks first in Europe, strongly outperforming Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Finland, and Belgium. 

Switzerland’s spinout pipeline is exceptionally strong. Activity has surged since 2022, with many rounds exceeding 10 million dollars and several companies reaching unicorn or billion-dollar exit status. Today, the country counts more than 640 VC-backed DeepTech startups, which together have raised 6.9 billion dollars since 2020, including over 1 billion dollars in 2025 alone. Their combined enterprise value now stands at 44.6 billion dollars, more than triple the 2019 level and a clear sign of Switzerland’s accelerating DeepTech momentum. 

This places Switzerland among Europe’s most efficient DeepTech ecosystems for converting research into valuable companies at scale. 

Download Dealroom Report 2025

A dense corporate R&D landscape 

Greater Zurich is home to a concentration of global engineering and AI centers unmatched in most of Europe. 

Companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon AWS, IBM, Apple, Anthropic, and Pinterest operate major European engineering hubs here. Google’s Zurich office alone employs more than 5,000 engineers, with many working on core AI products. These hubs attract world-leading specialists, who later join local startups, found companies, or strengthen R&D teams across the region, acting as a continuous talent multiplier. 

Notable Swiss DeepTech spinouts

Swiss universities and research institutes have produced a number of globally recognised DeepTech champions, including: 

• Araris – next generation ADC therapeutics
• Climeworks – direct air capture pioneer
• CORINTIS – microfluidic cooling for high-performance computing
• RIVR – advanced robotics and autonomous systems 

Listed in the Dealroom report, these companies represent Switzerland’s strength across ClimateTech, Life Sciences, AI x DeepTech, and robotics. 

Together, these elements create unparalleled DeepTech density: a compact region with unusually high research output, startup activity, corporate R&D power, and investment momentum.

2. University excellence: A research powerhouse driving DeepTech breakthroughs 

Switzerland’s academic ecosystem is one of the strongest in Europe, and this matters for founders, investors, and deep technology companies. 

In the 2025 Dealroom ranking of top European universities for DeepTech and Life Sciences spinout value creation, Switzerland stands out with three universities in the top ten: ETH Zurich and EPFL sit just behind Oxford and Cambridge, and the University of Zurich UZH takes the 9th spot, placing Switzerland firmly in Europe’s academic elite. 

ETH Zurich ranks among the top 10 universities worldwide in engineering, computer sciences, physical sciences, and Life Sciences. EPFL and the University of Zurich add strength in ClimateTech, semiconductors, medical devices, genomics and precision medicine, and AI engineering. 

Robotics: Switzerland’s globally recognised stronghold 

The robotics field is a special case where Switzerland is not just competitive, but truly world-leading. ETH Zurich is widely regarded as one of the top robotics research institutions worldwide, with more than 30 robotics startups emerging from its labs. 

Roland Siegwart, Robotics Professor at ETH Zurich, emphasizes a broader reality in the Dealroom report: “It is all about bringing the best, most motivated talents together, in a vibrant ecosystem that offers early-stage startup support.” 

Dive deeper into Greater Zurich - also called the Silicon Valley of Robotics: 

Explore robotics in Greater Zurich

3. DeepTech talent: Building high-performance teams in Greater Zurich

While many regions excel in research, few match Switzerland’s ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier technology talent. Switzerland and the Greater Zurich region have been ranked as the leading talent hubs globally for over a decade. The new talent whitepaper shows clearly why Greater Zurich stands out as one of the most reliable places to build high-performance teams globally. 

A high-performance workforce with exceptional retention 

Swiss engineers combine deep specialization with strong research backgrounds, delivering high productivity in small, efficient teams. The talent pool is highly international and English-speaking, and professionals stay significantly longer than in most global tech hubs - typically five to six years, compared with two to three years in places like London or San Francisco. This stability translates into less turnover, less knowledge loss, and stronger long-term performance. 

Beyond talent quality, Greater Zurich offers a business environment built for DeepTech scaling. Companies benefit from:

✅ A stable, high-trust legal and regulatory environment
✅ Strong intellectual property protection
✅ Liberal labor laws and fast hiring processes
✅ Efficient, predictable administration
✅ One of the highest global scores for quality of life (a powerful recruitment lever) 

For DeepTech founders, CTOs, and HR leaders, this means an environment where teams are easier to build, easier to retain, and more productive over time.

When evaluated through the combined lens of DeepTech density, university excellence, and Talent strength, the conclusion is clear: 

Greater Zurich is one of Europe’s most compelling locations for DeepTech innovation, company building, and team scaling. Few regions offer this combination of top-tier research institutions, high-value spinout creation, global corporate R&D centers, and one of Europe’s most reliable and productive talent pools.