immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Financing strategies

  • Zurich sharpens its innovation profile

    Zurich sharpens its innovation profile

    The canton of Zurich is one of the strongest economic regions in Europe. However, even a top location comes under pressure when there is a shortage of skilled labour, development costs rise and global competition becomes tougher.

    This is precisely where the cantonal government comes in. It does not want to boost the innovation centre with individual actions, but rather strengthen it with reliable framework conditions. This Zurich approach is intended to bring research, entrepreneurship and application closer together.

    Five fields with a leverage effect
    The cantonal government has defined five key areas for the years 2027 to 2030. Semiconductors, space, environmental technologies, health and venture capital. The selection is no coincidence. All five areas combine technological dynamism with real growth opportunities.

    At the same time, they show where Zurich is heading. Not in short-term trends, but in fields in which industrial strength, research expertise and new markets overlap. This makes the strategy relevant in terms of economic policy.

    From the laboratory to the market
    The focus on implementation is particularly interesting. Innovation should be applied more quickly. This is precisely where many strong research centres are losing pace.

    For semiconductors, it is about access to chip design, clean rooms and technology transfer. In aerospace, Zurich wants to facilitate the development and scaling of new applications. In the healthcare sector, digital solutions are to be tested, validated and transferred to facilities more quickly. The ambition is clear. Not only invent, but also apply.

    Sustainability is becoming a location factor
    The focus on environmental technologies is also exciting. Sustainable mobility and recyclable construction are not only seen as an ecological task, but also as an economic opportunity.

    That is an important signal. Thinking about security of supply, climate targets and location quality together shifts sustainability from a niche to the centre of location policy. For Zurich in particular, this can create a new profile with international appeal.

    Capital is crucial
    Innovative companies need more than just good ideas. In the growth phase, they need capital that enables scaling. This is why the strategy also focuses on venture capital.

    For the first stage, the Government Council is applying for a framework credit of CHF 23 million. This is not a huge amount. But it marks a political decision of direction. Zurich not only wants to manage its innovative strength, but also translate it into added value and jobs.

  • Award recognises strong performance in the mortgage business

    Award recognises strong performance in the mortgage business

    Swisschange Financial Services AG, a financial boutique regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), has won the Baloise Broker Award 2026. The prize, awarded by Baloise Bank AG from Solothurn, is based on the parameters of submitted applications, completion rate, financing volume and mortgage portfolio.

    Four out of five mortgage applications submitted by Swisschange lead to a successful conclusion. According to the press release, the mortgage broker achieves this high success rate through careful dossier preparation. Swisschange begins long before the first bank offer with a structured analysis of the financing situation and the selection of a suitable financing partner.

    “This award confirms what we have been practising for years: Genuine buyer representation pays off measurably – for our customers and in a market comparison,” Lester Steinger, CEO and founder of Swisschange, is quoted as saying.

    Swisschange sees itself as a pioneer of independent buyer representation in the Swiss property market. The company has been assisting private clients and entrepreneurs with property, financing and asset decisions since 2003.

  • Zurich reinvents itself

    Zurich reinvents itself

    Government Councillor Carmen Walker Späh openly stated that many good ideas never make it to the market. It is not a lack of creativity, but a lack of the right support at the right time. The canton of Zurich has therefore taken the step this year of joining the international “MIT REAP” program. The aim is to channel funding in a more targeted manner, network players more closely and systematically promote scaling. Zurich has already established itself as a hotspot in the fields of AI, robotics, life sciences and the new space economy. The task now is to secure this lead.

    Nothing works without people
    Markus Müller, Co-Head of Location Promotion, put it in a nutshell with a quote from medtech entrepreneur Andy Rihs: “Nothing works without people.” Capital alone does not build a future. What makes Zurich strong is the ability to bring together new ideas with the right know-how and the right capacities. Zurich should take on a leading role in the new space economy. According to Müller, innovation is what turns “good” into “leading” in the long term.

    You can’t think about the future alone
    Futurologist Martina Kühne gave the guests three ideas to take away with them. Think beyond tomorrow, develop visions of the future in the majority and shape the future together. Every vision of the future is like a piece of gymnastics equipment on which you can let your mind run wild. Anyone who does this can develop ideas for a possible and desirable future. Because, according to Kühne, the future doesn’t just happen.

