Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded pharmaceuticals, Roche has grown to become the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in vitro diagnostics.

The company strives for scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics that improve and save the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in the field of personalised medicine and aim to advance the way healthcare is delivered to achieve even greater benefits. To ensure that every person receives the best possible treatment, we work with many partners, combining our strengths in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals with insights from real-world clinical data.

Just like innovation in research and development, innovative contemporary art is also a matter close to the company's heart. In 1996, on the occasion of the company's 100th anniversary, Roche donated the Tinguely Museum to the city of Basel. Innovation, quality and sustainability are as central to the museum as they are to Roche. The museum is an expression of Roche's long-standing commitment to contemporary music and art. 25 years later, on the occasion of Roche's 125th anniversary, the ARTour now brings the parallels between innovation in art and innovation in science to life and creatively connects Roche with its home city of Basel.

If you want to embark on a fascinating journey through the world of art, Basel is the place to be. Around 40 museums with top-class exhibitions, one of the oldest public art collections, the largest art fair in the world and a lively, young art scene make Basel a small but impressively endowed cultural city with a reputation that extends far beyond Europe. Although classical modernism and street art seem to be worlds apart, both art movements are prominently represented in Basel. The ARTour app enriches the Swiss Capital of Culture with a digital art experience and allows Basel’s cityscape to merge with the virtual world. Basel Tourism is very much involved in the communication and support of the ARTour.

The HEK (House of Electronic Arts) in Basel is a center for contemporary art that uses electronic media and reflects on their use as well as their effects on society. With an interdisciplinary program of exhibitions, festival formats, performances, concerts, and educational events, the HEK addresses current social topics and issues as well as technological and aesthetic developments. The HEK has its own collection focusing on software-based and network-based art. Through all of this, the HEK occupies a unique position and pioneering role in Switzerland.

The HEK acted as a consultant for the content of the ARTour. The director of the HEK (House of Electronic Arts), Sabine Himmelsbach, played a key role as curator in the selection of the artists.