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THE TAXATION OF START-UPS IN THE CANTON OF VAUD

Overall, Switzerland offers a competitive tax environment for innovation. While the framework conditions have been revised in favour of start-ups in recent years, the potential for improving tax policy remains significant.

When we look at the framework conditions of an innovation ecosystem, and in particular for start-ups, taxation is certainly only one piece of the puzzle. But it is an important piece for start-ups themselves and their employees, and also for entrepreneurs and investors. Indeed, the tax authorities impose a tax on a young company by tax on the company's profits and capital, as well as on its investors and executive shareholders in respect of income and wealth tax.

FAVOURABLE FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS, BUT WHICH MUST BE PRESERVED

In addition to the resources that enable innovation projects to emerge - quality of research, skills, exchanges, capital - and the targeted measures to foster them, framework conditions are another decisive element for the vitality of an innovation ecosystem. If the canton of Vaud and Switzerland are well positioned, certain points could be improved.

STOCKHOLM, AN ECOSYSTEM FOCUSED ON DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Switzerland can claim to be an innovation hub in Europe. However, it is outspaced by Sweden in this area, a country that is comparable to ours in many respects. Zoom in on some tracks explaining this delay.

INTERVIEW: RICO BALDEGGER

"We need to build critical mass"

Rico Baldegger, Director and Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the HEG Fribourg, advocates more interconnections between Swiss ecosystems and the expansion of support for "low tech". He also advocates support for "impact investment".

LEGAL DEFINITION OF START-UP

In Swiss law and, in particular, in tax law, there is no definition of start-up. The Federal Council considers that defining young innovative companies for tax purposes poses major delimitation problems and therefore does not see the need for a legal definition.

VIDEO TESTIMONIALS

Nicolas Durand, co-founder and CEO of Abionic, and Déborah Heintze, co-founder and COO of Lunaphore, talk about taxation and fear of risk.