The MEM industries include companies from the mechanical and metal engineering industries, metalworking, electrical engineering and electronics, and the precision instruments segment. Moreover, companies in the fields of sensor technology, photonics, robotics and additive manufacturing also form part of the MEM industries.

Many Swiss MEM companies rank among the world’s leading providers of technologically advanced products and services. With their solutions, they create added value in economic sectors as varied as energy generation and transmission, transport, food production, medical and building technology, and security.

Geared to the world market

The MEM industries account for almost a third of Switzerland’s total goods exports, with a value of CHF 69.7 billion (2018). The EU is the MEM industries’ most important sales market by far, accounting for 60 percent of all exports, followed by Asia (19%) and the USA (13%).

With exports accounting for almost 80 percent of their output, the MEM industries are highly export-oriented. The fact that the Swiss MEM companies employ over 500,000 people outside of Switzerland is another indication of their close intertwinement with the world economy.