    Collaboration as a catalyst
    The ETH spin-off Sevensense shows how this theory translates into practice. in 2021, the young start-up impressed ABB with its 3D vision technology for autonomous robots. Today, around 80 percent of the autonomous robots sold by ABB come from Sevensense. Proof of how effective the combination of established capital and fresh inventive spirit can be.

    Organs in space, muscles in the lab
    Prometheus Life Technologies is even more daring. The start-up uses weightlessness in space to grow organs in three dimensions. This was made possible by a parabolic flight program at the Innovation Park, in close collaboration with the Center for Space and Aviation at the University of Zurich. No less ambitious is Muvon, which is working with the ZHAW on an automated method for muscle regeneration using the body’s own cells. If it can be scaled up, it could be used to treat stress incontinence, which affects a significant proportion of women over 40 in Europe.

    A platform that innovates itself
    Samuel Mösle, Co-Head of Location Promotion, drew a clear line in the final discussion. The three start-ups presented are at the limits of the imaginable future. The innovation platform will become more interactive and networked in future with the support of artificial intelligence. After five years, the initiative has reached the end of its own start-up phase. Samuel Mösle sums it up precisely: “It doesn’t just say innovation on it, it also has innovation in it.”

  • Investment foundation raises fresh capital for residential property

    Investment foundation raises fresh capital for residential property

    According to a press release dated 4 May, the Vertina Real Estate Investment Foundation is raising fresh capital until 6 July 2026. The target volume is set at between 60 and 80 million Swiss francs. This may be increased if there is sufficient demand. The funds are earmarked for additional property investments as well as for ongoing and planned developments.

    The capital raising is taking place after the foundation has fully and sustainably invested the funds entrusted to it as part of its seventh capital issue. Following the completion of four transactions in the first quarter of 2026, the portfolio currently comprises 13 properties, including four near-new existing properties, a new-build that is almost complete, and eight project developments. Upon completion of all ongoing projects, a market value of around CHF 350 million is expected. As at 31 March 2026, the residential share stands at 99 per cent.

    Launched in May 2022, the Vertina Investment Foundation invests directly in near-new residential properties in Switzerland that meet high sustainability standards. To this end, the foundation cooperates with the Markstein Group, a property services provider covering portfolio management, construction management, transaction management and marketing. The foundation focuses on providing marketable housing with the lowest possible environmental impact. With a consistent value creation approach, the investment strategy aims to generate stable and reliable long-term returns for investors.

  • Hydropower project on the Grimsel enters the implementation phase

    Hydropower project on the Grimsel enters the implementation phase

    According to a press release, the Board of Directors of Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO), based in Innertkirchen, has approved an investment of 300 million Swiss francs in the construction of the new Grimsel 4 pumped-storage power station. The plant will enable the water from the two reservoirs, Räterichsboden and Grimsel, to be used to ensure grid stability. The concession and planning permission have already been granted.

    Grimsel 4 consists of an underground power station between the two lakes. Two reversible pump-turbines, each with a discharge capacity of 35 cubic metres per second and an installed capacity of 84 megawatts, pump water up into Lake Grimsel as required or use it to drive the turbines as it flows into Lake Räterichsboden. The water tunnel between the two lakes is around 1,200 metres long and has a diameter of 6 metres. The access tunnel to the power station is around 1,800 metres long.

    Construction will begin in June and is scheduled for completion in February 2032. Excavation work for the power station will commence in early 2028.

    KWO was founded in 1925. It currently operates 13 hydroelectric power stations and eight reservoirs. BKW holds a 50 per cent stake in the company. The municipal utilities of Basel (IWB), Bern (ewb) and Zurich (ewz) share the remaining half equally.

  • Trust company expands offering with industry software for construction SMEs

    Trust company expands offering with industry software for construction SMEs

    Gewerbe-Treuhand AG, based in Lucerne, is expanding its range of industry software. According to a press release, the company is now offering AbaBau software from Abacus Business Solutions AG for SMEs in the ancillary construction industry.

    The company in Thalwil ZH is a subsidiary of Abacus Research AG. It develops this specialised software with an expert team of 80 employees.

    As an Abacus partner, Gewerbe-Treuhand not only organises the distribution of the construction software, but also supports the SMEs that use it with the practical and process-optimising introduction and implementation in practice.

    Companies using the software also have the option of calling in their fiduciary partner in the event of staff shortages or temporary substitutions for administrative tasks, according to the press release.

