There are 6.2 sustainability initiatives per 100,000 people in Switzerland. In second place is Israel (4.4 startups) and ahead of the Netherlands with 4.3 startups. The USA (2.3 enterprises), Germany (0.9) and China (0.04) are also well behind Switzerland in this comparison.
The research also shows significant growth in sustainable initiatives. Between 2019 and 2021, the proportion of sustainability start-ups among all technology and science-based start-ups in Switzerland increased from 4 percent to almost 10 percent.
“Switzerland is not the only country that is growing strongly in this field,” Stefan Kyora, editor-in-chief of Startupticker.ch, said at an online media conference. He explains this, among other things, by the EU’s “Green New Deal” and the emergence of the climate strike.
Investments also increased with start-ups. The total volume of venture capital investments in the field of sustainable start-ups in Switzerland increased from CHF 200 million to 600 million in the same period.
The study draws attention to two sectors in particular: mechanical engineering and the food industry. In both sectors of the economy, the environment in Switzerland is particularly conducive to beginners. According to the statement, the founders have the opportunity to collaborate with leading international universities and market-leading companies.
The analysis is based on national and international sources. In total, data on about 5,000 Swiss and 250,000 foreign enterprises were taken into account.
(SDA)