Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Avenue de la Gare 2
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 889 68 20
+41 32 889 68 23
neco@ne.ch
neuchatelinvest.com
Department of Economic Affairs
Service of the Economy
Office for Economic Promotion
Avenue de la Gare 2
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 889 68 20
+41 32 889 68 23
neco@ne.ch
neuchatelinvest.com
03
Located in the heart of Europe, Switzer- Useful links Discover Switzerland with Europe, thanks to bilateral agreements
→ www.myswitzerland.com Switzerland boasts a quality of life that is on the free movement of goods and people.
land is a multicultural country and one → www.ch.ch among the highest in the world, thanks to its
→ www.admin.ch dynamic economy, coupled with political, social Nestling between lakes and mountains,
of the oldest democracies in the world. and financial stability. For many years it has Switzerland doesn’t just offer sumptuous
ranked among the top most innovative coun- countryside and a protected natural environ-
The country is very attached to its neu- tries. Its higher education institutions and ment, but also large urban centres that are
health system enjoy international repute and hubs for international business: a perfect place
tral status, nurtures a long humanitarian the crime rate is very low. Switzerland is a to combine work and leisure.
byword for security in all forms. Health, food,
tradition and is home to numerous NGO IT, building or infrastructure security, Swiss To choose Switzerland is to benefit from all
norms are very strict and are often higher than the advantages of a country that is resolutely
organisations. those in force in the European Union. anchored in time: a rare quality of life, a fabulous
setting for families, attractive tax rates both
Modern, and open to the world, the country en- for individuals and companies, modern, high-
Brief history of Switzerland joys many international relations. Switzerland is performance infrastructures, several convenient
not a member of the European Union, yet still international airports and one of the densest rail
– Founded: 1291 benefits from all the advantages of free trade networks in the world.
– Capital: Bern
Move to an enchanted setting where Useful links Medical care resulting from an accident is covered by your employer’s insurance. However, you
→ www.h-ne.ch must take out health insurance for you and your family, as well as accident insurance for your
life is good → www.hopital-providence.ch spouse and children. You can select your own healthcare insurance provider: prices vary according
→ www.clinique-tour.ch to different criteria such as age, sex, canton of residence or the amount of the annual initial
→ www.clinique-montbrillant.ch deductible fee, known as the “franchise”.
Useful link For accommodation, you can choose between houses and apartments of medieval or contem- → www.migesplus.ch
→ www.ne.ch porary design that harmoniously blends into well-preserved surroundings. Many properties are The benefits of mandatory basic coverage, known as “LaMal”, are governed by Swiss law, and
located in leafy green areas whilst still being close to urban centres; many more have unrestricted are exactly the same from one healthcare provider to another in order to ensure non-discrimina-
view of the lake, mountains or vineyards. Whether renting or owning, finding a home in the canton tory access to care, including access to specialists.
of Neuchâtel will prove both easier and much more affordable than in other regions of Switzerland
that enjoy a similar Riviera setting, such as Lake Geneva area or Zurich. If you wish to benefit from special health-related services, you can opt for additional optional
insurance, depending on the nature of healthcare that you are looking for: alternative medicine,
Tax and cost of living dental treatment, treatment in private clinic, etc. If you choose this type of additional insurance,
The attractiveness of life in Neuchâtel is enhanced by a relatively low cost of living compared you may need to complete a health questionnaire, which is not required for the basic LaMal
to the rest of Switzerland. You will benefit from a cantonal tax reform that is currently underway, coverage.
designed to reduce the burden on individuals, even though the current tax rates are still very
attractive compared to most European countries. Switzerland remains extremely appealing in A safe place to live
terms of taxation. Considered to be one of the safest countries in the world, Switzerland has particularly low crime
rates. This trend is even more marked in Neuchâtel compared to other Swiss cities. For example,
Personal tax is dependent on several factors, including canton and municipality of residence, a it is common to see high-ranking politicians unescorted in the city.
sliding scale factoring in taxable income, marital status, personal wealth, etc. Tax is calculated
based on net taxable income, after authorised deductions such as professional expenses, childcare Newcomers to Neuchâtel are particularly appreciative of this climate of trust and security, an
fees, transport, meals, loan interest, debt, optional third-pillar pension scheme, etc. Foreign environment especially appealing to families.
nationals employed in Switzerland are taxed at source. This means that your income tax is
deducted directly from your monthly salary, according to three different scales based on your
marital status.
Professional opportunities for spouses You can also look into other options. Registered child-minders (“maman du jour” or “papa
Thanks to the presence of multinationals in the canton and a dynamic economic landscape, there du jour”) are authorized to look after one or more children in their own homes, with restricted
are many professional opportunities available to spouses if they wish to work. If they are seeking numbers of children in their care. Their hours are often flexible and this type of day care is
to further their career, they can choose from one of the many courses available in a range of subsidized. You can also call upon private nannies – not subsidized – to take care of your children
areas. He or she can also call upon the many types of career support available in the canton. If in your home.
your husband or wife wishes to work as a freelancer or set up their own company, they will be
pleasantly surprised to find that the formalities for doing so are very straightforward.
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International schools
You can also opt to send your child to an international school. At the International School of
Neuchâtel, children aged from 3 – 12 follow a bilingual French-English syllabus via the “immersion”
method, i.e. with one teacher in French and another in English. Practical teaching is inspired by
the Montessori method and is aimed both at children wishing to follow the Swiss curriculum and
those who, later on, wish to follow a curriculum in English. The International School of Neuchâ-
tel has approximately 140 children from 25 nationalities. There is a school for children aged 3 to
6, and a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 12. A bilingual structure (French/English) for children
aged from 12 to 16 (international secondary school level), is to be put in place soon.