    Gewerbe-Treuhand is already a sales partner of Abacus Research AG in 2019. The new partnership with Abacus Business Solutions builds on this collaboration.

  • New foundation to bring SMEs forward

    New foundation to bring SMEs forward

    Lucerne performs solidly in national competitiveness rankings. In terms of innovative strength, however, the canton ranks at the bottom. Those who fail to address this shortfall risk losing out in the competition between locations in the long term. This finding is the starting point for the planned Lucerne Innovation Foundation and for the special credit that the cantonal government is now applying for.

    The foundation as the linchpin
    The new foundation is not intended to create a parallel structure, but rather to coordinate existing partner organizations and better network their offerings. The focus is on companies in the early stages of development. In other words, where the need is greatest and resources are scarcest. In addition to coordination, the foundation can also co-finance specific implementation projects such as feasibility studies. The foundation board should consist of at least five members, and a four-year performance agreement ensures planning security.

    24 million with a clear earmarking
    One million of the requested 24 million francs will flow into the foundation’s capital. The remaining CHF 23 million is earmarked for the foundation’s services in the years 2026 to 2029. Lucerne is thus positioning itself as a canton that does not wait for federal funding, but acts itself. In addition to national programs such as those of Innosuisse, which support SME innovation throughout Switzerland.

    Part of a larger reorganization
    The foundation is embedded in the canton’s broader location promotion package. In January 2026, the cantonal council approved a package of measures worth around CHF 300 million per year. This was in response to the OECD minimum taxation, which reduces previous tax advantages. The Lucerne innovation contribution alone comprises CHF 110 to 160 million per year for companies that invest in research and development. The Lucerne Innovation Foundation is therefore not an individual measure, but part of a coordinated offensive.

    Referendum in September
    The Cantonal Council has already approved the overarching Location Promotion Act. However, the voters have the final say. The vote is scheduled for September 2026, with entry into force in October 2026. However, the foundation can already be established on the basis of the current legal foundations. The go-ahead does not have to wait for the referendum.

  • Major project to boost rail capacity in the Zurich area in the long term

    Major project to boost rail capacity in the Zurich area in the long term

    According to a press release, SBB has begun work on upgrading the line between Zurich and Winterthur to four tracks throughout. As part of the ‘MehrSpur Zurich-Winterthur’ project, SBB is constructing a new tunnel, upgrading several stations and carrying out further improvements.

    SBB and the construction firms involved have now started work on upgrading the stations at Wallisellen, Dietlikon, Bassersdorf and Winterthur Töss. This includes widening platforms, constructing new and modified underpasses, and building footbridges and bridges. Work in Bassersdorf is due to be completed by 2030, in Wallisellen and Dietlikon by 2031, and in Töss by 2034.

    The Brütten Tunnel is set to be 9 kilometres long. Tunnel boring is scheduled to begin in 2029, with the tunnel due to open in 2037.

    The expansion is expected to cost a total of 3.3 billion Swiss francs. This major project, together with other initiatives such as the expansion of Zurich Stadelhofen station, is set to significantly improve rail services in the Greater Zurich area.

  • Start of construction marks an important step for renewable electricity generation

    Start of construction marks an important step for renewable electricity generation

    According to a press release, Kraftwerk Meiental AG celebrated the start of construction of the Meiental power station in the municipality of Wassen with an official ground-breaking ceremony on 11 March. The actual construction work began back in September. Work is currently underway on the penstock and the new power station control centre.

    The power station utilises water from the Meienreuss. This is collected at an altitude of 1,317 metres and channelled through a 3,250-metre-long penstock to the new hydroelectric power station, which is situated at an altitude of 1,100 metres in Fedenbrügg. With a capacity of 10 megawatts, the power station is expected to generate around 34 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. It is scheduled to come into operation at the end of 2028.

    A total of 40 million Swiss francs is being invested. The canton of Uri and the municipality of Wassen anticipate additional tax revenue, whilst the canton and the Corporation of Uri expect water rights fees of half a million Swiss francs per year. “We are utilising our local hydropower, strengthening regional value creation and, at the same time, making an important contribution to a climate-friendly energy supply,” Uri State Councillor and Director of Public Works Hermann Epp is quoted as saying in the press release.

    Kraftwerk Meiental AG is owned by the cantonal energy supplier energieUri AG, the canton and the Corporation of Uri, as well as the municipality of Wassen.

