Swiss Center for Design and Health

What Swiss Center for Design and Health does

The Swiss Center for Design and Health (SCDH) is a public-private partnership headquartered in Nidau near Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, founded in 2019 as the country's only technology competence center for design research in healthcare. It employs 29 staff (22.2 full-time equivalents) and operates the largest 1:1 healthcare design simulation platform in Switzerland: a 560 m² simulation area where floor plans are projected onto the floor with mock-up walls and furnishings; 330 m² of multi-sensory testing spaces replicating materials, lighting, and acoustic conditions; a 49 m² test operating room meeting modern hospital standards; and approximately 1,000 m² of interdisciplinary production workshops spanning metals, wood, textiles, digital media, printing, and synthetics. The portfolio also includes the Material-Kollektion, a curated digital-physical repository of healthcare-grade materials linked to scientific publications. SCDH provides qualitative and quantitative needs analyses, evidence-based consulting, full-scale prototype and workflow testing, continuing education (including CAS programs and 'Lab of Horrors' workshops), and facility rental to hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics, home-care operators, planners, public authorities, and universities.

The organization's value proposition targets the high cost of late-stage planning errors in healthcare construction, offering pre-build validation that is claimed to increase patient safety, optimize clinical workflows, and improve well-being. Revenue is generated across six streams: consulting, research collaborations, simulation and testing services, professional development, facility rental, and multi-year public funding from the Swiss Confederation and Canton of Bern. Governance combines a Board of Directors, a Transfer Board, and an International Advisory Board, and ownership is held by a consortium including Berner Fachhochschule, Universität Bern, Insel Gruppe AG, Visana AG, Girsberger Holding AG, LerNetz AG, and komform GmbH. SCDH has a stated 2030 financial self-sufficiency target, after which public funding is intended to phase down. Named customers include Spitalzentrum Biel, Spital Bülach, Inselspital Bern, Rehaklinik Hasliberg, Roche Diagnostics, Berner Fachhochschule, and Johner Institut, alongside social-sector engagements with foundations such as Stiftung Dessaules, Humanitas Stiftung, and Claire & George Fondation.

The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting Swiss healthcare institutions, planners, and public authorities, supported by symposiums, public facility tours (Besuchsfenster), and a multi-channel presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, and a regular newsletter. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to individual projects, with multi-year contract cadences common for research collaborations; no standard pricing is publicly disclosed. Marketing reach is reinforced by 2025 placements in Monocle, Hochparterre, SRF national television, and two Swiss industry awards.

Name

Swiss Center for Design and Health

Legal name

Swiss Center for Design and Health AG

Website

https://scdh.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Swiss Center for Design and Health (SCDH) is a Swiss public-private partnership that researches, tests, and advises on how architectural and interior design improves health outcomes. Founded in 2019 in Nidau, it operates the country's largest 1:1 Living Lab for healthcare design validation, serving hospitals, planners, and public authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Design Research & Consulting

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Building Inspection Services (54135), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAIAA

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

SECONDARYBPABACAJ

Testing, Adjusting & Balancing (TAB) & Performance Verification

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Building Engineering & Technical Maintenance (MEP/HVAC)

SECONDARYEDAEABAO

Commissioning, Testing & Closeout Services (Cx, TAB, Punchlist)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/School Construction, Renovation & Fit-Out Services

Keywords

• Healthcare design research
• Simulation-based testing
• Evidence-based design
• Living lab healthcare
• Design health consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Nidau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Analysis, consulting, and advisory services for healthcare facilities, planners, and public authorities on design and health matters
2. Research Collaborations: Funded research projects in partnership with universities, healthcare institutions, and industry partners
3. Testing and Simulation Services: Full-scale 1:1 simulation testing of design concepts, spatial configurations, and processes in Living Lab facilities
4. Professional Development: Training programs, workshops, and continuing education offerings for healthcare and design professionals
5. Facility Rental: Rental of Living Lab spaces, workshops, and event venues to external parties
6. Public Funding: Sustained funding from Swiss Confederation (Bund), Canton of Bern, and private partners until 2030 self-sufficiency target

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Swiss Center for Design and Health (SCDH) provides evidence-based design research, analysis, consulting, 1:1 full-scale simulation testing, and professional development services for healthcare facilities and public buildings. It operates Switzerland's only Living Lab of its kind, comprising a 560 m² simulation area, 330 m² of testing spaces, a 49 m² test operating room, ~1,000 m² of workshops, and the Material-Kollektion materials database, enabling healthcare institutions, planners, architects, and public authorities to validate design concepts, materials, and workflows before construction.

