Tierspital Bern

What Tierspital Bern does

Tierspital Bern (legal name: Universität Bern - Vetsuisse-Fakultät) is the veterinary faculty and teaching hospital of the University of Bern, Switzerland. Founded in 1901, the faculty has been jointly operated with the University of Zürich under the Vetsuisse network since 2006 and is one of only two veterinary faculties in Switzerland. The institution operates two integrated missions: a clinical teaching hospital (Tierspital) delivering specialty and emergency veterinary services across companion animals, equine, and farm animal species, and a research enterprise spanning 18+ institutes and departments covering genetics, virology, immunology, bacteriology, parasitology, pathology, fish and wildlife health, public health, and bee health. The Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) treated 7,474 animals in 2025, produced 165 scientific publications, and awarded 76 degrees.

The underlying technology stack comprises specialized diagnostic and clinical research infrastructure: genetic testing platforms (proprietary tests for inherited conditions such as HIP in Freiberger horses and canine neuroaxonal dystrophy), advanced imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound), pathology and necropsy laboratories, virology/immunology platforms including avian influenza vaccine development for zoo birds, and a centralized Diagnostic Center. Research is supported by an active clinical trial platform (Faculty Clinical Research Platform / FCRP) and strategic research centers including MCID (Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases). The technology footprint is anchored in proprietary genetic test architectures and cross-species diagnostic capabilities rather than commercial software products.

Tierspital Bern is a public entity funded through cantonal and federal government subsidies, competitive research grants (primarily SNSF, EU COST Actions, Open Philanthropy), and clinical service revenue from animal owners and referring veterinarians. There is no venture capital, private equity, or commercial ownership structure; the faculty operates under the University of Bern's governance and the Vetsuisse Council. Pricing follows Swiss university fee structures and public healthcare tariff frameworks. The institution serves a heterogeneous customer base including veterinary students, pet owners, livestock farmers, practicing veterinarians seeking continuing education, wildlife and conservation authorities, and international research collaborators.

Name

Tierspital Bern

Legal name

Universität Bern - Vetsuisse-Fakultät

Website

https://vetsuisse.unibe.ch

Company type

Public

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tierspital Bern (Vetsuisse-Fakultät) is the public veterinary faculty and teaching hospital of the University of Bern, jointly operated with the University of Zürich, delivering specialty clinical services across companion, equine, and farm animal species alongside research across 18+ institutes in genetics, virology, immunology, and public health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Clinical Services and Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Veterinary Services (54194), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Medicine Universities (EDAHAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals (Multi-specialty) (HLAMACAB), Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories & Pathology (AFAEANAF), Reference Laboratory Testing (Clinical Pathology & Chemistry) (HLAMADAA), Food Animal (Bovine/Dairy/Beef) Veterinary Services (HLAMABAA)

Keywords

• Veterinary clinical services
• Veterinary medical education
• Animal health research
• Livestock veterinary medicine
• Veterinary diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tierspital Bern operates as the veterinary teaching hospital and faculty of the University of Bern, delivering specialized clinical veterinary care for companion animals, horses, livestock, and wildlife through dedicated clinics (Small Animal, Equine/ISME, Farm Animal) and specialty departments. The faculty concurrently provides accredited veterinary medical education from undergraduate through doctoral levels and conducts interdisciplinary research across infectious diseases, genetics, pathology, public health, and animal welfare. Revenue is generated through clinical service fees, public funding, and competitive research grants.

Product overview

Tierspital Bern (Vetsuisse-Fakultät) is the veterinary faculty of the University of Bern, operating as one of Europe's leading veterinary institutions with both clinical and research missions. The institution provides a comprehensive veterinary hospital network (Tierspital) comprising specialized clinical services (Small Animal Clinic, Equine Clinic/ISME, Farm Animal Clinic) and clinical specialty departments (Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Clinical Laboratory, Neurology, Radiology). The research arm includes multiple dedicated institutes covering infectious diseases, pathobiology, genetics, public health, bee health, and clinical research. Services include 24/7 emergency care and a centralized diagnostic center. The DKV (Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine) reported treating 7,474 animals in 2025, with 165 publications and 76 degrees awarded.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kleintierklinik: Small animal clinic providing veterinary services for pets
• ISME (Institut Suisse de Médecine Équine)
• Nutztierklinik
• MCID (Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases)
• VPHI (Veterinary Public Health Institute)
• Institut für Bienengesundheit

