Overview

Switzerland is at the top of most charts measuring international competitiveness in innovation. The country issues more patents to protect intellectual property (IP) rights per capita than any other European country.

On the legal side, Switzerland has historically considered of paramount importance a judicial system that allows inventors to protect and exploit their innovations. Accordingly, Switzerland was among the first countries to support at an early stage an international harmonisation of patent law and to implement the steps necessary to making such a law reality.