immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Innovation

  • Zurich airport region – digitization and development

    Zurich airport region – digitization and development

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    The event was moderated by Monika Schärer, who confidently guided the guests through the afternoon. After a brief welcome, Arun Banovi, owner of immo!nvest/immoTable, and Christoph Lang, managing director of FRZ Flughafenregion Zürich, were briefly asked about the economic region and the connection with immo!nvest.

    In addition, Fabian Streiff from the Zurich Business Development Agency gave the first presentation and presented the region in more detail. From this it emerged that the canton of Zurich is a globally significant hub for artificial intelligence (AI). He also introduced us to the innovation hubs in the Zurich airport region, including the Digital Health Center (Bülach), The Circle (Kloten) and the Zurich Innovation Park (Dübenorf).

    As the second speaker, Hans Egloff, President of HEV Switzerland, brought us closer to the topic of digitization in the real estate industry. Using various examples, he explained the opportunities and risks of digitization. For example, the AHV number serves as a personal identifier in the electronic land register and this entails a large group of authorized users and thus a large potential for misuse.

    Before the break, Tindaro Milone, Head of Large Plants, presented the EKZ and explained what is currently happening in the energy sector. For example, the scarcity of resources, climate change, politics and customer needs. He then presented the future of energy, it is mainly about decarbonization, digitization and decentralization. Of course, sustainability is also a topic that is very topical and will continue to occupy you in the future. He completed his presentation on the subject of electricity storage.

    After the first part of the program there was a break that was used for the first talks. There were also cool drinks, refreshing fruits and delicious cakes.

    This was followed by Dadvan Yousuf, who introduced us to his platform “Dohrnii”, where everyone can easily learn about cryptocurrencies in a playful way. The presentation also included the Dohrnii Markplace, the DHN Token and the Dohrnii DAO. Finally, he made the connection and opportunities between cryptocurrencies and the real estate industry.

    Then Christoph Axmann, Chartered Surveyor MRICS at Wüest Partner, came on stage. With overviews of the population and employment development, he showed the demand in the Glattal-Furttal region. Then he showed which offer can be used to cover inquiries. Below that are investments, quantities, supply in relation to inventory and prices. Finally, he showed the development potential in the airport region.

    The last speaker was René Götz from the business development department of the city of Bülach. He introduced the business location Bülach, showed the positioning, spoke about the goals and available development areas. The key sectors of the region, the space requirements of companies and the Digital Health Center Bülach were also included in the presentation.

    The crowning glory was the exciting panel discussion with Doris Meier (Mayor of Bassersdorf), Christoph Lang (Managing Director of the FRZ Zurich Airport Region), Fabian Streiff (Local Promotion Canton of Zurich) and Heinz Eberhard (Eberhard companies).

    During the aperitif with delicious appetizers and ice cream, there was a lot of networking. The atmosphere was very good and relaxed. Especially when the draw for the competition was due. You could win a trip to the Top of Europe – Jungfrau Joch with overnight stay and dinner for 2 people. This great prize was sponsored by eSMart, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Monika Schärer made it exciting and presented the award to the delighted winner Markus Nussbaum.

    We would like to take this opportunity to thank all guests and speakers for the exciting afternoon. A big thank you also goes to the Eventalm for the great and flexible organization, the friendly service and the delicious treats. But we don’t want to forget our partners either, without you such an event would not have been possible! Thanks to EKZ, eternit, eSMART, Seitzmeir, Sunrise, SVIT Zurich, Rigips, PropTechMarket, Woonig and FRZ.

    We hope to see some of you in Lausanne on October 6th and in Basel on November 24th. Until then, we wish you a nice summer!

  • Walo drives digitization forward

    Walo drives digitization forward

    According to a message on Facebook, the Dietiker construction company Walo Bertschinger is introducing the digital ordering and delivery process with Q Site for all 13 business areas of asphalt road construction. From planning the paving process and coordinating the ordering of mix with the asphalt plant to controlling the paving process, Walo employees will use the Q Site software in the future.

    The software application Q Site has been developed by Q Point in Langenthal BE. There are several fields of application. Q Asphalt says on Q Point’s special website that the system offers support both in the office and on the construction site with the construction site app over the entire cycle of a construction project. From planning to execution to the final documentation, it provides helpful key figures to build easier, faster and more successfully.

