ABSTRACT
Switzerland, a small state in the world market that lacks natural resources, has implemented a successful strategy of building up knowledge production as a globally competitive industry. 1 The transition of Switzerland into one of the leading nations in innovation and the capitalization of investments in innovation is confirmed by the OECD key performance indicators (OECD, 2011) – see, for instance, Figure 7.1. Not only is the current performance of the technology transfer model excellent, but also the long term indirect impact of innovation on the Swiss economy and labour market scores equally highly. 2 Currently, Switzerland is one of the most attractive destinations in Europe in terms of highly skilled workforces in both academia and the R&D intensive industries, has one of the highest immigration rates and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. 3
