Topping the Global Innovation Index for the twelfth year running, Swiss businesses are familiar with pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The burgeoning Deep Tech sector is a prime example.

Candidate mobility plays a major part in the sector’s growth, partly a result of needing access to highly specialised skill sets, rising demand, and a long history of cross-border talent attraction.

Switzerland, a global leader in talent attraction, is well-placed to capitalise on an international talent pool.

That said, skill shortages continue to worsen as Deep Tech skyrockets – investments surged by 95% to $684 million in Q23/24 according tostartupticker.ch, and meanwhile, the labour market is heading for a shortfall of over 430,000 people by 2040.

Is policy equipped to create access to cross-border talent? Are recruitment specialists up to the task? The next stage of Swiss Deep Tech innovation might depend on it.

Policy, Potential, and Partnerships

According to Dealroom, Switzerland is the most Deep Tech-focused ecosystem in Europe, home to a thriving ecosystem and world-class research institute, with ETH Zurich creating the most spinout value in 2022.

In the last few years, impact-driven partnerships and business-friendly policies have had a key part to play in the development of the Deep Tech space.

This includes the recent launch of the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation, an initiative established by UBS and Swisscom to catalyse progress in Swiss Deep Tech. Intending to mobilise 50 billion Swiss Francs for Deep Tech startups and scale-ups over the next ten years, the foundation has set ambitious targets for an equally ambitious industry.

A bi-product of this, the Foundation claims, is the indirect creation of 100,000 new Deep Tech jobs in Switzerland over the space of several years.

As one of the world’s most globalised economies, it’s likely that the reliance on highly skilled foreign workers (Migration Policy Institute) will increase to meet the growing demands of the deep tech sector – initiatives like the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation spotlight the need for a robust talent pipeline.

Big Plans Raise Big Questions

Earlier this month, Switzerland came to an agreement with the US on the exchange of young professionals, a reciprocal deal that will make it easier for Swiss nationals to get training in the US, and vice-versa. The agreement marks a positive step towards stronger international collaboration and enhancing skill development for young professionals, but familiar underlying challenges persist.

The Swiss regulatory framework and strict labour leasing laws make for an unwieldy application process. For example, businesses hiring third-country foreign graduates must conduct a market test to prove there are no suitable Swiss nationals to perform the role.

Alongside this, it’s worth noting that international Swiss graduates looking to found a business are required to provide a minimum of CHF 50,000 incorporation capital (although it doesn’t necessarily need to be paid in cash).

Thankfully, we’re seeing policy updates to support the movement of skilled workers, including more steps toward closing skill gaps in high-impact areas like Deep Tech – as of January 1st, Switzerland has updated its list of jobs that can benefit from ‘simplified immigration requirements’ to encompass specialists in the IT sector.

According to EY’s example, this includes computer engineers, system analysts, software developers, application programmers, and database and network professionals.

  • If you’re hoping to navigate the complexities of the Swiss regulatory environment, you may want to read our recent paper for a detailed breakdown of processes, permits, and recommendations: A Comprehensive Guide for International Firms.

Employer-Friendly Regulations

Boasting some of the highest tech wages in the world, a high standard of living, and a slew of cutting-edge projects, Switzerland remains an enticing destination for game-changing talent.

Moreover, Switzerland benefits from the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in that no permits are needed to hire nationals from these jurisdictions.

As language barriers, talent droughts, and regulatory pressures represent a broad list of challenges for Swiss hiring managers, specialised recruiters are well-placed to make a competitive difference.

Community-Led Recruitment

Specialised recruiters are uniquely placed to support the growth of Swiss deep tech by addressing several market-defining challenges.

Often (but certainly not always), the best candidates are passive and hard to reach by traditional means of recruitment. In deep tech, a space renowned for its novel technological skill sets and niche expertise.

We have found that community building provides an avenue through which to make more meaningful connections with professionals – whether that’s through ourLeadership Lab podcast series or our events programme, we can develop stronger connections by fostering authentic engagement, creating a space for experts to share ideas and discover new ways of working.

In a digital-first world, making meaningful connections through community is a key differentiator in the race to pinpoint talent. Deep Tech contains a wealth of emergent fields where the talent pools are still growing, catalysing the demand for a sense of community.

We’re eager to hear from deep tech leaders and founders who are currently encountering scaling challenges. As fully SECO-licensed recruitment specialists, the consultants at DeepRec.ai are equipped to support the growth of today’s tech pioneers by connecting them with a diverse, engaged, and highly qualified talent pool. Find out how we can help: DeepRec.ai.