  • Data partnership transforms decision-making processes in the property portfolio

    Data partnership transforms decision-making processes in the property portfolio

    OPTIML and Scaler have entered into a strategic partnership. According to a press release, the aim is to combine Scaler’s infrastructure for sustainable property data with OPTIML’s decision-making intelligence. This is intended to provide portfolio managers with a data-driven, verifiable and dynamic basis for decisions on refinancing and capital allocation, as well as insights into a sensible sequence for sustainable investments in existing portfolios.

    To this end, the new partners intend to contribute their respective expertise. Scaler offers a data infrastructure for buildings and portfolios that encompasses operational, technical and sustainability data. OPTIML’s proprietary Real Estate Decision Intelligence (REDI) software, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), combines this data with digital building models of engineering quality.

    In addition to optimising investments and their sequencing, the partners cite further benefits of their collaboration, including the harmonisation of data flows for assets and portfolios across systems and regions, the improvement of analysis for retrofitting and investment scenarios, and the strengthening of reporting to regulators and investors with verifiable and decision-relevant results.

    “By combining Scaler’s data infrastructure with OPTIML’s decision intelligence, we offer portfolio managers a closed-loop system in which every investment decision is based on real performance data and is continuously optimised as conditions change,” says Scaler co-founder and CIO Luc Van De Boom. The partnership bridges the gap between operational data and institutional capital decisions, explains OPTIML co-founder and CEO Dr Evan Petkov: “Data alone does not create an advantage. Investors need optimisation and governance to transform this data into actionable measures. Together, we offer real estate professionals a dynamic decision-making system for the world’s largest asset class.”

  • Regensberg fights for survival

    Regensberg fights for survival

    Regensberg has exactly 477 inhabitants at the end of 2024. Despite two tax increases in recent years, there is not enough revenue to finance the municipality’s tasks. The structural deficit threatens the independence of the medieval country town on the rocky spur above Dielsdorf. A merger with a neighboring municipality is on the cards, a scenario that many Regensberg residents want to avoid.

    A meadow as a turning point
    The impetus came in April 2024 at a Future Day, where the population openly discussed the fate of their municipality for the first time. On the agenda was the Pünt meadow, the last major building site in the village. This discussion gave rise to the idea of a cooperative. In July 2025, the Pünt Regensberg building cooperative was officially entered in the commercial register.

    40 apartments, 80 new people
    The project, a four-storey building with 41 apartments, is to be built on the Pünt, around three quarters of which will be large family apartments with 4.5 to 5.5 rooms, the rest smaller units with 2.5 to 3.5 rooms. The cooperative anticipates 60 to 80 new residents. For a community the size of Regensberg, this corresponds to a population increase of around 15 percent. A competition to find the project team was held back in 2025.

    More than taxes
    The goal is not just fiscal. Regensberg has the fourth-highest average age of all Zurich municipalities. Younger families should come and thus also secure the elementary school, because without a school there are no families and without families there is no village life. The flexible usage concept also allows older people to move from their single-family home to a suitable smaller apartment without having to leave the village.

    non-profit instead of speculative
    If the project had ended up in private hands, the apartments in the attractive location would have primarily been investment properties. In contrast, the cooperative lets on a cost-rent basis, i.e. without the intention of making a profit. The project is being financed via share certificates, member loans, state subsidies and bank mortgages, with a target equity ratio of 35 to 40 percent.

    the cranes will rise in 2028
    Because Regensberg is listed in the federal inventory of sites worthy of protection, particularly strict conditions apply to construction. The building permit is due to be issued in 2027, with construction scheduled to start in 2028. The first apartments could be occupied one or two years later. Whether the cooperative can solve the structural deficit on its own remains to be seen. But it proves that sometimes a village saves itself.

  • Solar project combines own electricity and regional investment

    Solar project combines own electricity and regional investment

    According to a press release, the Schloss Turbenthal Foundation is enabling private individuals and companies to participate in its new solar power plant. This plant is being built on the roofs of the village for the deaf. With 150 solar modules, it is expected to generate 66,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Half of the electricity will be consumed by the foundation itself.

    A large battery with a capacity of 100 kilowatts will allow electricity to be stored on days when there is plenty of sun and little demand. This electricity can then be accessed later by both the foundation and the grid company Swissgrid as balancing energy.