    Project planning is given as an example. According to Q Point, the system automatically delivers a ready-to-use installation and logistics concept including a complete employee and equipment deployment plan as well as a calculation of the trucks required.

    According to the Facebook message, Walo Bertschinger assumes that even more efficient work processes can be achieved with this “upgrade”.

  • digitalSTROM launches new product

    digitalSTROM launches new product

    digitalSTROM AG from Schlieren is launching a new device for the convenient operation of shadow facilities. According to the press release , electric roller shutters, awnings, blinds and curtains can be opened and closed digitally with the GR-KL300 universal shade clamp. This is done using digitalSTROM commands. These can also be given by a smartphone app. In this way, desired shading positions can be called up from a distance.

    According to the product description , the various types of shading, such as the height of blinds, can be freely configured using software. Several installations can be intelligently networked in the digitalSTROM system via the power line in the house. This makes it possible to control several shading devices in one room or in the entire apartment or house.

    With the GR-KL300, opening and closing can be controlled via a digitalSTROM button and automated if desired. Depending on the time of day, weather conditions or as a simulation of presence, a specific setting can be selected.

    The drive of the blinds or other systems can also be operated directly via buttons without digitalSTROM. The installation automatically recognizes the position of the shading device. And there is a shutdown when overload is indicated. According to digitalSTROM, the new device will be on the market from April 15th.

  • Baumer is building in Frauenfeld for 20 million francs

    Baumer is building in Frauenfeld for 20 million francs

    Baumer will add a development center to its Frauenfeld site. The company is investing 20 million francs in its new Innovation Center. It will offer space for around 120 employees on 5,000 square meters. According to a press release , the teams should move in in late summer 2023.

    Baumer is investing in its innovative strength for the second time in just a few years, following the opening of the new high-tech center in Stockach in southern Germany in 2018. The central location between the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich , the University of Excellence in Konstanz and the OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule is “optimal”. “The new building enables us to expand the development capacities at the headquarters in order to expand our position as a driver of innovation,” says Dr. Oliver Vietze quoted, CEO of the company from the St.GallenBodenseeArea.

    When it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency, the Innovation Center is set to become a showcase project. A complete solar building envelope is planned for power generation. Geothermal probes and a heat pump are to temper the building. Baumer will obtain further CO2-neutral electricity from Swiss hydropower.

  • Zurich launches platform MeinQuartier.Zuerich for more say

    Zurich launches platform MeinQuartier.Zuerich for more say

    The City of Zurich is launching an online platform to increase networking and involve people in their districts. On MeinQuartier.Zuerich , residents should be able to receive information from and about their districts and get in touch with clubs and community centers as well as neighbors, according to a press release .

    MeinQuartier.Zuerich is based on the open-source software Decidim , which various cities around the world are already using. In this country, Geneva, Lausanne and Lucerne use the open source software. The costs for the construction and operation of MeinQuartier.Zuerich for the city of Zurich amount to around CHF 175,000 by the end of the pilot phase at the end of 2023.

    The district platform is the result of a participatory process between urban development and the districts in 2019. A digital platform for the districts emerged from this “as an important concern of this process,” according to the media release. It includes functions such as publishing information, events and blog entries as well as conducting surveys.

    Four neighborhood associations, the Zurich community centers and other organizations were involved in the development process. “Contact with the population is very important to us. We hope that we can support our work with digital surveys and collections of ideas even better and, above all, more broadly in the district,” Balz Bürgisser, President of the Witikon District Association, is quoted as saying in the media release.

    Clubs and organizations can register using aform on the website and take part in an information event on March 29th.

  • Betterhomes joins SwissPropTech

    Betterhomes joins SwissPropTech

    SwissPropTech has a new member. At the beginning of 2022, Betterhomes joined the innovation network of the Swiss real estate and construction industry, the Zurich-based brokerage firm announced in a statement. As part of its membership, Betterhomes wants to pass on knowledge and promote a planned expansion. So far, Betterhomes has been active with its technology platform for broker and customer software in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

    “We are pursuing the ambitious goal of opening up 30 countries in Europe over the next eight years,” Betterhomes CEO Cyrill Lanz is quoted as saying in the statement. “I don’t count the technology so much as the biggest challenges, but rather the organic growth in sales and the cultural differences in the different countries.” The company is currently preparing a new website and a new learning management system for its technology platform Betternet 3.0 before.

