Life sciences and technology companies

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Zug has developed a significant life sciences and technology sector alongside its trading, holding and crypto clusters. Pharmaceutical and medical technology companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Biogen and Amgen established international headquarters or regional functions in the canton.¹ Technology companies, from the building technology business of Siemens to software and engineering firms, employ thousands of people. These companies bring functions with more substance than the holding and trading companies: research, development, regulatory affairs, supply chain management and marketing. They are less dependent on low taxes and more on the availability of talent, the quality of infrastructure and access to markets.

The growth of these sectors could reduce the canton's dependence on tax competition and on the volatile commodity trade. It could also increase the pressure on housing, infrastructure and the labour market, since companies with many employees need more space and more workers than holding companies with small staffs. The canton's development in the coming decade will depend on its ability to accommodate this growth without losing the quality of life that attracts the companies and their employees in the first place.

Notes

Canton of Zug, Economic Promotion, "Life Sciences", economy.zg.ch: about 360 life sciences companies with about 9,600 employees; Biogen, Amgen and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) among the pharma companies, Johnson & Johnson Medtech and Roche Diagnostics among the medtech headquarters; see Part C. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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Life sciences and technology companies

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?