    Private individuals and companies can participate in the plant via the solarify.ch platform. They receive quarterly payments on their investment. “With this project, we are making a concrete contribution to sustainability and enabling the participation of the population from the region,” Marc Basler, general manager of the Schloss Turbenthal Foundation, is quoted in the press release.

    Solarify GmbH, based in Bern, is also responsible for project management, operation, insurance and maintenance of the plant, as well as electricity marketing.

  • Society for affordable housing aims to create permanently affordable living space

    Society for affordable housing aims to create permanently affordable living space

    The new real estate company GEW aims to raise private capital for permanently affordable housing for people with low to medium incomes in Switzerland. GEW was founded in December 2025 against the backdrop of an increasing shortage of affordable housing in Switzerland, according to a press release. It will develop, build, acquire and operate residential properties with rents in the affordable segment of the local market, which are to be below the 50th percentile in the respective municipality.

    GEW aims to contribute to social stability in Switzerland through its work. Rising rents, a lack of building land reserves, restrictive regulations and high land and construction costs have meant that housing production can no longer keep pace with demand. “When housing becomes a concern, new answers are needed,” said Reto Brüesch, Managing Director of GEW, in the press release. “We are convinced that the private sector can and must take on part of the responsibility with entrepreneurial thinking and a clear focus on the common good.”

    The GEW model is based on three pillars: efficient development and construction, cost-effective operation and low capital costs due to low risk. This creates an economically viable approach that combines affordable rents with entrepreneurially responsible investments. “Investing in GEW creates affordable housing in Switzerland while also generating a fair return and a positive social impact,” explains Daniel Kusio, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GEW. He is supported on the Board of Directors by real estate economist Donato Scognamiglio and Balz Halter, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Halter Group.

    While municipalities can use GEW to create affordable housing without excessive financial burden, owners benefit from transparent models such as sale, building rights or contributions in kind. Investors, in turn, gain access to a long-term investment with a stable income structure.

  • Direct real estate strategies for family offices and investors

    Direct real estate strategies for family offices and investors

    Blacklake has founded Blacklake Investment Partners AG in Zug. Its aim is to provide real estate investors and family offices with direct access to real estate opportunities in Europe that are identified beyond traditional market offerings. “Blacklake Investment Partners focuses on real estate opportunities across Europe that are not accessible to the broader market due to their complexity or special circumstances,” said Christoph Schumacher, founding partner and new CEO of Blacklake Investment Partners, in a statement published by the investor portal “Trading View”.

    The business model covers all phases of the investment cycle, from analysis and transaction to the implementation of exit scenarios. The target group includes Swiss, German and international private clients, single and multi-family offices, and (semi-)professional investors. The founding team combines international investment, consulting and corporate management expertise, including at Credit Suisse, Swissair, Union Investment, KPMG and Ernst & Young Real Estate.

    The Zug-based company is affiliated with the Blacklake Group via Hamburg-based Blacklake GmbH and positions itself specifically as an interface between investment opportunities and capital. According to the information provided, the group has reorganised, repositioned, refinanced and transacted real estate and real estate financing with a transaction volume of around €3 billion for German clients since the end of 2022.

  • Housing promotion at federal level

    Housing promotion at federal level

    The federal government’s housing subsidy programme is about to be extended. A majority of the National Council’s Economic Affairs Committee supports the Federal Council’s plans to continue subsidising the Fonds de Roulement in favour of non-profit housing construction from 2030. As well as renewing the commitment credit for contingent liabilities in housing promotion for the years 2027 to 2033. Low-interest, repayable loans are used to support cooperatives and other non-profit organisations in the construction, renovation and acquisition of affordable housing.

    The majority of the Commission sees this as a proven, targeted lever against the tight situation on many housing markets, both in cities and in tourist regions. However, more far-reaching demands for a more substantial increase in the Fonds de Roulement or an increase in the commitment credit failed due to tight federal finances. A minority of the committee does not even want to discuss the proposals and points to the high level of immigration as the main cause of the housing shortage. In their view, the housing issue should be solved via migration policy rather than additional subsidies.

