Innovation and collaboration

Published on 12/09/2021

Dear Reader

I still vividly remember the inauguration of the former harbor crane Goliath on a warm summer evening in 2017. The event marked the symbolic start of the urban development project “Klybeckplus.”

Accompanied by the songs of the Stoertebekers sailors’ choir, the guests, many of whom are now working on the future of this Basel neighborhood, keenly discussed what Klybeck might look like one day. They were looking forward to the megaproject, which is designed to imbue the city with fresh cultural, economic and, above all, social ideas in years to come.

For more than a century, the predecessor companies of Novartis developed dyes and pharmaceuticals in Klybeck, which proved instrumental in transforming Basel into a prosperous industrial city and helping it become a leading international pharma hub. Innovation as well as collaboration with academia and with many local and international partners were the key business drivers from the beginning.

The focus on innovation and collaboration proved particularly important in the development of new therapies. Several medical milestones were achieved in Klybeck in hormone and pain therapy as well as cancer research. Biotechnology also took off here, not least thanks to the support of strong local and global partners.

Without these achievements, Novartis would not be what it is today: a leading international pharmaceutical company dedicated to scientific and medical innovation with the aim of helping as many people as possible to improve and extend their lives.

The fact that we sold the site, which spans an area equivalent to more than 40 football fields, to Rhystadt and Swiss Life in 2019 is not a sign that we are withdrawing from Basel or Switzerland. We are and will remain a Basel and Switzerland-based company. The divestment is more a consequence of urban development trends and the overall withdrawal of the industry from city areas.

We will continue to be present in Klybeck, especially with our biological research and development, which is playing an increasingly important role in the Novartis portfolio. As for the future development of the district, we will of course follow it closely from our headquarters in St. Johann, located on the opposite side of the Rhine.

The future of Klybeck belongs to the city and its citizens. Much like a century ago, when Alexander Clavel opened his dye works in Klybeck and laid the groundwork for a thriving industry, it is likely to be creative and bold people who will shape the neighborhood’s future.

No one knows today how Klybeck will evolve. Much in the same vein, 100 years ago, there was no sign that Basel would become one of the most important global centers for medical research and that the Klybeck site would be the birthplace of many scientific breakthroughs. Rather, it was a chain of coincidences, coupled with the arrival of talented entrepreneurs and curious researchers and a bit of luck that allowed the city to develop in this direction. This is likely to be the case in the future as well.

The redevelopment of Klybeck represents a huge opportunity for Basel. Residents, architects, urban planners and developers have been discussing the future design of the district for years. Even though there are still many questions to be answered, it is already clear that the intention is to develop the area in a sustainable fashion and tailored to people’s needs. The aim is to bring work and life closer together and create a city of short distances, as urban developer Lukas Ott envisages. If history can serve as a guide, innovation and collaboration are likely to be important values too and will shape the future of the district – in the same way they did in the past.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of live magazine, which focuses on the medical milestones in Klybeck, in addition to offering a glimpse into the neighborhood’s future. The Klybeck stories are also available as a podcast series in German, in which Basel radio legend Roger Thiriet accompanies you as narrator.

Matthias Leuenberger

Country President Novartis Switzerland

"Download Live. N°9 as PDF here!"