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>> Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges .. From a Swiss person This is simply not true. I'm Swiss and working as a developer and

by Rochus 6y ago

>> Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges .. From a Swiss person This is simply not true. I'm Swiss and working as a developer and consultant in Switzerland since the nineties. I - as many others - was able to do several studies at a world-class university right on my doorstep without getting into debt. People are fair, hardworking, innovative and responsible. Switzerland has ideal conditions for companies and people looking for work. And it's a great place to live. Why do you think Google and others have large development departments in Switzerland? And it's also good for start-ups. Have a look at e.g. https://www.organisator.ch/die-100-besten-startups-der-schweiz-2020/ https://www.organisator.ch/die-100-besten-startups-der-schwe... and https://www.top100startups.swiss/index.cfm?page=136340&cfid=407903024&cftoken=c257d6e2e698cba3-6DEF22F5-F482-4E24-240E27A83C801E68& https://www.top100startups.swiss/index.cfm?page=136340&cfid=.... Also see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swiss_companies_by_revenue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swiss_companies_by_rev....

Rochus 6y ago
Just came accross the 2019 Global Innovation Index report: https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2019.pdf https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2019.pdf The ranking on page xxxiv says: 1. Switzerland 2. Sweden 3. United States of America 4. Netherlands 5. United Kingdom 6. Finland 7. Denmark 8. Singapore 9. Germany ... so not too bad after all. This "is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation. It is published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, in partnership with other organisations and institutions,[1]:333 and is based on both subjective and objective data derived from several sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum" (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index).
- eps 6y ago
  This is not necessarily because Switzerland is high-tech friendly. There is an absolutely massive pharma industry in the country. Lots of innovation comes from there.
  - Rochus 6y ago
    And you really don't think pharma qualifies as high-tech? Check e.g. for the OECD definition.
    - disown 6y ago
      We are talking about Silicon Valley though. A specific kind of "high-tech". Regardless of what the OECD definition is, we are talking about computers/software/internet/etc.
      - Rochus 6y ago
        No, it's about whether Switzerland is "Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges". Maybe you know that life science is one of the big computer, software and internet users and contributors; a lot of ground breaking machine learning developments happens in life science today.
        disown 6y ago
        > No, it's about whether Switzerland is "Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges" "Switzerland – Europe's Silicon Valley for Developers..." > Maybe you know that life science is one of the big computer, software and internet users and contributors; a lot of ground breaking machine learning developments happens in life science today. Great. That's tech moving into life sciences, like tech is moving into every aspect of society. But that doesn't make life sciences a "tech field". The news industry is bringing in tech too. Doesn't make the news industry a tech field. But whatever I'm happy that tech is making inroads in switzerland.
        Rochus 6y ago
        You didn't read the article, did you? The original title is "Is Switzerland better than Silicon Valley for software developers?" and it is about the Swiss tech scene and the demand and attractiveness for developers. It e.g. says "according to The State of European Tech 2019 study, Switzerland is maintaining a steady pace to become European leading technology country." It then refers to the article "Here’s why Switzerland is a world innovation leader" (https://www.wearedevelopers.com/blog/heres-why-switzerland-is-a-world-innovation-leader https://www.wearedevelopers.com/blog/heres-why-switzerland-i...). > that doesn't make life sciences a "tech field" Where does all this wisdom come from?
thomasdullien 6y ago
(The reason Google has an office here is because Urs Hölzle studied at ETH at knew people here.)
- amf12 6y ago
  Not just studied; he is Swiss!
  - Tainnor 6y ago
    I mean, the name is kind of a giveaway ;)
- Rochus 6y ago
  He made his PhD at Stanford in the nineties and had a company with Bak and others in Palo Alto and still lives there. So no, I don't think that was the reason. And apparently Google values its Zurich location so much that it is constantly being expanded, see e.g. https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/15-jahre-in-der-schweiz-so-sieht-der-neue-google-hauptsitz-in-zuerich-aus-id15509450.html https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/15-jahre-in-der-schweiz-so-sieh.... So obviously it's not just an office.

by Rochus 6y ago

Rochus 6y ago

Just came accross the 2019 Global Innovation Index report: https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2019.pdf https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2019.pdf The ranking on page xxxiv says: 1. Switzerland 2. Sweden 3. United States of America 4. Netherlands 5. United Kingdom 6. Finland 7. Denmark 8. Singapore 9. Germany ... so not too bad after all. This "is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation. It is published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, in partnership with other organisations and institutions,[1]:333 and is based on both subjective and objective data derived from several sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum" (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index).

eps 6y ago
This is not necessarily because Switzerland is high-tech friendly. There is an absolutely massive pharma industry in the country. Lots of innovation comes from there.
- Rochus 6y ago
  And you really don't think pharma qualifies as high-tech? Check e.g. for the OECD definition.
  - disown 6y ago
    We are talking about Silicon Valley though. A specific kind of "high-tech". Regardless of what the OECD definition is, we are talking about computers/software/internet/etc.
    - Rochus 6y ago
      No, it's about whether Switzerland is "Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges". Maybe you know that life science is one of the big computer, software and internet users and contributors; a lot of ground breaking machine learning developments happens in life science today.
      - disown 6y ago
        > No, it's about whether Switzerland is "Not much for developers who are looking for interesting challenges" "Switzerland – Europe's Silicon Valley for Developers..." > Maybe you know that life science is one of the big computer, software and internet users and contributors; a lot of ground breaking machine learning developments happens in life science today. Great. That's tech moving into life sciences, like tech is moving into every aspect of society. But that doesn't make life sciences a "tech field". The news industry is bringing in tech too. Doesn't make the news industry a tech field. But whatever I'm happy that tech is making inroads in switzerland.
        Rochus 6y ago
        You didn't read the article, did you? The original title is "Is Switzerland better than Silicon Valley for software developers?" and it is about the Swiss tech scene and the demand and attractiveness for developers. It e.g. says "according to The State of European Tech 2019 study, Switzerland is maintaining a steady pace to become European leading technology country." It then refers to the article "Here’s why Switzerland is a world innovation leader" (https://www.wearedevelopers.com/blog/heres-why-switzerland-is-a-world-innovation-leader https://www.wearedevelopers.com/blog/heres-why-switzerland-i...). > that doesn't make life sciences a "tech field" Where does all this wisdom come from?

thomasdullien 6y ago

(The reason Google has an office here is because Urs Hölzle studied at ETH at knew people here.)

amf12 6y ago
Not just studied; he is Swiss!
- Tainnor 6y ago
  I mean, the name is kind of a giveaway ;)
Rochus 6y ago
He made his PhD at Stanford in the nineties and had a company with Bak and others in Palo Alto and still lives there. So no, I don't think that was the reason. And apparently Google values its Zurich location so much that it is constantly being expanded, see e.g. https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/15-jahre-in-der-schweiz-so-sieht-der-neue-google-hauptsitz-in-zuerich-aus-id15509450.html https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/15-jahre-in-der-schweiz-so-sieh.... So obviously it's not just an office.