    The situation is much more complicated with the planned cost-rent model in the Housing Promotion Act. The Federal Council wants to introduce a simplified, legally clearly supported cost rent model for indirectly subsidised non-profit housing that consistently aligns rents with the actual financing and operating costs and strengthens state rent control. However, the Commission did not specify how this model should work in detail. In particular, which calculation methods, flat rates and room for manoeuvre should apply to the providers. As the Federal Council would like to regulate the structure at ordinance level, the Commission is calling for more clarity before making a delegation decision. Following consultations with industry associations, cantons and experts, it has suspended its deliberations until the cost-rental model has been largely finalised. A resumption is planned for the third quarter of 2026. Indirect subsidies via Fonds de Roulement and guarantees are likely to continue, while the course still needs to be set for a new cost-rent regime in non-profit housing construction.

  • Technology fund supports AI-based energy optimisation

    Technology fund supports AI-based energy optimisation

    Scandens can finance upcoming business developments with a guarantee from the technology fund. According to a statement by Dominik Bucher, co-founder and CCO of the Zurich-based cleantech company, receiving this guarantee confirms its approach: “Enabling the right investment decisions for real estate portfolios – economically sound and future-proof” while making the best possible decisions for the climate and the environment. “We are delighted to be part of the technology fund,” said Bucher.

    Founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, the company launched software in 2023 that makes it easier to plan and implement energy-efficient building renovations. With this artificial intelligence-based internet application, owners of real estate portfolios as well as private homeowners can check whether and which renovation measures make economic and ecological sense.

    According to a statement from Scandens, the software displays over 500 renovation combinations and creates a plan that serves as a basis for implementation. This is intended to save time and promote sustainable decisions.

    With the technology fund, the federal government promotes innovations that reduce greenhouse gases or resource consumption, favour the use of renewable energies and increase energy efficiency. Guarantees make it easier for innovative companies to take out loans. The guarantee is granted to banks or other suitable lenders. To cover guarantee losses, a maximum of CHF 25 million per year from the proceeds of the CO2 levy is paid into a technology fund.

  • Lucerne invests 300 million in its location

    Lucerne invests 300 million in its location

    The starting point for the proposal is the concern that the previous locational advantage of low corporate profit taxes will be lost as a result of the OECD minimum taxation. International corporations will have to pay more tax in future, which means there is a risk that top taxpayers and jobs will move away. The adopted package is intended to cushion these effects and keep Lucerne attractive as a business location through other levers.

    The Cantonal Council has amended the law on economic development and regional policy for this purpose. An annual volume of measures of around CHF 300 million has now been anchored in favor of location promotion. The canton is thus creating a predictable framework for the targeted financing of strategic projects and structural improvements.

    Innovation, taxes, land, administration
    The measures in favor of the economy are concentrated on several axes. At the center is the promotion of innovation. This means supporting companies, projects and structures that increase value creation and future viability. This is complemented by an improvement in the tax burden in other areas in order to partially compensate for the loss of the profit tax advantage.

    Another focus is on the development and availability of commercial and residential space. Lucerne wants to ensure that sufficient suitable space is available for businesses, services and housing. Equally important is a “customer-oriented” administration. Processes should become faster, more transparent and more business-oriented so that investments do not fail due to bureaucratic hurdles. For the population, additional measures are aimed at easing the tax burden, improving work-life balance, culture and digitalization.

    New rules for micro-shops and shop-fronts
    The bill also includes changes to the retail sector. Self-service stores without sales staff with a maximum area of 30 square meters will be allowed to open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in future. A restriction to farm stores was narrowly rejected. The regulation thus applies more broadly and facilitates new, automated store concepts.

    In addition, stores with fast charging stations will in some cases be treated in the same way as petrol station stores. Anyone who operates at least four charging stations with 150 kilowatts each and a simultaneous total charging capacity of at least 300 kilowatts can benefit from extended opening hours. In this way, the canton is supporting the expansion of e-mobility and linking charging infrastructure with local service offerings.

    Political controversy is inevitable
    The bill is politically controversial. The SVP and SP have announced a referendum. Both because of the fundamental direction of the package and because of the extended store opening hours and the location policy in favor of large companies. This means that the thrust of Lucerne’s location strategy is likely to be the subject of public debate.

    In practice, this means that companies, investors and municipalities will receive a clear signal that the canton is prepared to invest substantial funds in location development. However, whether and in what form the package of measures will definitely come into force will also depend on the political debate and a possible referendum.

  • Crowdfunding drives flexible solar energy forward

    Crowdfunding drives flexible solar energy forward

    Solarify GmbH is further expanding its range of investment opportunities for private investors in the energy transition. According to a press release, the Wabern-based company now offers crowdfunding for a new generation of solar power plants connected to battery storage systems. These enable solar power to be delivered at a later time.