Product overview

The Swiss Center for Design and Health (SCDH) is Switzerland's only technology competence center for design research in healthcare, established in 2019 as a public-private partnership. The organization offers an integrated portfolio centered on its Living Lab infrastructure—featuring a 560 m² simulation area, 330 m² testing spaces, a 49 m² test operating room, and 1,000 m² of workshops—which enables full-scale (1:1) testing and evaluation of design concepts. Complementing the physical infrastructure is the Material-Kollektion (Materials Collection), a digital and physical resource of materials curated for healthcare facilities. Service offerings span analysis, consulting, testing, professional development, and rental/hosting services. The center focuses on human-centered, evidence-based, participative, and iterative design approaches to improve health outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Material-Kollektion: Digital and physical materials collection for healthcare facilities and public buildings
• Living Lab

Products and services

• Living Lab Research and testing environment combining a 560 m² simulation area, 330 m² testing spaces, a 49 m² test operating room, and approximately 1,000 m² of workshops, enabling full-scale (1:1) testing and evaluation of design concepts for healthcare facilities and public buildings.
• Material-Kollektion Digital and physical collection of materials curated for healthcare facilities and public buildings, providing standardized data sheets, photographic material, physical samples, and linkages to reference structures and research publications.
• Analysis Services Qualitative and quantitative analysis of current states, needs analyses, and impact assessments using established research methods to understand user needs and create a foundation for effective, sustainable healthcare design solutions.
• Consulting Services Expert advisory services providing guidance to planners, designers, and decision-makers during the selection and evaluation of materials and design solutions for healthcare facilities and public buildings.
• Testing Services Full-scale prototype testing and simulation of materials and spatial configurations in realistic environments, enabling validation of products, processes, and workflows before implementation.
• Professional Development (Weiterbildung) Educational programs, workshops, and continuing-education courses (including CAS programs) focused on design and health, such as hospital design, care delivery, medication safety, and evidence-based color design.
• Rental and Hosting Services Rental of SCDH facilities in Nidau — including simulation areas, testing spaces, workshops, and conference rooms — for events, workshops, seminars, and conferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost savings through early error detection in building planning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder and key academic partner contributing research expertise, students, and interdisciplinary collaboration in design and health research
• Universität BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareholder and academic research partner providing scientific expertise and research collaboration in health and social sciences
• Insel Gruppe AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Swiss hospital group and shareholder providing healthcare expertise, research collaboration, and practical application context for design research
• Visana AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss health insurance company and shareholder contributing industry perspective and healthcare market access
• Girsberger Holding AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurniture manufacturer and shareholder contributing material expertise and production capabilities for healthcare environments
• LerNetz AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome care service provider and shareholder contributing Care@home expertise and research collaboration on home-based care models
• komform GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign and furniture company and shareholder contributing expertise in age-appropriate design and public space solutions
• Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation park partner providing ecosystem connections and collaborative opportunities for innovation in healthcare design
• Stiftung Patientensicherheit Schweiz (Swiss Patient Safety Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NIP-MedS (National Implementation Programme for Medication Safety) focusing on safe medication handling
• Johner InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffering partner providing expertise in medical device usability verification and regulatory compliance
• BRIDGEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch funding mechanism partner supporting innovation projects including kwer universal plate set development
• MEDIN Biel/BienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional healthcare network partner collaborating on outpatient clinic simulation projects
• Claire & George FondationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit foundation focused on barrier-free travel collaborating on accessible booking process development
• IKEA SwitzerlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail partner collaborating on asylum center living environment improvements under sustainability strategy

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HDR Architecture: Major global architecture and engineering firm with a dedicated healthcare practice that designs hospitals and clinical environments. Comparable as a healthcare facility design consultancy with similar end-customer base, though without SCDH's research and simulation testing specialization.
• NBBJ: Global architecture and design firm with a leading healthcare practice designing hospitals and research facilities worldwide. Comparable in delivering design and planning services for healthcare institutions, though at much larger project scale and without SCDH's research-first positioning.
• Stantec: Global design and engineering consultancy with substantial healthcare and buildings practices providing planning, design, and consulting services for hospitals and health facilities. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary consulting peer in the healthcare built environment space.
• Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with a major healthcare buildings practice that advises on hospital design, planning, and operational efficiency. Comparable to SCDH in providing technical consulting for healthcare facilities but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• EYP Architecture & Engineering: Architecture and engineering firm specializing in healthcare, higher education, and science facilities design. Provides planning and design consulting services for hospitals and is a comparable healthcare-focused design consultancy with similar end-customer base.

Others

• Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation: Innovation arm of Mayo Clinic that uses simulation, prototyping, and human-centered design to reimagine healthcare delivery and environments. Operates a comparable Living Lab-style approach but is internal to a single health system rather than a standalone service provider.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): US-based nonprofit that drives healthcare improvement through research, training, and consulting on care delivery and patient safety. Overlaps with SCDH on the evidence-based improvement of healthcare environments and processes, but operates more broadly across clinical and operational improvement.
• Salenstein-based Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (ecosystem partner): Innovation park partner where SCDH is physically located and a strategic shareholder. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem enabler for Swiss health-tech and design innovation rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Fraunhofer IAO: German applied research institute studying work and living environments with Living Lab-style test infrastructure. Operates with a similar public-funded research-to-applied-consulting model and provides comparable infrastructure-based research services in adjacent domains.

Direct peers

• The Center for Health Design: US-based nonprofit that conducts research and provides tools (including the Pebble Project) to advance evidence-based design of healthcare facilities. The most direct international peer to SCDH, with similar mission of linking research to healthcare design practice through consulting and toolkits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@design_for_health
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swiss-center-for-design-and-health
• Instagraminstagram.com/design_and_health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Center for Design and Health