    For SwissPropTech, the entry of Betterhomes is “a strong signal for our industry,” explains Lars Sommerer, Managing Director of SwissPropTech, in the press release. “A digital ‘real estate fair broker’ from the very beginning recognizes the importance of innovation and digitization and now wants to pass on his experience and expertise.”

  • Location promotion in Switzerland – hybrid conference and awards

    Location promotion in Switzerland – hybrid conference and awards

    With the “SVSM Dialogue” series of events, the Swiss Association for Location Management SVSM imparts specialist knowledge and connects location managers, business developers, real estate experts, spatial planners and other interested parties. At the upcoming spring event, which will take place on March 31, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., practical presentations from Upper Valais, the city of Baden and the Wil region will provide valuable technical input for day-to-day work. At the “SVSM Dialogue on Location Management”, three exciting speakers will use case studies to show practical solutions and strategies and discuss current challenges: Thomas Lütolf, Head of Location Promotion City of Baden, will present the regional economic vision of the Baden North district. Anne Rombach-Jung, managing director of REGIO WIL, talks about the future of WILWEST and Esther Schlumpf, project manager at the Upper Valais regional and economic center, deals with the question of whether governance can be a success factor for regional development.

    Be there – on site or via live streaming
    The “SVSM Dialogue Site Management” is held as a hybrid event: The participants either attend the event on site in the unique ambience of the garden hall of the Villa Boveri in Baden or join the event virtually – the entire event is streamed live and offers thanks to a special Event platform also gives virtual participants the opportunity to interact. After registering online, all participants will receive a personal participation link with which they can log into the event via a browser. The event is free for members of the SVSM. Non-members pay a fee of CHF 50. If a membership is registered during or after the event, this amount will be refunded.

    Registration and detailed program:
     https://svsm-standortmanagement.ch/anlaesse

    SVSM Awards for innovative projects
    In addition to the hybrid specialist conferences, the “SVSM Awards” are another focus of the SVSM. These will be awarded again in 2022 after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The awards are aimed at small and large projects – from local to national. The “SVSM Awards” want to make the variety and quality as well as the innovative strength of projects from all over the country visible and thus strengthen the position of the corresponding organizations and initiatives. The “SVSM Awards” are both an incentive and a reward for those involved in the area of location and business development. Projects with a particularly high degree of innovative strength are awarded. Possible examples are location strategies, area developments and corresponding positioning, projects to promote innovation and business clusters, projects to establish or strengthen location brands, promotional activities and campaigns, events that strengthen a location, or organizational development and cooperation models. Applications for the awards are made using an online form. A jury of experts selects the nominated projects from all submissions. The nominees then have the opportunity to present their project to the jury in a virtual session. The announcement of the winning projects and the presentation of the awards will take place as part of the “SVSM Dialogue Economic Promotion” on November 2, 2022.

    Further information and online application:
     https://svsm-standortmanagement.ch/awards

    The umbrella organization for location promotions
    The Swiss Association for Location Management SVSM is a professional association founded in 1998. It enables the interdisciplinary exchange of information and experience, links teaching, research and practice, promotes professionalization in site management and is the contact for questions about site management. The SVSM currently has around 80 members from the areas of location and business development, c, real estate as well as training and further education. Twice a year, the SVSM organizes the hybrid conference “SVSM Dialog”; in spring with a focus on topics related to location promotion, in autumn with a focus on economic development. After a break due to the pandemic, the trade association is again presenting the “SVSM Awards” this year for innovative projects in the area of location management and business development. At the beginning of October, the SVSM – also after a two-year break – once again organizes the popular guided visit to Europe’s largest trade fair for locations and real estate, the Expo Real in Munich.

