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SGCI Newsletter January 13th 2011
To whom it may concern
The SGCI Newsletter keeps you informed of the positions of SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz on topical political and social issues, together with matters internal to the association.
Themes covered by this edition
- Entrepreneurial response to the strong franc
- Maintaining a realistic relationship with Europe
- Swissmedic - financing and charges
- Cleantech yes, but without a flood of state subsidies and regulations
- Central demands for more excellence in education
- International Year of Chemistry 2011 in Switzerland
- New responsibilities in the areas of industrial biotechnology, nutrition and consumption
- Welcome to SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz! New member companies in 2010
Entrepreneurial response to the strong franc
In all likelihood, the Swiss franc will remain strong in 2011. The Swiss National Bank can only absorb short-term shocks; it cannot resist long-term currency trends without losing its monetary policy independence. When it comes to exchange rate matters, companies cannot rely on state support; instead, they must respond to this challenge through independent action involving the management of their own business. Cost reductions at home, increasing purchases of basic and intermediate products abroad, possible price increases and above all innovation, enable opportunities on the export market to be grasped.
Maintaining a realistic relationship with Europe
The existing bilateral agreements with the EU are working well. The policy adopted by the Federal Council of continuing down the bilateral route meets the needs of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. New institutional provisions for bilateral cooperation must be reviewed carefully to determine their constitutional and economic policy implications with a view to the adoption of a realistic negotiating position. Ill-considered adoption of EU law cannot be a solution for the future.
Swissmedic - financing and charges
In October 2010, Swissmedic set out the first ideas for its future financing and charging concept. Swissmedic had already decided previously to increase its budget to around CHF 100 million by 2013, i.e. a rise of some 25%. However, the question as to how many of the additional full-time posts will be created in Swissmedic‘s key area of pharmaceutical authorizations remains open. Industry is calling for the additional personnel expenditure to focus on this particular area. The new scale of charges has not been announced yet. As the high level federation of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz has been invited to further discussions with the top management of Swissmedic and then to the hearing on the draft scale of charges.
Cleantech yes, but without a flood of state subsidies and regulations
SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz supports the aims of the Cleantech master plan which it has been implementing for decades through a demonstrable reduction of environmental pollution and consumption of resources. However, SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz warns against the adoption of an industrial policy based on state control which would make a distinction between the “green” economy and the rest, have adverse consequences for the global competitiveness of our economy and for the attainment of ecological goals. Appropriate account of this aspect must be taken when drawing up the Cleantech master plan.
Central demands for more excellence in education
In the run-up to the forthcoming debates in Parliament, SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz formulates demands for more "excellence in education for an innovative Switzerland" in its position paper and detailed dossier. Central concerns are the priority to be attached to education and research in all public budgets, the autonomy and performance-related financing of universities, the early encouragement of children‘s interest in natural science, a clear commitment of our industry to dual occupational trading and the creation of an education department at Swiss federal level.
International Year of Chemistry 2011 in Switzerland
The International Year of Chemistry 2011 is getting off to a start in Switzerland with the official opening ceremony on 15 February in Bern. You too can play an active part in encouraging a public understanding of the importance of chemistry. Details of all the events and information about the International Year of Chemistry in Switzerland will be found at www.chemistry2011.ch.
New responsibilities in the areas of industrial biotechnology, nutrition and consumption
With the transfer of InterNUTRITION, the Swiss Working Group for Research and Nutrition, to SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz in January 2011, a new area of responsibility for industrial biotechnology, nutrition and consumption has been created. In the coming months one more member of the team will be appointed which will then be fully operational.
Welcome to SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz! New member companies in 2010
SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz welcomed the following companies in 2010. They joined the SGCI family which already comprises over 250 member companies. This highlights the importance of SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz as the high level federation of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry working constantly towards the creation of good background conditions for the innovative Switzerland of tomorrow.
- Debiopharm SA, Lausanne
- Häffner Distribution Suisse SA, Bad Zurzach
- Nycomed Pharma AG, Dübendorf
- Pierrel Research Switzerland AG, Thalwil
- REACH Compliance GmbH, Rossinière
- Swissi process safety GmbH, Basel
Would you like to know more about our points of view or do you have any questions about them? Just contact our experts at SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz.
Yours sincerely
SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz
Dr. Beat Moser
Director
Marcel Sennhauser
Head of Communications
SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz
Central Association of the
Swiss Chemical-Pharmaceutical Industry
Nordstrasse 15 - Postfach
CH-8021 Zurich
Telephone +41 44 368 17 11
Facsimile +41 44 368 17 70
Email mailbox@sgci.ch
Internet www.sgci.ch
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