Zurich is one of the world’s leading technology and innovation hubs, anchored by ETH Zurich — consistently ranked among the top technical universities globally — alongside EMPA and the University of Zurich. Melan works with teams across Zurich’s research ecosystem to structure international partnerships that connect Swiss science with global industry.
The Zurich Research Partnership Landscape
Zurich’s research ecosystem is dominated by ETH Zurich (ETH Zürich), a world leader in engineering, technology, and natural sciences, and the University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland’s largest university with outstanding strengths in medicine, law, and economics. EMPA — the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology — is a leading applied research institute specializing in materials science, sustainability, and engineering innovation.
Corporate R&D in Zurich is anchored by global technology and life sciences companies: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, ABB, Siemens, Google (with a major engineering office), and IBM Research Zurich. The Zurich Innovation Park and Swiss Innovation Park network provide world-class infrastructure for industry-academia collaboration. Switzerland consistently ranks as one of the most innovative countries globally, driven by strong public–private research partnerships.
Swiss research partnerships operate within a distinctive framework that values precision, long-term collaboration, and high-quality fundamental research. Melan helps international teams navigate Switzerland’s unique position — outside the EU but deeply integrated into European research networks — and structure collaborations that align with Innosuisse and SNSF funding programmes.
What Melan Does for Teams in Zurich
Melan helps Zurich’s research institutions connect with global corporate partners and helps international companies access Swiss research excellence.
For corporate R&D teams in Zurich: We map the Swiss research landscape to identify university partners aligned with your priorities — from ETH Zurich’s strength in engineering and quantum research to EMPA’s leadership in materials science. We structure partnerships that navigate Swiss research funding and Switzerland’s bilateral agreements with EU research programmes.
For Zurich universities and institutes: We help technology transfer offices and research departments identify corporate partners who value Swiss scientific precision, navigate the international partnership landscape, and structure collaborations that comply with SNSF and Innosuisse funding requirements.
For international companies entering the Swiss market: We provide strategic guidance on accessing Swiss research infrastructure — ETH Zurich’s industry partnerships, the Swiss Innovation Park network, and EMPA’s applied research programmes — and structure collaborations that leverage Switzerland’s competitive R&D tax environment.
FAQ
How does Melan help companies partner with ETH Zurich or EMPA?
We map the specific research groups and PIs aligned with your R&D priorities, then approach ETH Zurich’s Industry Relations and Technology Transfer office or EMPA’s research coordination team with a pre-structured framework tailored to Swiss funding mechanisms.
What makes Zurich unique for research partnerships?
Zurich combines a world-leading technical university with a deep corporate R&D tradition in life sciences and engineering. Switzerland’s stable policy environment, strong IP protection, and generous R&D incentives — combined with its bridge position between EU and global markets — make Zurich an exceptional location for research collaboration.
Does Melan work with Swiss pharma and life sciences companies?
Yes. We work with Roche, Novartis, and Swiss-based biotechs to identify academic partners across ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, and the broader Swiss biomedical research ecosystem.
How do I start a research partnership in Zurich?
Contact Melan at themelan.com/contact-us. We discuss your R&D priorities and map the Zurich research ecosystem to identify the right collaborators for your goals.
Ready to form a research partnership in Zurich?
Melan helps corporate R&D teams, universities, and research institutes across Zurich structure successful research collaborations.