    Further information on the SVSM:
     https://svsm-standortmanagement.ch

  • Schindler setzt Installationsroboter erstmals in Asien ein

    Schindler setzt Installationsroboter erstmals in Asien ein

    Aufzugbauer Schindler bringt seinen Installationsroboter R.I.S.E. jetzt auch im Asien-Pazifik-Raum zum Einsatz. In Schanghai bohrte er unzählige Löcher für die Installation von fünf Fahrstühlen in einem der grössten Geschäftskomplexe der Innenstadt. Auch im Singapurer Wohnbauprojekt Avenue South Residence nahm R.I.S.E. Monteuren diesen Teil der Arbeiten ab. Dort wurden laut einer Medienmitteilung weitere zehn Fahrstühle installiert.

    „Mit Schindler R.I.S.E. machen wir Hochbaustellen sicherer und effizienter“, so Schindlers COO Paolo Compagna. „Der Roboter übernimmt das Bohren von Tausenden Ankerbolzen, die für die Installation von Aufzügen erforderlich sind und trägt so zu mehr Arbeitssicherheit bei. Monteure können ihre Zeit so für anspruchsvollere Tätigkeiten nutzen.“ Dies garantiere eine schnellere und effizientere Projektabwicklung, „was in einer Zeit, in der weltweit viele mit Verzögerungen auf Baustellen konfrontiert sind, noch wichtiger geworden ist“.

    Schindler verweist darauf, dass es diese „bahnbrechende“ Innovation in der Kategorie Innovation Leaders in die engere Auswahl für den Swiss Technology Award geschafft habe. Er gilt als der bedeutendste Innovations- und Technologiepreis der Schweiz.

  • New apps offer 3D views of Zurich

    New apps offer 3D views of Zurich

    The city of Zurich is making a 3D city model accessible to the general public. According to a media release , two applications have been developed for this. According to the information provided, the Zurich virtual app allows freely selectable views of buildings, trees, forests and bridges. The Zurich 4D app focuses on structural development in space and time. Current building construction projects, design plans and completed architectural competitions should be visualized there. Both apps are freely available to the public, including schools, as open data.

    According to the city, they are primarily aimed at planners and specialists from architecture and engineering. Functions such as measuring the height of buildings or casting shadows will be of professional interest to them. The documentation of real estate is also possible with it.

    As the city of Zurich also reports, the underlying technologies are already being used within the administration for the visualization of noise simulations, in the context of architectural competitions and for the integral presentation of civil engineering and building construction projects.

    As the city of Zurich also reports, the two apps were created as part of the city council’s strategy focus on the digital city. They are part of the so-called digital twin, the digital representation of the city of Zurich.

  • Brivo integrates alarm management from Sitasys

    Brivo integrates alarm management from Sitasys

    Brivo, Inc. from the US state of Maryland has entered into a partnership with Sitasys AG from Solothurn. The North American inventor of cloud-based access control and the so-called Smart Spaces technology integrates the cloud-based alarm management evalink talos from Sitasys into its platform. This integration is available on evalink marketplace .

    “For customers who value central monitoring, we are pleased about the partnership with Sitasys AG’s evalink technology,” said Brivo founder and CEO Steve Van Till in a press release . This would allow security professionals to manage access, alarms and video surveillance more easily and save time, “without sacrificing performance”.

    The Brivo integration combines alarm centers, tracking systems, cameras and access control in a unified security platform called Brivo Access. It uses analytics, business intelligence, and machine learning “to generate actionable insights from big data.”

    “We are convinced that the integration of Brivo with our evalink technology will strengthen our overall offering and create added value for our joint customers,” says Peter Monte, CEO and founder of Sitasys AG. “The integration of cloud systems makes it easier for users to work in different tools within one platform and thus more efficiently.”

  • Synhelion and Cemex produce the first solar concrete

    Synhelion and Cemex produce the first solar concrete

    Synhelion and Mexico’s Cemex , the world’s fifth largest cement producer in 2020, have produced the world’s first solar clinker. As both companies write in a media release of the same name, this “revolutionary innovation” is a “first step towards the development of completely solar-powered cement plants”. dr Gianluca Ambrosetti, CEO and co-founder of Synhelion, is proud to “join with Cemex to demonstrate a concrete, industrially relevant application of our fully renewable high-temperature solar heating”.

