Swiss Chemical Society

What Swiss Chemical Society does

The Swiss Chemical Society (Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft, "SCS") is a Swiss professional membership association (Verein) founded in 1901 and headquartered at Marktgasse 32, Bern. It functions as the national umbrella organization for the Swiss chemistry community, serving individual members drawn from Swiss universities (ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Basel, University of Bern, University of Zurich, University of Geneva, University of Neuchâtel, and others) and from industrial chemists working at major Swiss pharmaceutical, chemical, and life-sciences employers. Its membership body is governed by a President (currently Christian Bochet, Professor at the University of Fribourg) with operational leadership provided by an Executive Director (David Spichiger) and a small staff of 1–10 employees. Administrative and HR support is provided by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).

SCS generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring individual membership dues, transaction-based event registration (conferences, symposia, courses, the Swiss Chemistry Science Night gala, and conferences such as the Bürgenstock Conference on Stereochemistry), recurring publication and journal subscriptions (CHIMIA and Helvetica Chimia Acta, the latter distributed via Wiley), and corporate sponsorship from approximately 21 named partners spanning pharma, agriscience, flavors & fragrances, specialty chemicals, instruments, and research technology. Pricing is unit-based and disclosed per event (e.g., CHF 900 senior / CHF 650 junior for the Carbon Quantum Magnetism conference; CHF 100 non-member / CHF 50 student for the SCS Spring Meeting 2027; CHF 250 per non-invitee Swiss Chemistry Science Night ticket). Member access to flagship events such as the Spring Meeting is free, indicating a volume-driven, community-engagement-oriented monetization strategy.

The society's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based: scientific publications (CHIMIA, Helvetica Chimia Acta), an awards program (Werner Prize, Sandmeyer Prize, Paracelsus Award, MatChem PhD Award, Distinguished Women in Chemistry Award), major annual conferences (Fall Meeting with 400+ expected posters, Spring Meeting, Bürgenstock Conference), the Ilmac trade fair (founding partner since 1959), continuing education courses (Swiss Course on Medicinal Chemistry, summer schools, AI/data science courses developed with the Swiss Data Science Center), and themed networking communities. SCS is the Swiss national member of IUPAC, EuChemS, and SATW, providing Switzerland's channel into international chemistry representation. There are no proprietary technology products, APIs, or software platforms; the digital footprint is limited to event registration, newsletter distribution (mySCS), and social presence on LinkedIn and X (@SwissChemistry).

Name

Swiss Chemical Society

Legal name

Swiss Chemical Society (Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft)

Website

https://scg.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swiss Chemical Society is a 125-year-old non-profit professional membership association headquartered in Bern that serves Swiss academic and industrial chemists through publications (CHIMIA, Helvetica), annual conferences, awards, education courses, and networking, supported by ~21 corporate sponsors and international affiliations with IUPAC and EuChemS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Chemistry Society

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Society & Association Publishing (EDAGAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), International/Transnational Accreditation & Recognition Bodies (EDADACAG)

Keywords

• Professional chemistry society
• Scientific publications
• Chemistry conferences
• Scientific awards program
• Chemistry education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Revenue from SCG membership fees for individuals joining the society
2. Event registration and participation fees: Revenue from conferences, congresses, courses, and symposia organized by the society
3. Publication and journal sales: Revenue from publishing activities including CHIMIA journal and other chemistry publications
4. Sponsorship and partner contributions: Funding from corporate partners and sponsors including pharmaceutical and chemical companies

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Swiss Chemical Society is a non-profit professional membership organization that serves Switzerland's chemistry community. It provides peer-reviewed scientific publications (CHIMIA and Helvetica Chimica Acta journals), organizes major conferences and symposia (Fall Meeting, Spring Meeting, Bürgenstock Conference on Stereochemistry, Ilmac trade fair), administers scientific awards programs recognizing chemistry research achievements, offers continuing education courses for chemistry professionals (including the Swiss Course on Medicinal Chemistry and summer schools), and maintains networking platforms connecting academic, government, and industrial chemists across Switzerland.