    Solarify.ch is thus also responding to a change in the remuneration of solar power. In future, feed-in tariffs will be based on hourly rates. In addition, market prices will be recalculated on a quarterly basis. The storage facilities allow for a flexible response to prices.

    The company is already using solar systems with battery storage, for example at the Tannental asylum accommodation in the municipality of Muri near Bern and on the roof of Condecta AG in Bern.

    “With this new generation, we can operate solar systems in a way that benefits the grid and the system,” CEO Roger Langenegger is quoted as saying in the press release. “Instead of putting strain on the grids at midday, the electricity is consumed locally or sold at times of higher demand.”

    Solarify.ch enables private individuals to invest in the energy transition. Founded in 2016, the company has implemented 160 solar projects throughout Switzerland and invested 26 million Swiss francs.

  • Zurich strengthens energy transition with 60 million program

    Zurich strengthens energy transition with 60 million program

    Buildings are among the biggest energy consumers in the canton of Zurich. Around 40 percent of energy requirements and a third of CO₂ emissions are attributable to this area. However, a lot has changed in recent years. Technical innovations, the CO₂ levy and cantonal regulations are having an impact.

    With the energy subsidy programme, the canton is creating additional incentives to replace fossil fuel heating systems, insulate building shells or modernize heat distribution systems. Demand for subsidies remains high, fueled by the revised Energy Act of 2022.

    Financial framework until 2029
    The cantonal government is now requesting CHF 60 million from the cantonal council to continue the program. These funds are to be supplemented with shares from the CO₂ levy and from the national impulse program. Provided the federal benefits are not reduced, this will result in a total budget of up to CHF 286 million for the years 2026 to 2029.

    The focus is on measures in the building sector. Advice and information services will also be supported, particularly for owners who want to renovate their properties to make them more energy efficient or are looking for alternatives before the statutory ban on electric heating systems from 2030.

    Focus on innovation and biogas
    In addition to traditional building renovations, the canton will increasingly promote innovation in future. One million francs per year is available for pilot projects that test new technologies and processes for efficient energy use or storage. A further CHF 250,000 per year will go towards the promotion of biogas from agricultural facilities. A promising energy source for industrial high-temperature processes.

    In this way, the energy promotion program combines climate protection with regional value creation. It strengthens innovation and at the same time acts as a lever on the way to net zero in Zurich’s building stock.

  • Investment contribution paves the way for national association centre

    Investment contribution paves the way for national association centre

    The city of Thun is planning to participate in the realisation of the Swiss Football Home, which is to be built as an SFV football campus in Thun South. According to a statementfrom the city, the investment contribution of CHF 4 million is part of a comprehensive financing concept that includes SFV’sown financing as well as funds from the federal government, the canton of Bern and third-party financing. The CHF 4 million non-repayable grant is to be used for building costs, outdoor facilities and project planning. The city council will decide on the loan at its meeting on 16 January. This financial contribution by the city is linked to various conditions, including ensuring the overall financing of the Swiss Football Home and determining the cantonal contributions.

    The Swiss Football Home will serve as the new headquarters of the Swiss Football Association and will comprise buildings and several football pitches. Around 150 employees will work on the campus, which is planned as part of the Thun South sports and leisure cluster. According to the press release, the Swiss Football Home will have a long-term positive impact on the city of Thun’s tax revenue and on economic development in the region. In particular, the creation of 150 jobs and the gathering of the national teams will be a unique opportunity for the location.

    Other private sports projects have already been initiated in the Thun South cluster, such as an indoor and outdoor racket sports centre, a climbing and bouldering facility and a ball sports hall. The wide range of sports facilities on the site, which is in the immediate vicinity of FC Thun’s Stockhorn Arena, will bring many synergies, explains the city. “The long-term economic benefits for the city of Thun from the establishment of the Swiss Football Home will exceed the one-off investment contribution many times over,” said Mayor Raphael Lanz.

  • Automated call triage relieves customer service centres during major events

    Automated call triage relieves customer service centres during major events

    Spitchand Adnovum– both based in Zurich – have launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voicebot. According to a press release, the Berna programme is designed to simplify the claims process at Gebäudeversicherung Bern (GVB).