    Synhelion emerged from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in 2016. The company’s technology aims to replace all types of fossil fuels with solar fuels. According to the information, it converts concentrated heat from the sun into “the hottest process heat available on the market”. Cemex wants to supply CO2-neutral concrete worldwide by 2050. A key part of this strategy is CEMEX Ventures and its research and development center in Brügg BE.

    Research teams from both companies installed a pilot plant on the premises of the Madrid Regional Government’s Imdea Energy Research Institute . There, the solar receiver from Synhelion delivered “record-breaking” temperatures of over 1500 degrees with concentrated sunlight. A gaseous heat transfer medium is thus heated. This provided the heat needed to melt limestone, clay, and other materials together.

    The clinker obtained in this way was used to manufacture cement and then processed into concrete. In the next phase of their joint research and development project, Synhelion and Cemex intend to work towards an industrial-scale pilot plant.

  • Five start-ups move into Büro Züri Innovationspark

    Five start-ups move into Büro Züri Innovationspark

    The Züri Innovationspark office has officially opened, according to a press release . Five start-ups have moved into a total of 170 square meters in the converted fire station of the former Dübendorf Airport. They were selected by public vote from among ten candidates last summer.

    The modern building offers 16 flexible workplaces, meeting rooms, a kitchen and a generous infrastructure. With their move into the Dübendorf office in Züri, the teams will also become part of the ecosystem in the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, according to the Zürcher Kantonalbank . The Zürcher Kantonalbank, co-founder of the Zurich Innovation Park, makes this space available free of charge for an innovative and collaborative working group. In a statement , the bank describes the Züri office, of which there is another edition in Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, as its "gift" to the population.

    The five start-ups from Büro Züri Innovationspark include Medtech aiEndoscopic and the data processing platform for artificial intelligence, Lightly . Soma Rem is also on site, which helps people with body image disorders with virtual and augmented reality. TerraRad Tech brings remote space sensing technology to agriculture. And Tethys Robotics develops underwater robots.

  • Swisscom takes over majority of e-government specialists

    Swisscom takes over majority of e-government specialists

    Swisscom announces the acquisition of the Zurich-based Innovative Web Group. With the takeover, the telecommunications company wants to expand its activities in the areas of web solutions and e-government for public administrations and municipalities, according to a press release. The Innovative Web Group remains legally independent. The takeover will not result in any changes for customers or employees. The parties have agreed not to disclose the company valuation.

    The Innovative Web Group, founded in 2000, is well positioned in the segment of e-government solutions for Swiss municipalities and cities, cantons, municipal utilities, schools and other administrative-related organizations. With the acquisition of the group of companies, Swisscom expects new growth potential for its “Municipalities and Associations” business area, which is mainly handled by the subsidiary Swisscom Directories AG with the municipality platform Localcities .

    Localcities provides information and advice on all aspects of official, economic, social and cultural life in the community. In association with Innovative Web, the foundation stone is to be laid in order to “use technical modules reciprocally and develop new, innovative solutions for almost every need of the around 2,200 Swiss communities, regardless of the size of the community”, says Stefano Santinelli , CEO Swisscom Directories AG, quoted.

  • BEKB, ewb and GVB launch myky platform

    BEKB, ewb and GVB launch myky platform

    The three Bern companies BEKB , ewb and GVB have launched the myky website. Its aim is to offer homeowners expert knowledge and services from a single source on the platform, according to a media release . Myky stand for my key, my key.

    First of all, the platform offers an interactive renovation planner. This should help to find and implement meaningful renovation measures. “Customers have an overview of the energetic state of their home at all times and can plan the renovation measures holistically and in a way that optimizes costs,” says the press release.

    The initiators hope that users will be actively involved in the further development of the platform. It is desirable that homeowners, investors and companies network with one another and “actively participate in the development of the home universe with their own inputs, questions and requests”.

    For companies, myky should offer the opportunity to maintain customer relationships. “The myky project helps us, for example, to support the owners on their way to sustainably refurbished homes in all financial matters and beyond,” said Armin Brun, CEO of BEKB, in the media release.