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a Master’s degree, unique to Switzerland, is Just one hour from Neuchâtel city, l’École Spread across three sites in the canton of
available in international tax law: the “Exec- Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Neuchâtel, the Haute Ecole Arc offers train-
utive Master in International Taxation’, with is one of the most renowned technical univer- ing in four disciplines: engineering, manage-
classes given in English by Swiss and interna- sities in the world. It is home to some 8,000 ment, conservation-restoration and health.
tional experts. Located on two sites – in Neu- students, professors and partners from 120 The Haute Ecole Pédagogique trains future
châtel and Lausanne – the Institut de Micro- nationalities within seven Faculties: Science teachers across all educational cycles and
technique de l’École Polytechnique Fédérale and Technology Engineering (STI), College the International School of Hotel Manage-
de Lausanne (IMT – EPFL) trains engineers of Management of Technology (CDM), Ar- ment Neuchâtel IHTTI offers different Bach-
and researchers in the domains of micro-and chitecture, Civil and Environmental Engineer- elor and MBA qualifications in Hotel manage-
nanotechnology, optics and robotics. It boasts ing (ENAC), Engineering Basic Sciences (SB), ment, hospitality, management and tourism.
17 laboratories with seven in Neuchâtel, in-
cluding: photovoltaics and thin film electronics; Professional development
sensors, actuators and microsystems; inte- More than 1,000 programmes of continuous learning and professional development are available
grated actuators; micro-systems for space in the canton. Neuchâtel University alone offers many courses linked to its various faculties,
Neuchâtel University (L’Université de Neu- technology; applied optics; and electron- whereas engineers and researchers can become specialized at the Swiss Foundation for
châtel) is home to five Faculties: humanities, ics and signal processing. At the end of 2013, Research in Microtechnology (FSRM). The industrial sector is also catered for, with numerous
science, law, economics and theology – and the opening of the new “Microcity’ campus options offered by the Centre for Professional Training of the canton of Neuchâtel (CEFNA), by
offers various Bachelor, Masters and PhD will allow the Institute to expand within Ne- the “Ecole Supèrieure” (ESNE) and by the specialized institutes of higher learning, known as
or doctorate level programmes. In addition, uchâtel, welcoming 10 to 12 Chairs of EPFL, Hautes Écoles Spécialisées (HES).
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Useful link Swiss Higher Learning diplomas recognised in 45 European countries A land of inspiration and pioneers
→ www.sbfi.admin.ch/ Your child’s diploma obtained at a Swiss university of institute of higher learning is recognised in the canton of Neuchâtel has borne witness to talents that changed their era and beyond, in fields
diploma no less than 45 countries, thanks to the Bologna Accord. This agreement seeks to harmonise as diverse as the arts, industry, philosophy, architecture or science.
higher education in Europe and facilitate mobility of students and researchers.
A small, non-exhaustive anthology of these key figures includes:
About the Bologna Accords
The aim of the Accord is to incorporate the curriculum of individual countries into a common Philippe Suchard (1797 - 1884)
framework that is based upon five key points: → Chocolatier - confectioner
– Education undertaken in two study cycles, including the Bachelor and Master
– Recognition of diplomas by the signatory countries Blaise Cendrars (1887 – 1961)
– Introduction of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) → Writer and poet
– The Diploma Supplement
– Collaboration and compatibility between higher education institutions to promote student mobility Jean William Fritz Piaget (1896 – 1980)
→ Psychologist, biologist, logician and epistemologist
The Bachelor diploma is the diploma awarded upon completion of undergraduate studies, or the
first cycle of studies. To achieve this, the student must earn at least 180 ECTS credits (dissertation Denis de Rougemont (1906 – 1985)
or thesis Bachelor included), equivalent to an average of 3 years’ full-time education, corre- → Writer and philosophy
sponding to the volume of work performed (1 credit = 25 to 30 hours).
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris dit Le Corbusier (1887 – 1965)
The Master’s diploma corresponds to the second cycle, which lasts about 1 ½ to 2 years, and → Architect and urban planner, known as the inventor of “dwelling unit”
requires 90 to 120 ECTS credits.
Louis Chevrolet (1878 – 1941)
The Diploma Supplement is linked to the Bachelor or Master’s degree. It is a dossier that → Founder of the automobile brand “Chevrolet”
describes the degree qualification and explains the nature, level, context, content and status of
the studies completed. Daniel JeanRichard (1665-1741)
→ Watchmaker, precursor of small volume horology
Recognition of foreign qualifications
If your child holds a qualification that does not fall within the framework of the Bologna Process, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747 - 1823)
he or she can learn more about whether their diploma is recognized in Switzerland – or not - by → Watchmaker and physician, inventor of the bracelet strap
contacting the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET/OFFT). If it is
not, they may be able to have their diploma recognised by the relevant body. Charles Édouard Guillaume (1861 - 1938)
→ Physician, winner of the Nobel Prize for physics in 1920
Department of Economic Affairs
Service of the Economy
NEUCHÂTEL
Office for Economic Promotion ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Avenue de la Gare 2
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 889 68 20
+41 32 889 68 23
neco@ne.ch
neuchatelinvest.com