Products and services

• Small Animal Clinic (Kleintierklinik)

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,474 animals treated in 2025 across clinical departments
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgroscopecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Ongoing research collaboration in animal health, livestock management, and agricultural science. Agroscope is the Swiss Federal Agricultural Research Institute. Joint projects include studies on calf health, antimicrobial resistance, and dairy cow management. Also collaborated on the BEENERGIA project studying wild bee populations and honey bee impacts.
• FIBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Interdisciplinary collaboration with FIBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) on the COST-funded project 'Antibiotics versus Medicinal Plants' investigating whether medicinal plants can improve calf health and reduce antibiotic use in pre-weaned calves.
• Universität BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in the COST-funded interdisciplinary project on antibiotics versus medicinal plants for calves, examining the effects on resistome, microbiome, and immune system.
• Miguel Hernández University of ElcheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration partner in the COST-funded project on antibiotics versus medicinal plants for calves.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in the SNF Weave programme funding for Jens Becker's project on animal welfare and biodiversity in pasture-based cattle systems. Also partner in the 'Tracking Tails' project studying canine disease transmission.
• Swiss Universities (Swissuniversities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner as part of the Swiss university network. Vetsuisse Faculty is one of the founding members of Swissuniversities, the association of Swiss universities.
• COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple COST Actions involving Vetsuisse researchers: VET-PASS (CA25113) harmonizing postgraduate veterinary education, MedPlants4Vet network on medicinal plants in veterinary medicine, and COST Action on Phenomics (CA22112).
• University of ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vetsuisse Faculty operates at two campuses — Bern and Zürich — as a joint faculty of both universities. Collaborative research, shared programs, and joint educational initiatives are standard practice between the two sites.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Colorado State's veterinary college is a leading US research and teaching institution, with particular strength in infectious disease, oncology, and One Health research that overlaps with Vetsuisse Bern's IVI and pathology programs. It is a global comparator for top-tier veterinary research output.
• Utrecht University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Utrecht's veterinary faculty is one of Europe's largest comprehensive veterinary teaching hospitals and research centers, offering a directly comparable multi-specialty clinical model and research output, and frequently appears in the same QS top-10 band as Vetsuisse Bern.
• Royal Veterinary College, University of London: The RVC is the UK's largest and oldest veterinary school, consistently ranked #1 in QS World University Rankings for Veterinary Science, making it the most direct global peer to Vetsuisse Bern as a top-tier university-based veterinary teaching hospital and research institution.
• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: UC Davis operates the largest veterinary teaching hospital in the US and is consistently top-ranked globally. Its multi-species clinical services, large research portfolio, and genetic research programs make it a direct comparator to Vetsuisse Bern's clinical and research operations.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Cornell's veterinary college is a leading US veterinary school with a comprehensive teaching hospital, strong research output, and global reputation. It competes for international talent, research grants, and QS ranking position with Vetsuisse Bern.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): SLU is an active research collaboration partner of Vetsuisse Bern (joint SNF Weave and Tracking Tails projects) and operates as a comprehensive agricultural and veterinary university with comparable clinical, research, and educational programs in the Nordic region.
• Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh's veterinary school is a leading UK teaching hospital and research institution, consistently ranked in the QS top 5-10 for Veterinary Science. It is a direct peer in clinical specialty services, research intensity, and educational mission.
• University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine: Cambridge's veterinary school is a top-ranked UK institution with strong research output and a focus on clinical and biomedical research. It competes in the same elite tier of European university-based veterinary institutions as Vetsuisse Bern.
• Vetsuisse-Fakultät Universität Zürich: The Zurich campus of the Vetsuisse Faculty operates jointly with Bern as a single Swiss veterinary training institution. It shares faculty, accreditation, and training pipeline, and is the most directly comparable peer in terms of clinical specialties, research output, and educational programs.

Regional players

• Agroscope: Agroscope is the Swiss federal agricultural research institute and a core research partner of Vetsuisse Bern. While not a veterinary school, it operates in adjacent livestock, animal health, and agricultural research space and is a key national peer for applied animal health research funding and collaboration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unibe
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tierspital-bern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tierspital Bern