  • Digitalswitzerland shows start-ups the Swiss market

    Digitalswitzerland shows start-ups the Swiss market

    The Digitalswitzerland initiative aims to attract promising young companies to Switzerland. To this end, it launched the Swiss Market Entry Program, which was carried out for the fourth time this year in cooperation with the European innovation platform Kickstart .

    As part of the program, start-ups that are already successful abroad receive an insight into the Swiss ecosystem. Meetings with leading companies, public institutions and innovation programs are organized. The aim is to motivate companies to enter the Swiss market and to support them in doing so.

    According to an announcement , 25 start-ups from 16 countries took part in the Swiss Market Entry Program this year. They come not only from European countries, but also from the USA and Israel. A company from New Zealand also took part with CarbonClick . It supports companies in climate protection by giving them carbon offsets.

    The 25 start-ups were received in Switzerland on December 6th. The program took place in the Kraftwerk, a former power station that has been converted into a space for innovation in Zurich.

  • That was the (PropTech) year …

    That was the (PropTech) year …

    The money seems to be on the street at the moment. A number of well-known financing rounds were closed and numerous seed funding was obtained. In addition to the professional venture capital companies, there were increasingly also corporates who want to cut a piece of the (PropTech) pie here – among other things, to secure appropriate product know-how and digital competence in the company.

    More and more insurance companies and banks have used the past twelve months to build their own “living” ecosystem. What was planned and designed in the “Corona year” 2020 was implemented in 2021 – with the aim of strengthening the company’s own market position, for example in the mortgage business, in real estate marketing or in the area of insurance solutions.

    Mobiliar made the most of the talk with its ecosystem ventures. The insurance company has set up the Liiva joint venture with Raiffeisen, among other things, in order to use this platform to give its customers access to the living ecosystem and to establish a continuous value chain. But Credit Suisse, the mortgage specialist Moneypark and the data specialist PropTech Pricehubble also recently announced their partnership with the aim of creating a service and information platform for homeowners. And for the cantonal banks, who have been on the market for a long time with the newhome.ch platform, real estate is part of their core business. With a substantial participation of three cantonal banks in the PropTech company emonitor, a leader in the digitization of letting and marketing processes, a further step towards the living ecosystem has been taken.

    The past year was also marked by mergers and amalgamations of existing business models – such as the portal and solution provider Flatfox and the management solution Aroov. The announcement of the merger of several real estate portals such as homegate.ch and ImmoScout24 under the Swiss Marketplace Group (SMG) brand, a joint venture between TX Group, Ringier, Mobiliar and General Atlantic, has really hit the mark.

    So it will be exciting to see how things will continue in the new year and what concrete successes we will observe. The basis has been created in many ways, but there is certainly still a lot to be done at the level of organization, restructuring and governance. And the topic of sustainability will probably also be mentioned more often in the new year …

    You can find more impulses at PropTechMarket: https://proptechmarket.net/impulse

  • Abacus presents the latest generation of business software

    Abacus presents the latest generation of business software

    Claudio Hintermann, CEO of Abacus Research AG, presented the fifth generation of Abacus Business Software “Abacus DEEP” at yesterday’s 27th Abacus Partner Conference. The motto of the conference was “Welcome to the future”. The aim of the new software generation is a secure and digital ERP platform that enables autonomous real-time accounting without paper. This means that booking processes are only handled digitally and information is immediately available to customers.

    Deepbox as a universal, digital turntable
    Thanks to the seamless integration of various deep technologies, accounts payable and accounts receivable documents as well as their payments can now be processed autonomously. An important function for the exchange of data is performed by deepbox, a kind of electronic postbox that exchanges documents, information and payments between customers, suppliers, trustees, banks, insurance companies, administrations, but also devices or properties and the Abacus business software as well as AbaNinja . Thanks to “Abacus DEEP”, with technologies from the subsidiary DeepCloud AG, all booking processes that were previously carried out manually can be eliminated.

    Direct booking in real time
     Another important component of the new generation of business software is the complete integration of the processes with the Neo-Bank YAPEAL. Expenses or payments can be booked in real time and completely autonomously. Thanks to these pioneering innovations, Abacus is strengthening its position as the leading Swiss manufacturer of business software for SMEs and public administrations. The central functional innovations, such as financial and investment planning as well as further developments in the application areas AbaTreuhand, service management, maintenance, AbaUnit for time and performance recording, MyAbacus «for mobile», also met with great interest from the more than 700 participants in the conference. the connection to UKA Connect from HRM Systems for illness and accident reports, AbaClik with a simplified approval process and AbaClock with face recognition. In the future, third-party software can be connected to the Abacus even more easily via REST-API.

