Thanks to the presence of internationally renowned research centers, Ticino boasts a vibrant ecosystem that supports innovation and has a close connection with the business environment. Its strategic location, in the middle of two of the most dynamic economic areas in Europe - Zurich and Milan, makes it a natural hub for innovation.
According to the Regional Innovation Scoreboard, the Canton of Ticino ranks among the top ten innovation systems in Europe and second in Switzerland, just after Zurich. In particular, Ticino leads the Swiss ranking for the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that have introduced process or product innovations and holds 2nd place in trademark registrations.
The Università della Svizzera Italiana is the youngest university in Switzerland and hosts over 20 research institutes with top-tier academic expertise in fields such as biomedicine, computational science, communication, economics, and finance. The university benefits from an extensive national and international research network and access to competitive fundings both from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Union.
Thanks to a rich array of highly specialized sectoral expertise—particularly in industrial automation, robotics, electronics, and material sciences—the Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI) is a qualified partner for businesses looking to develop applied research projects. With close ties to the local business ecosystem and the highest success rate among Swiss universities of applied sciences for accessing European funds, SUPSI is a key player in applied research innovation.
Through the Ufficio per lo sviluppo economico, the Canton of Ticino supports innovative companies through the Legge per l'innovazione economica (LInn), an unprecedented framework policy in Switzerland for its wide area of intervention. This tool offers a range of incentives for businesses, such as participation in Swiss and European applied research programs, participation in trade fairs, and internationalization initiatives.
The Agire Foundation, Ticino’s innovation agency, conducts an initial analysis of the companies' technological needs and guides them through their innovation projects. It provides support in the development of strategies for digital transformation and intellectual property protection, while connecting businesses with over 70 research institutes and laboratories in Ticino.
Through the development of the Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino | Site of Park Zurich, the Canton further strengthens collaborations between businesses and universities in its key sectors: life sciences, information and communication technologies, mechanics, electronics, and material technologies. Currently, the Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino | Site of Park Zurich hosts three competence centers, focusing on cutting-edge fields: the Swiss Drone Competence Center, the Lifestyle Tech Competence Center and the Life Sciences Competence Center. Within these centers, highly innovative technical and technological solutions are being developed, fostering Ticino's position as a leader in innovation.
