Strict distance and hygiene rules still apply in Switzerland, where CSL Behring has a major presence in Bern. But little by little, normal life is returning following a period of lockdown that limited all but the essential laboratory operations at the CSL Behring Research Center (CBRC) in sitem-insel, the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine in Bern. It is a non-profit public-private innovation hub that opened last summer.
In June, Switzerland’s lower rates of COVID-19 transmission and improved tracing enabled residents to begin a return to public life, with plenty of precautions. The scientists who work at sitem-insel, a modern laboratory space built for collaboration, are getting back to their on-site work.
"During the lockdown, perhaps a dozen or so of our 60 employees were on site each day to maintain essential operations, in particular they diligently kept our lab-work going" says Head of Research Europe, Adrian Zuercher. Now, about half of the workforce at the most may be physically present at any one time. He said he was pleased to return, even in a limited capacity.
"I was as happy as a little child when the officially imposed relaxation allowed me to see my employees in person again," he said. “I really missed this social, informal, spontaneous interaction on site, this ‘collective brain.’"
In June, Switzerland’s lower rates of COVID-19 transmission and improved tracing enabled residents to begin a return to public life, with plenty of precautions. The scientists who work at sitem-insel, a modern laboratory space built for collaboration, are getting back to their on-site work.
"During the lockdown, perhaps a dozen or so of our 60 employees were on site each day to maintain essential operations, in particular they diligently kept our lab-work going" says Head of Research Europe, Adrian Zuercher. Now, about half of the workforce at the most may be physically present at any one time. He said he was pleased to return, even in a limited capacity.
"I was as happy as a little child when the officially imposed relaxation allowed me to see my employees in person again," he said. “I really missed this social, informal, spontaneous interaction on site, this ‘collective brain.’"
Distance and hygiene rules continue to apply throughout Switzerland and the team at sitem-insel is adhering to them by observing social distancing and by restricting access to areas where social distancing isn’t possible.
Get a glimpse inside of one of CSL Behring’s most recent innovation hubs with these photos taken at sitem-insel in January 2020.