    Swiss innovation thanks to the market and competition
    Abacus has succeeded in setting new impulses again and again in recent years. The launch of the fifth generation is an example of how Swiss companies organized under private law can make an important contribution to strengthening the business location. Claudio Hintermann, CEO of Abacus: “Even 36 years after it was founded, Abacus can still offer customers business software that is functionally and technologically at the highest level. We are proud to be able to show that we succeed in investing in the future again and again without subsidies and cross-financing and to prove our leading position. The more than 60,000 customers, the more than 600 employees and Switzerland as a business location benefit from this.

  • CondenZero wins Swiss Innovation Challenge

    CondenZero wins Swiss Innovation Challenge

    The Swiss Innovation Challenge has been decided, the three winners come from Zurich: on Thursday the main prize of CHF 20,000 was awarded to condenZero . The spin-off of the University of Zurich ( UZH ) received this award virtually when the award ceremony was broadcast from the Haus der Wirtschaft in Pratteln. According to a press release , a message from Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin was leaked.

    The physicists at condenZero develop and produce scientific sample holders that work at low temperatures of around minus 270 degrees. The innovative cooling principle was originally developed at the Swiss free-electron laser at the Paul Scherrer Institute . In the start-up phase, the team will concentrate on introducing the new technology to the cryo-electron microscopy market. The condenZero technology can hold cryogenic temperatures for up to 24 hours. With the current cryo-microscopy solutions, this is only possible for 15 minutes. CondenZero is also in the final round of the start-up CERN BIC incubator .

    Second place and the special life sciences prize of CHF 5,000 went to MyLeg . This is a “unique” device that recovers sensory information about the touch and movement of a prosthetic leg. It does this through non-invasive electrical stimulation. The device does not have to be used surgically and can be added to any existing prosthesis.

    Third place and the special construction prize were awarded to Oxara . The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich converts construction waste into sustainable and affordable building materials with self-developed and patented mineral additives, thus promoting the circular economy. The company’s goal is to significantly reduce “the immense footprint” of conventional building materials.

  • Learn faster than change

    Learn faster than change

    In contrast to earlier, more linear revolutions, digital change is advancing exponentially. That means, you don’t notice anything for a long time, and suddenly the change is there. In contrast to the film, music or car industries, which were surprised by Netflix, Spotify or Tesla, this development should not be overslept. “And that is exactly why it is particularly worthwhile to invest in innovations and stay on the ball,” said Mario Facchinetti in his presentation at this year’s Swiss ImmoTable in the building arena in Volketswil, Switzerland. The name of his company PropTechMarket stands for technology-driven, new innovations (property technology), which are becoming increasingly important for the real estate industry.

    Technologies should be used where they are superior to humans. Often enough, the change is creeping: “Ten years ago no taxi driver would have expected that a tech company from San Francisco called Uber could ever compete with him. Or to put it quite simply: Nothing remarkable happens for a long time, with many new companies putting themselves in a starting position, collecting data and experience, ”says Facchinetti. So far, no company has succeeded in turning the real estate industry upside down. However, many companies were working on this vision. Now it’s about building experiences faster than digital change advances.

    New technologies are revolutionizing the market: “One can imagine that we will need different skills in the future than we do today,” says Facchinetti. “Many courses are hopelessly out of date. And soon the question arises as to whether it would be better to hire a graduate with a master’s degree or a lateral thinker with a lot of practical know-how. ” Investing in innovation gives you the time to react to new market conditions. There are currently around 7,000 new companies at work around the world who want to win part of the real estate pie. And in contrast to five years ago, these young savages are increasingly receiving risk capital from investors in order to gain a foothold in the industry with competitive prices.

