Vaud International Business Award
The strength of the canton of Vaud lies widely in the diversity of its economy, which has earned recognition far beyond the cantonal and national boundaries. In order to reward companies that have contributed to the image and international reputation of the canton of Vaud, the Department of Economy, Innovation Employment and Heritage (DEIEP), the Vaud Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CVCI) and Innovaud have set up the Vaud International Business Award.
The purpose of this award is to highlight the contribution of international companies, the diversification they bring and their positive impact on our economy.
Three distinct prizes are awarded:
- Category "Foreign company": foreign international company based in the canton of Vaud
- Category "Swiss company": Swiss exporting company
- Category "Jury's special prize": additional organization that the jury wishes to reward
The organisation of the Prize is coordinated by International Link, the CVCI's service dedicated to international entities.
Winners 2023
Winners 2023
The winners 2023 are...
Aurélien Demaurex, Board Member, Innovaud - Joseph Castellet, General Manager, POMOCA - Jonathan Brossard, CEO, Conextivity - Aurélien Uldry, Senior Finance Director and Nyon Campus Lead, Haleon - Isabelle Moret, State Councillor, Head of the Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment and Heritage (DEIEP) - Philippe Miauton, Director, Vaud Chamber of commerce and industry
Category "Foreign Company"
HALEON
A former division of GSK, founded in 1917, Haleon was spun off as a separate entity in 2022. Today, 1’100 employees from 50 countries work at the Nyon Prangins site. 300 million units of over-the-counter drugs are produced there each year, among which brands like Voltaren and Otrivin.
Category «Swiss Company»
FISCHER CONNECTORS
A family business founded in 1954, Fischer Connectors provides high-performance connectivity solutions. Today, it is part of the Conextivity group along with Wearin’, the group’s other brand. Globally, Conextivity has 700 employees and 6 production sites, among which 320 in Saint-Prex.
Jury's Special Prize
POMOCA
Present in Denges for nearly 90 years, POMOCA is an expert in self-adhesive ski-touring skins. With some 40 employees in the canton of Vaud, its products are distributed in 35 countries, covering 1/3 of the market worldwide. The opening of a brand new production plant will take place in Chavornay in April 2024.
The three companies featured in the video below, based in the canton of Vaud, are regular partners of the prize-winners. They reflect the ongoing collaboration between SME and international entities.
Jury for the 2024 PVEI
Jury for the 2024 PVEI
 | CARMELO LAGANÀ Secretary General, Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment and Heritage (DEIEP) |
 | FRANÇOIS PUGLIESE President, Vaud Chamber of commerce and industry |
 | RÉMI WALBAUM President, Innovaud |
 | ALAIN SCHATT Alain Schatt, Professor, Faculty of business an economics (HEC), University of Lausanne |
 | BENOIT LELEUX Stephan Schmidheiny Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, IMD |
 | AURÉLIEN ULDRY Senior Finance Director and Campus Lead, Haleon |
 | JÉRÔME DABONNEVILLE Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Conextivity Group |
 | JOSEP CASTELLET CEO, POMOCA |
Partners
Partners
Many thanks to our partners for their contribution to the success of the
Vaud International Business Award.
With the support of
Partners
With over 150 beds, the Clinique de La Source is the biggest private institution offering acute multidisciplinary care (Surgery – Medicine – Maternity) in the canton of Vaud.
The BCV (Banque Cantonale Vaudoise) has been the bank for Vaud residents since 1845. It is the leading bank in the canton, serving both individuals and businesses. It contributes to the development of all sectors of the Vaud economy. As a responsible institution, it is committed to the sustainable development of society.
Retraites Populaires offers individuals, businesses, and institutions a platform of expertise and comprehensive know-how. Specializing in 2nd and 3rd pillar (state and occupational pension), it is also an expert in real estate, loans, and the management of pension institutions.
The Vaud winemakers have gathered under the emblem of the Snail to promote the quality and craftsmanship of their wines. Currently, dozens of Vaud producers offer their Snail-branded wine, available in two ranges (Red and Gold), a Vaud wine that combines tradition and innovation.
Media Partner
In the ever-changing environment that is the canton of Vaud, "24 heures" brings local knowledge to the fore. Through a variety of voices, the newspaper offers complete news coverage as well as an extended dialogue with their readership.
Would your company like to contribute to the promotion and success of the Vaud International Business Award? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Communication
Communication
The Vaud International Business Awards announces three winners
PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne, 20 November 2024 – The winners of this year’s Vaud International Business Awards, now in their 11th year, are SWISSto12, a pioneer in satellite communications technologies, Hublot, a Swiss watchmaker that blends innovation with tradition, and Swiss Medical Network, one of Switzerland’s two leading private groups of clinics and hospitals. The awards, designed to showcase three thriving local businesses that have also made a name for themselves internationally, are handed out jointly every year by the Vaud Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment and Heritage (DEIEP), the Vaud Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CVCI) and Innovaud. This year’s awards ceremony took place at IMD in Lausanne, with some 300 people attending.
SWISSto12 was the selection panel’s pick in the Innovation category. The company, founded in 2011 as an EPFL spin-off, is a leading manufacturer of telecommunications satellites and advanced radio-frequency components. After starting out as a producer of 3D-printed parts for communications systems, the firm branched out into manufacturing entire satellites for some of the biggest names in the industry.
The winner in the Industry category was Hublot, a Swiss watchmaker founded in 1980. The company’s first piece combined a rubber strap with a gold, sporty case inspired by the shape of a ship’s porthole (“hublot” in French). This union of materials – the “Art of Fusion” – represents the brand’s aesthetic and technical signature. Hublot’s watches embody time-served expertise, blending characteristic materials such as Magic Gold, sapphire and vibrant ceramics.
The Special Jury Award went to Swiss Medical Network (SMN), which provides the full spectrum of medical care at both listed and contractual hospitals. SMN employs around 2,300 doctors and 4,100 support staff at 21 clinics and hospitals, as well as at over 60 outpatient centres, with a network spanning 15 cantons across all language regions of Switzerland. SMN is an 80% subsidiary of AEVIS Victoria SA, which opened the new Innovation Hub in Genolier in 2024.
Awarding local businesses in three categories
The Vaud International Business Awards, which are handed out every fall, were introduced in 2014 to recognise companies that have their headquarters in Vaud and have successfully expanded internationally. The awards showcase companies that play a role in boosting Vaud’s image and diversifying the canton’s economy. This year’s Innovation award was handed out to a company with an innovative product or business model. The Industry award went to a company that produces goods or services in Vaud. And finally, the Special Jury Award was reserved for a company that particularly impressed the selection panel.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV), which sponsored the event, and 24 heures, which provided press coverage for the awards.