    The AI voicebot is designed to enable rapid customer service when triaging calls and recording claims. The programme is able to distinguish and recognise different Swiss dialects and convert the spoken text into standard German. Berna is also capable of handling several hundred calls at the same time, according to the press release. Upon request, the programme can also connect callers to a human specialist.

    The new solution can be particularly helpful in the event of major damage. For example, during the storm in August 2024 in the Bernese Oberland, more than 3,000 calls were received in a very short time. In addition to the damage that had already occurred, there were also very long waiting times in some cases. “It was crucial for us that, in the event of a major incident, those affected were not placed under additional strain when reporting their claims,” said Corinne Fleury, Innovation Manager at GVB, in the press release. “The aim was to relieve the burden on our customer centre and specialist departments and avoid waiting times, even during such major events, by means of an automated, flexibly scalable solution. The solution created by Spitch and Adnovum also makes it possible to automatically generate accurate claims files as a basis for further processing by specialists, through guided dialogues and the structured recording of customer information.”

  • Zug promotes sustainability and innovation

    Zug promotes sustainability and innovation

    On November 30, 2025, the Zug electorate clearly approved the Site Development Act. The cantonal government has now passed the implementation ordinance, meaning that the law and ordinance will come into force on January 1, 2026. The canton is investing the expected annual net additional revenue of around CHF 200 million from the OECD minimum tax in three areas. In social measures such as childcare, education and housing, infrastructure and innovative projects, such as blockchain and ETH collaborations or energy projects, as well as targeted subsidies to companies for sustainability and innovation.

    Impact-oriented sustainability promotion
    The central element of SEVO is impact-oriented promotion of climate protection in companies. Support is provided for projects that substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain. The prerequisite is a saving of at least 50,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents; 30 francs are paid per ton saved. In this way, the canton rewards measurable, verifiable emission reductions instead of purely declarative climate promises and provides a clear incentive for large decarbonization projects.

    Stimulus for research and development
    In addition to sustainability, the program specifically addresses the innovative strength of Zug’s economy. The expenditure-based innovation promotion supports research and development activities with a contribution rate of 25% on qualifying personnel expenses, supplemented by a flat-rate infrastructure supplement of 35%. Funding is also provided for clinical studies conducted in Switzerland. In this way, the canton of Zug is strengthening both technology-oriented companies and research-intensive sectors such as pharma, medtech and deeptech.

    Flexible system in the shadow of the minimum tax
    The ordinance is deliberately designed to be flexible in order to be able to react to a dynamic international tax environment. The background to this is the OECD minimum tax, which affects around 400 companies in the canton. The new support system is intended to compensate for impending locational disadvantages and ensure Zug’s attractiveness as an international business location. Companies can submit applications for the first time from March 1, 2026, based on the figures for the 2024 financial year. The Directorate of Finance is responsible for implementation. The aim is an unbureaucratic, efficient system that rewards clearly measurable achievements in sustainability and innovation and positions Zug in global competition in the long term.

  • Fresh capital for data-based planning in the construction industry

    Fresh capital for data-based planning in the construction industry

    The Zurich-based start-up vyzn has successfully completed its seed financing round. According to a press release, this was led by the venture capital companies Spicehaus Partners from Zug and Kiilto Ventures, part of the Kiilto chemicals group based in Finland. Other strategic investors from the construction and real estate sectors were also involved. The amount of the newly raised capital is not disclosed. The capital is now intended to pave the way for expanding the portfolio and driving growth.

    The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH) is led by the founding team, which includes CEO Adrian Henke, CTO Romana Rust, COO Martino Tschudi and CCO Michael Sinniger. The aim is to transform the planning of new construction and renovation projects with the help of data-based analyses. And soon, it is said, the vyzn software will cover more than just life cycle assessment and energy efficiency and enable early, precise and cost-effective planning iterations. The integration of data on recyclability, cost estimation and thermal comfort has also been announced. The basis for this is a recent technological breakthrough: vyzn can now automatically convert architectural models into fully simulatable 3D models.

    Growing demand from European markets is emphasized. Expansion into Germany is imminent; the vyzn software is set to be used by the first customers there as early as the beginning of 2026. The start-up is also looking to expand its team with a view to further expansion. Customers already include over 50 companies such as Zurich Airport, Implenia, Halter, Pensimo and Amstein-Walthert.

    “With vyzn, we are breaking down the data silos in planning,” says vyzn CEO Adrian Henke. “Our customers use our platform to resolve the contradiction between economical and sustainable construction.”