Keystone-SDA
The Vaudois economic promotion maintained the CAP last year. It financially supported 235 companies (226 in 2023) for an amount of 6.76 million francs (6.62 million).
This content was published on
08 May 2025 – 14:15
(Keystone-ATS) Thursday before the press in Renens, State Councilor Isabelle Moret welcomed “the convincing results” of the Vaud economic promotion, confronted as elsewhere with “an uncertain global context”. In particular, she underlined “proactivity” and “collective agility” between public and private partners to maintain the competitiveness of the canton and its jobs.
Proof that the “accelerator effect” sought by the State works, companies supported in 2024 in turn invested 21.02 million francs. This represents a lever effect of 3.11, detailed Raphaël Conz, director of the Innovation and Economy Promotion Service (SPEI).
Agrifood progress
The majority of supported companies work in information and digital technology, but also in the precision industry and the life sciences. Compared to 2023, however, it was in the agrifood sector that aid has increased the most (+44%).
Regarding the types of aid granted, this mainly concerns support to participate in fairs and exhibitions, but also to help the development of products or means of production. Requests particularly progressed last year for aid to carry out market studies.
“The SPEI seeks to respond to very earth-to-earth issues,” continued Mr. Conz. This involves, for example, of supporting companies confronted with uncertainties linked to American customs duties. “We incit them to explore other opportunities, to open their doors to other markets,” he said.
Vaudish start-ups in sight
Other key figures for 2024, Isabelle Moret said that the eight canton innovation parks now brought together 760 companies, reaching “a record occupancy rate” of more than 90%. “Innovating is the best response to uncertainty,” she said.
The Minister of the Economy was also delighted to find 24 young Vaudish shoots in the Top 100 Swiss start-ups, including four in the Top 10. Worn in particular by the life sciences, the start-ups of the canton have raised more than half a billion francs, an increase of 13% compared to 2023, while a drop of 8.5% was observed on a Swiss scale.
New Indian comers
In addition to supporting local businesses, the State of Vaud continued to prospect abroad. 33 companies were thus established in the canton in 2024, compared to 28 a year earlier. These companies come from 19 countries, “unprecedented diversity”, said Patrick Barbey, director of Innovaud. Like “great novelty”, he reported the arrival of several Indian companies (four in all).
The information and digital technology sector represents a third of these establishments, followed by life sciences, the precision industry and the “Cleantech”.
