San Francisco – July 30, 2025
The 2025 Deep Tech Nation Report puts a spotlight on Switzerland’s incredible rise as a global player in the deep tech arena. Once primarily known for its watchmaking heritage and life sciences, the country is now a major contender in fields like AI, robotics, and climate tech. The report itself lays out the evidence: Switzerland is in the top three globally for deep tech venture funding per capita. It’s a powerful case study in how strong academic foundations, a flood of international capital, and a culture of IP-rich innovation can turn a small nation into a tech powerhouse.
As countries like Switzerland mature in the deep tech space, San Francisco finds itself in an interesting position, not just as a benchmark, but as a key partner. For anyone in the Bay Area, this report is a window into what’s happening across the Atlantic, highlighting opportunities for collaboration.
Deep Tech’s Growth Spurt: The Numbers
According to the report, Switzerland’s private deep tech startups are now collectively valued at over $50 billion. That’s a twentyfold leap from 2015. When you add public companies and acquisitions to the mix, the total enterprise value of Swiss deep tech soars past $100 billion. In terms of investment, the data shows that a full 60% of all Swiss VC funding goes into deep tech, the highest share anywhere in the world. The country also lands third place globally for deep tech VC funding per capita, trailing only Israel and the US.
Just last year, $1.9 billion was invested in Swiss deep tech startups, and 2025 is on pace to hit a record $2.3 billion. This is a sixfold increase from a decade ago, confirming Switzerland’s role as Europe’s leading deep tech hub. You can see this strength in the startup pipeline itself. AI/ML companies now account for 23% of all firms launched since 2021, nearly doubling their previous share. While biotech remains a cornerstone of Swiss innovation, it now shares the stage with fast-growing fields like Robotics and Climate & Energy.
A Decade of Shifting Tides in Investment
The report’s data becomes even more telling when you zoom out over the last ten years. Back in the mid-2010s, Swiss innovation was largely a biotech story. Today, things look very different. The sheer volume of venture rounds, the amount of capital invested, and the presence of foreign investors have all skyrocketed. More than 85% of all Swiss deep tech funding now comes from international sources, especially for later-stage companies.
This reliance on foreign money has a direct impact on the Swiss-US tech corridor. American investors, for example, now supply 47% of the late-stage capital for Swiss startups. This isn’t just about the money; it’s a two-way street for expertise, scaling strategies, and market access that helps Swiss companies plug into global ecosystems like the Bay Area.
The View from San Francisco
The trends in the report are not just statistics; they reflect a growing synergy we see every day. More and more Swiss startups are planting a flag here, drawn by the magnetic pull of the area’s capital, talent, and networks. This transatlantic bridge is a perfect example of modern tech diplomacy in action. Countries like Switzerland are using deep tech to build meaningful connections with influential hubs like San Francisco, which has become a global stage for governments, startups, and universities to connect.
Bay Area tech leaders are not just watching this unfold; they’re getting in on the action. Companies like Google, Meta, and Apple have established major AI research centers in Switzerland, tapping directly into its high concentration of talent. This exchange of people and ideas signals a new, more distributed model of innovation, where smaller nations can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology.
The Foundation: Talent, Hubs, and IP
The report also digs into Switzerland’s core strengths: its talent pool, educational institutions, and intellectual property. Zurich, for instance, has 3.7 times more AI talent than you would expect for its population size, and the country as a whole leads Europe in AI talent density. Top-tier institutions like ETH, EPFL, and CERN are consistent engines for academic spinoffs and skilled professionals.
Intellectual property is another pillar of this success. The report notes that Switzerland files more patents per capita than any other country, according to EPO data. In the world of deep tech, where development cycles are long and the technical challenges are immense, this is a major advantage.
The Road Ahead for Swiss Startups
For Swiss founders, the report offers a clear message: think globally from day one. While local networks are invaluable for getting off the ground, true scale and market traction demand cross-border partnerships. Entrepreneurs need to be ready to play on the international stage early, aligning with the global appetite for technologies in AI/ML and Climate & Energy.
This is where support systems become crucial, and it’s where Swissnex in San Francisco comes in. Through our immersive camps, mentorship programs, and targeted introductions, we help Swiss startups navigate the US market, validate their ideas, and connect with American investors and partners. It’s a well-worn path that has helped countless Swiss companies turn their potential into real-world success.
Written by Omer Alparslan, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lead at Swissnex in San Francisco. Omer is committed to supporting and connecting the Swiss entrepreneurship ecosystem and Swiss innovators with the US West Coast.