- The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, visited the Novartis headquarters in Basel - one of the key global centres of pharmaceutical innovation - as part of her two-day visit to Switzerland.
- Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of development, innovation and advanced technologies, as well as the role of Slovenia as an important European hub for the innovative pharmaceutical industry.
- During the visit, the President and her delegation toured the Novartis Pavilion and met with Slovenian employees working at the Basel headquarters, highlighting the important role of Slovenian expertise and talent in the company’s global operations.
Basel, 29 May 2026 – The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, visited Novartis in Basel together with her delegation, where she held discussions with company leadership on the future of healthcare innovation, Slovenia’s role in global knowledge value chains, and the importance of a competitive European environment that supports faster development and implementation of innovations in the life sciences.
At the Novartis campus, the President was welcomed by Giovanni Caforio, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Steffen Lang, President of Operations, and other company representatives. The discussions focused on key challenges and opportunities in research, advanced technologies, and the development of increasingly complex therapies, as well as on establishing conditions that enable their rapid adoption in practice. The importance of strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry was also highlighted.
The visit reaffirmed Slovenia’s strategic role as an important partner in Novartis’ global research, development and manufacturing network. With more than 4,300 employees in Slovenia, the company makes a significant contribution to the development and production of innovative medicines, while also strengthening scientific excellence and creating high value-added jobs.
Particular emphasis was placed on long-term investments in research and development, the creation of a stable and predictable environment for innovation, and the development of talent. The importance of ensuring fast patient access to innovative therapies as a key element of modern healthcare systems was also underlined.
Novartis representatives also reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Slovenia as a key partner in the development of innovation, advanced manufacturing and sustainable solutions for patients worldwide.