Product overview

The Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) operates as a professional membership organization rather than a traditional product company. It offers a portfolio of services including scientific publications (CHIMIA journal, Helvetica Chimica Acta), events management (conferences, symposia, education courses), an awards program, and networking platforms. Key products include the SCS Events Platform for event registration, the SCS Awards Program with multiple prizes (Werner Prize, Sandmeyer Prize, Paracelsus Award), Ilmac trade fair (Swiss fair for laboratory and automation technology since 1959), and education offerings including the Swiss Course on Medicinal Chemistry, summer schools, and AI/data science courses developed with the Swiss Data Science Center. The society also hosts major conferences including the annual Fall Meeting, Spring Meeting, and Bürgenstock Conference on Stereochemistry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCS Membership Annual individual membership program for chemists providing access to SCS events, publications, networking platforms, member benefits, and reduced registration fees. Available in senior and junior tiers.
• CHIMIA Peer-reviewed scientific journal covering chemistry research, published by the Swiss Chemical Society.
• Helvetica Chimica Acta Established peer-reviewed chemistry journal publishing original research in chemistry, published in collaboration with Wiley.
• SCS Fall Meeting One of the largest annual research conferences in Switzerland, offering award lectures, 400+ posters, and topical parallel sessions for chemistry researchers.
• SCS Spring Meeting One-day annual symposium providing a high-quality program with national and international speakers on specific chemistry topics. Free for SCS Members; CHF 100 for non-members (CHF 50 for students).
• SCS Bürgenstock Conference International chemistry conference of high scientific quality focused on stereochemistry, providing an optimal setting for interdisciplinary discussion among leading researchers.
• Swiss Chemistry Science Night Annual gala event celebrating discoveries and innovations in chemical sciences and recognizing outstanding achievements in chemistry.
• Ilmac Swiss trade fair for laboratory, measurement technology, and automation in chemistry, held since 1959. SCS is the initial founder and official organizer of the Ilmac Conference activities.
• Swiss Course on Medicinal Chemistry Five-day medicinal chemistry school focusing on small molecule drug discovery, methodologies, and technologies for hit generation, lead finding, and lead optimization.
• Swiss Summer School in Organic Chemistry Annual summer school providing comprehensive scientific and technological education in organic chemistry for students and junior researchers.
• Artificial Intelligence: From Data to Value Creation Two-day course on AI and data science applications for the Swiss chemistry community, developed in collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC).

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• INEOSminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• GivaudanminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• LonzaminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• MetrohmminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• Mettler-ToledominorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• MerckminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• NovartisminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• RocheminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• SiegfriedminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• SikaminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• SyngentaminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• ArxadaminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• BachemminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• ChemspeedminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• Carbogen AmcisminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• CasaleminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• ClariantminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• DottikonminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• DSM-FirmenichminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• IBM Research EuropeminorOthersCorporate partner of Swiss Chemical Society, appears in partner logo section of website
• IUPACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry - global chemistry organization that SCS participates in and reports to, mentioned in privacy policy as partner organization for reporting purposes
• EuChemScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences - European chemistry society federation that SCS is affiliated with, jointly organizing events like EuChemS Chemistry Congress
• SCNATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Academy of Sciences - national umbrella organization for scientific societies in Switzerland, providing HR and administrative support
• SATWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Academy of Technical Sciences - partner organization for technical expertise and collaboration

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• German Chemical Society (GDCh):
• American Chemical Society (ACS): The world's largest scientific society for chemists, publishing major journals (JACS) and hosting the largest chemistry meetings. Directly comparable to SCS as a national chemistry society, though far larger in scale and scope.
• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC):

Others

• European Chemical Sciences (EuChemS): European federation of chemical societies that SCS is a member of. Acts as a coordinating umbrella for national societies, hosting events like the EuChemS Chemistry Congress; comparable as a peer-level organization in the same ecosystem.
• Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT): National umbrella of Swiss scientific societies that provides HR and administrative support to SCS. Comparable as a strategic partner and ecosystem-level peer within the Swiss scientific landscape.
• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): Global organization that sets chemistry standards and supports chemistry research, of which SCS is a national adhering organization. Comparable as a higher-tier peer in the international chemistry governance structure.
• Wiley (publisher of Helvetica Chimica Acta): Academic publisher that co-publishes Helvetica Chimica Acta with SCS. Comparable as a publishing/ecosystem partner in scholarly society publishing, with overlapping journal distribution and editorial workflows.

Direct peers

• Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana, SCI): Italy's national chemical society, affiliated with EuChemS, organizing conferences and publishing chemistry research. Closely comparable to SCS as a Southern European peer with similar membership and event activities.
• French Chemical Society (Société Chimique de France, SCF): France's national learned society for chemistry, organizing conferences, awarding prizes, and representing French chemists internationally through IUPAC/EuChemS. Direct peer to SCS in role, scale, and function.
• Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ): National chemical society in Japan publishing major journals and hosting the annual CSJ meeting. Comparable to SCS in its role as a national scholarly society and EuChemS-affiliated organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SwissChemistry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swiss-chemical-society-scs-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Chemical Society