Jérôme La Rosa moved to the canton of Neuchâtel in 2014. His company, JLR Project, specializes in the qualification of cleanrooms and equipment such as autoclaves, incubators, and centrifuges.
How has your company evolved since it was established in the canton of Neuchâtel?
In 2014, the two of us set out on this adventure; today, there are seven of us, with one office in Geneva and another set to open in Valais. With double-digit growth since the company’s inception, we have become the market leader in French-speaking Switzerland. In 2019, we obtained ISO 9001 certification, and we are currently in the process of obtaining ISO 17025 certification , which is specific to laboratories.
The COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenge or Opportunity?
Of course, our business has been significantly reduced, except for audits for a few major pharmaceutical companies. Given our network in the medical field, we collaborated with the canton to source gloves, gowns, masks, etc., to help address the health crisis.
I also continued to make progress on a collaboration made possible through a connection facilitated by the Department of Economic Affairs with the Finnish company Genano. Genano has developed a machine capable of sterilizing a room to meet cleanroom standards. These machines decontaminate the ambient air by capturing dust and bacteria at the nanoscale.
Impressed by the results of this globally unique technology, I decided to found ADD, a company dedicated to the purchase, rental, and sale of Genano machines.
Over the past few months, I have also continued to make progress on establishing a training school for sterile environments. We are in negotiations with a leading, recognized Swiss institution to ensure the program leads to a degree. In Colombier, we have a cleanroom equipped with top-of-the-line equipment that meets the standards required by the pharmaceutical and watchmaking industries.
Finally, we are working on opening a calibration laboratory in Gland, with the intention of subsequently replicating it in the Canton of Neuchâtel.
How did you choose the canton of Neuchâtel?
I used to live in Franche-Comté, in Belfort. I ran an agency in Boncourt for five years. It was Baxter (now Takeda) that called me one morning to set up a meeting. I fell in love with the region the moment I saw the view of the lake from Puits-Godet. The Department of Economic Affairs then went to great lengths to explain the framework conditions to us and convinced us that it was a pleasant place to live. Most of our revenue, however, comes from other cantons, but there’s incredible potential in Neuchâtel—you just have to be patient.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced as a foreign entrepreneur?
Generally speaking, in Switzerland, it takes a long time to build trust and, consequently, to find clients. Support from the Department of Economic Affairs during the first two years enables newly established companies to better understand cultural norms and thus gain credibility when interacting with the local business community.