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Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech |
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Newsletter
July 15th2016
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scienceindustries, the Swiss Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech, keeps you informed about our industry's standpoints on current politico-economic and social topics. |
Topics
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Corporate Tax Reform III - necessary reform very largely meets Chemistry Pharma Biotech requirements
The compromise Corporate Tax Reform III proposal adopted by the Swiss Parliament contains the compensating elements of Patentbox and voluntary supplementary input support on the cantonal level, which are vital to our industry and which on the whole keep the tax burden stable for the affected businesses. This reform is absolutely imperative for Switzerland. If it were to founder, many of our smaller exporting companies would have to face the potential of retaliatory measures from abroad. Fortunately, the great majority of the Cantons also support this reform. In conjunction with other business associations, scienceindustries is campaigning for the rejection of the Referendum declared by the SP party.
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Relationships with the EU - Implementation of Art. 121a of the Swiss Federal Constitution (The Mass Immigration Initiative): Search for a solution more difficult under time pressure
With a view to the parliamentary discussions, the industry has once again made it clear that retention of the bilateral agreements is absolutely vital as far as it is concerned. Any cancellation of the agreement on the free movement of people by Switzerland is as unthinkable as any additional supporting measures. In this regard, the industry supports the unilateral application of the safeguard clause, but would like to achieve an amicable solution with the EU. The decision taken by the UK on 23rd June 2016 to leave the EU (Brexit) may well make this target still harder to achieve. Overriding qualitative safeguard clause measures (including a mild form of the principle of priority for Swiss nationals in line with the «Ambühl model») should be applied at the actual implementation stage. From the point of view of industry, the maximum numbers already applicable to highly-qualified third-country nationals must not be reduced and the right to subsequent immigration of family members must stay ensured.
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Croatia Protocol: Qualified ratification puts at risk the seamless continuation of Swiss participation in the European Horizon 2020 research programme
Ratification of the Croatia Protocol is a necessary pre-condition for Switzerland to continue as part of the Horizon 2020 framework research programme after 2017. In its summer session, the Swiss Parliament authorised the Federal Council to ratify the Croatia Protocol, but only «if there is some arrangement with the European Union for a provision to control immigration that can be reconciled with the Swiss legal system». scienceindustries fought against this condition in advance, together with other industry associations, because it could put the seamless continuation of Swiss participation in Horizon 2020 at risk.
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Education, Research and Innovation message for 2017-2020: scienceindustries calls for annual growth of 2.4%
In its summer session, the National Council argued against the proposals for increases made by the Science, Education and Culture Committee of the National Council and against the proposals for cutbacks made by the SVP party, stating that funding for Education, Research and Innovation for 2017-2020 should be increased by an average of 2% every year, as proposed by the Federal Council. The Council of States will consult upon this matter in its autumn session. In view of this position, scienceindustries takes a stand, together with economiesuisse, the Swiss Bankers Association and Swissmem, for an average annual growth of 2.4% (CHF 100 million/annum more than approved by the National Council) in the funding for Education, Research and Innovation. This is feasible fiscally and is necessary in terms of research policy in order to ensure Switzerland's place at the very top in the area of Education, Research and Innovation.
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Transparency Initiative: Data on collaboration between pharma companies and healthcare providers published for the first time
The dialogue that takes place with service providers in the healthcare sector is indispensable in the research and development of new treatments and therapies; it also improves the quality of the medical care provided to patients. Since 1st July 2016, more than 50 pharma companies working in Switzerland have published on their websites the payments they have made to service providers in the healthcare sector for consultations and services. In terms of turnover, these companies account for about 80% of the entire Swiss pharma market.
The Transparency Initiative was initiated by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). In Switzerland, scienceindustries is responsible for its implementation at the national level. The Pharma Cooperation Code as it has now been elaborated regulates the relationships between the pharma companies and doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, research institutions and patient organisations and calls for the publication of payments between them.
The payments made for such services during the previous year must be published by the pharma companies on their websites every year, by 30th June in each case. The aim of the Initiative is to increase the level of confidence with regard to the important role played by the pharma industry in the provision of healthcare, and in research.
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No national «going it alone» with regard to climate protection and CO2 legislation from 2020
Switzerland's Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is currently working on the preparations for the climate protection legislation post 2020. scienceindustries is actively engaged on a variety of levels. The primary demands made by scienceindustries with regard to the climate protection legislation post 2020 continue to be aimed at avoiding any national tendencies to «Go it alone», to take appropriate account of the outcomes from the preceding period (up to 2020) and to ensure sufficient flexibility when acting at home and abroad. The consultation process is expected to take place in the autumn of 2016 while the beginning of the parliamentary consultation period is planned for the middle of 2017.
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Transatlantic EU-USA Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP): continuing uncertainties
It is possible, though not probable, that the TTIP free trade agreement between the EU and the USA will be concluded this year. The USA still regards the EU's offer of access to the markets in the areas of agriculture and services as insufficient. Conversely, the EU is still looking for progress in the areas of public procurement, indications regarding origin and maritime shipping. The British decision regarding Brexit weakens the prospects of a conclusion to an even greater extent. If a conclusion has not been reached by the end of this year, we might have to take a postponement of several years into account. scienceindustries is following these negotiations closely; a continuously updated working paper demonstrates the potential effects upon Switzerland of any conclusion to the TTIP.
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New and simple explanation of genes and genetic engineering at SimplyScience.ch
The Gene ABC on SimplyScience.ch invites the visitor to travel on a journey through the world of genes and genetic engineering. The website uses easy-to-follow animations to explain what is meant by genes, where they are located, how they lead to the formation of proteins and how parents can pass characteristics on to their children. It also explains what is meant by genetic engineering, how it is used in medicine and what is meant by genetically modified plants. Gene ABC was created by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and will be continued by the SimplyScience Foundation from now on.
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Peter Gehler, Christoph Goppelsroeder and Richard Ridinger elected as new board members of scienceindustries
The 134th General Assembly of scienceindustries took place at Roche Diagnostics International AG in Rotkreuz on 17th June 2016. Peter A. Gehler, Board Member at Siegfried AG, Christoph Goppelsroeder, President & CEO, DSM Nutritional Products and Richard Ridinger, CEO at Lonza AG, were elected to the Board of scienceindustries.
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Would you like to know more about our standpoints, or ask any questions? Please follow us on Twitter or contact our subject specialists at scienceindustries.
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sig. Dr. Beat Moser
Direktor |
sig. Marcel Sennhauser
Leiter Kommunikation |
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