OCEI (Cantonal Office for Economy and Innovation) supports entrepreneurs. It guides them through the administrative procedures and facilitates contact with local service providers, from financing and setting up a business to innovation. OCEI has published a practical guide "Doing business in Geneva", which is available to anyone looking for information on setting up, running or transferring a business in the canton of Geneva.
Financing
Geneva has various bodies that support businesses in the different stages of their development, from creation to expansion. The primary objective is to promote the growth of the canton’s SMEs, by favouring a strong, diversified economy that provides jobs and creates economic value. Geneva's banks have an excellent reputation for the quality of their services and the State of Geneva guarantees bank loans through the FAE (Fondation d'aide aux entreprises).
Installation
The cantonal authorities facilitate business set-up and the arrival of foreign citizens in Geneva. The International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI) provides targeted support for international organisations, NGOs, and their staff.
Innovation
Geneva makes a substantial contribution to Switzerland's top ranking in the Global Innovation Index, as set by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Driven by the presence of several leading research institutions, such as the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), the Biotech Campus and the University of Geneva, the canton has made innovation a key priority. Several organisations (Fongit, GENiLEM, Fondetec, Unitec, etc.) offer support and render this ambition possible.
Young business
The innovation support network in Geneva is extremely diverse and promotes the emergence of high-potential start-ups (BioTech, MedTech, FinTech, digital security, robotics, and more). Several organisations, such as the Geneva Foundation for Technological Innovation (Fongit), the Office for the Promotion of Industries and Technologies (OPI), GENiLEM, and Pulse are available to guide and support innovative projects.
Professional events
Based in the heart of Europe, Geneva is a major knowledge hub, bringing together specialists from key sectors: finance, medicine, diplomacy, and more. Equipped with innovative infrastructure, the canton attracts thousands of people every year to attend conferences and congresses. With an impressive hotel and catering capacity, Geneva is the ideal destination for organising international events.
Education & training
Geneva invests heavily in the training of local talent. The public school system offers high quality education and excellent cultural integration. The canton also has more than 45 private schools and the highest number of international school places per capita in Europe. But it also offers an impressive network of higher education institutions in the Lake Geneva region, renowned throughout the world for the quality of their teaching and recognition of their degrees.
Travel
Ideally located, Geneva is close to most European capitals. Geneva International Airport offers direct flights to more than 140 destinations and can be reached in just seven minutes by train from the central station. The city also benefits from a developed rail network, connecting it to the main cities of Europe. Public transport is free for all visitors staying in a Geneva hotel.
Contact
OCEI is available to help discover Geneva's economic ecosystem and ease the first contact. Please use the contact form below.
