Inside Genolier Innovation Hub with Anna Gräbner: Bridging Research and Real-World Care
As we count down to Tech Tour Growth Health 2025 in Lausanne, we’re highlighting the trailblazing partners helping to bring this flagship event to life.
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Anna Gräbner, CEO of Genolier Innovation Hub, one of this year’s proud co-hosts and a driving force in Switzerland’s Health Valley. Known for its role in bridging the gap between research and clinical care, the Hub is home to a unique ecosystem where startups, researchers, clinicians, and medtech leaders work side-by-side to accelerate real-world impact.
Read on to discover how Genolier is creating a launchpad for the next generation of healthtech innovation — and what they’re excited to share during Tech Tour Growth Health 2025.
TT: The Genolier Innovation Hub is known for bridging the gap between research and clinical application. Would you share with us more about your organization's mission and activities?
AG: At the Genolier Innovation Hub, our mission is to accelerate healthcare innovation by facilitating the seamless transition from fundamental research to clinical practice. We provide a dynamic ecosystem where physicians, researchers, startups, and industry leaders collaborate to develop and implement groundbreaking medical solutions. Our activities encompass translational research, development of new medical technologies, and offering educational opportunities, all aimed at enhancing patient care and outcomes.
TT: Your ecosystem brings together startups, hospitals, academic institutions, and global medtech players. How does this multidisciplinary approach accelerate innovation and benefit patient outcomes?
AG: By fostering strategic interactions among diverse healthcare stakeholders, we create a synergistic environment that accelerates the development and implementation of innovative solutions. This multidisciplinary collaboration ensures that scientific discoveries are rapidly translated into practical applications, bridging the gap between research and real-world clinical settings. As a result, patients benefit from timely access to advanced treatments and technologies, ultimately improving healthcare delivery and outcomes.
TT: Can you share some examples of how the Hub has supported the journey of a healthtech startup — from development to real-world implementation?
AG: While specific collaborations are subject to confidentiality agreements, I can share that the Genolier Innovation Hub has successfully partnered with healthtech startups by providing access to state-of-the-art facilities, mentorship from industry experts, and opportunities for clinical validation within our network. For instance, startups focusing on digital therapeutics have utilized our technical platforms, including surgical rooms and radiotherapy bunkers, to test and refine their technologies, facilitating a smoother transition from prototype to patient care.
TT: As a co-host partner of Tech Tour Growth Health, what are you most excited to showcase during the 2025 edition in Lausanne?
AG: We are thrilled to co-host the Tech Tour Growth Health 2025 and look forward to showcasing our cutting-edge facilities, including our immersive 300-seat auditorium equipped with a 270-degree LED screen, designed to host high-level conferences and presentations. We can also highlight concrete examples of collaborations with industry partners such as GE Healthcare and Accuray, who benefit from the installation of a state-of-the-art technological and medical platform within the Genolier Innovation Hub. This environment is used for training, research, and real-world clinical treatment – fully demonstrating the strength and impact of our integrated ecosystem.
TT: The Genolier Innovation Hub sits at the intersection of technology and care. How are emerging trends like AI, digital therapeutics, or personalized medicine being integrated or supported within your ecosystem?
AG: At the Genolier Innovation Hub, we actively support the integration of emerging trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital therapeutics, and personalized medicine by providing a collaborative platform for innovators in these fields. Our partnerships with leading medtech companies and academic institutions enable us to facilitate research and development in these areas, ensuring that novel technologies are effectively translated into clinical practice to enhance patient care.
TT: Your location in the heart of Switzerland’s Health Valley offers more than just stunning views. How does being based here enhance your ability to connect innovators, investors, and clinicians from across Europe and beyond?
AG: Situated between Geneva and Lausanne, in the heart of Switzerland’s Health Valley, our location provides strategic advantages by placing us at a crossroads of European markets and in proximity to numerous international health and research organizations. This geographical positioning facilitates easy access for innovators, investors, and clinicians, fostering collaborations that transcend borders and drive forward global healthcare advancements.
On top of that, I would like to add that we are committed to continuing our efforts in bridging the gap between research and clinical application, ensuring that innovative healthcare solutions reach patients efficiently and effectively.
Our thanks to Anna Gräbner for sharing the Genolier Innovation Hub’s powerful vision — and for offering a glimpse into how real-world collaboration can accelerate the future of healthcare.
As a co-host of Tech Tour Growth Health 2025, Genolier Innovation Hub perfectly reflects the event’s mission: connecting science with clinical practice, enabling high-value partnerships, and accelerating innovation that directly benefits patients.
We look forward to seeing you in Lausanne on 2–3 July, where conversations like this will spark new ideas, new alliances, and new breakthroughs in European healthtech.
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