  • The Livit laundry room is going digital

    The Livit laundry room is going digital

    Tenants and landlords have personal access to an online portal. After logging in, the tenants can see whether the washing machine and / or dryer are free, select the devices and book them. Offsetting is also carried out via the system, in which the tenant purchases a credit (online or via a payment slip). There is no longer any need to collect coins or manage washing cards by the caretaker. And when the laundry or the dryer is ready, the tenant receives a message on the cell phone – a great advantage especially when he or she has to climb several floors.

    Tenants, administration and owners benefit equally
    The advantage for tenants is obvious – they benefit from the convenience that the new system offers them. Livit and the owners benefit by being able to preset washing times or block the devices for repairs and maintenance. The administrative effort is reduced and a dashboard provides an overview of usage at a glance. Livit is one of the first companies in Switzerland to completely digitalize billing in communal laundry rooms. For the implementation, Livit has chosen the company ELEKTRON AG as its partner, which has decades of experience in simple and cashless billing in communal laundry rooms. The fully automated, manufacturer-independent billing solutions offer tenants maximum flexibility and minimum administration effort. “On the one hand, it was crucial that the solution was independent of the manufacturers of the devices. On the other hand, there is also the flexibility and real Swissness that ELEKTRON embodies, ”says Adrian von Burg, Head of Business Solutions at Livit.

  • Baloise presents its ecosystem for innovations

    Baloise presents its ecosystem for innovations

    The Baloise Group has been modernizing and expanding its core business as part of its Simply Safe strategy since 2017. According to a statement from the insurer, working methods have been modernized internally, scope for design expanded and hierarchies dismantled, thereby increasing employee satisfaction overall.

    At the same time, an ecosystem of innovations was built up. To this end, 7,500 ideas and start-ups were tested in the Baloise Open Innovation Funnel. The Basler Insurance Group has invested a total of 50 million francs annually in the most promising initiatives. Around 30 investments are in the scaling phase. As the largest investment, FRIDAY is already one of the most popular digital insurers in Germany and was able to expand to France in 2021. FRIDAY sales are likely to rise to over 50 million francs this year, with a target of 150 million francs in 2025.

    In the home sector, Baloise has invested in eight initiatives, five in Switzerland and three in Belgium. The total turnover is over 10 million francs, the aim for 2025 is 100 million francs. In the area of mobility, the nine initiatives should generate a total of up to CHF 10 million in sales in 2021. In 2025, sales are also expected to rise to 100 million.

    Gert De Winter is now initiating the second phase of Simply Safe. “Our ambition is to have our investment measures valued at CHF 1 billion by 2025 and to secure a business volume contribution of CHF 350 million through the new initiatives,” the CEO of Baloise is quoted as saying in the press release.

    At the same time, progress in the area of innovation should be made more visible. The innovations are presented narrative on the newly launched “ Baloise Innovation – Connecting the Dots ” website.

  • Bühler builds center for positive energy and innovations

    Bühler builds center for positive energy and innovations

    Bühler AG has officially broken ground for its new Energy & Manufacturing Technology Center in Uzwil. The building in the immediate vicinity of the Cubic Innovationscampus, which was inaugurated in 2018, underlines the technology company’s long-term renewal strategy, according to a media release. Completion should be in the second quarter of 2023.

    On the one hand, the building consists of an energy center. The center for “good, positive energy” is to become the center for vocational and advanced training as well as for health prevention. Young men and women are trained there in the areas of plant engineering, polymechanics, automation and IT. This center should also be accessible to external partners.

    “We are clearly committed to the success model of our vocational training and lifelong learning. We are also expanding our health expertise much more and making a further contribution to keeping Uzwil as an attractive business location, ”said Christof Oswald, Head of Human Resources at Bühler, in the media release. Overall, the Energy Center aims to make Bühler more attractive as an employer.

    The second part of the building, the Manufacturing Technology Center, will house the areas of innovation and prototype construction. “Here we will manufacture innovations for our customers as pilot projects that we will later introduce in other production plants around the world,” said Andreas Schachtner, Head of Business Development in Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain, in the media release.

  • Smart new (real) world

    Smart new (real) world

    So what are the areas of competence in which we should operate safely in the future?
    A lot can be subsumed under the term tech knowledge : The increasingly software-based solutions require, among other things, to deal with interface adaptation and web integration. Mastering programming languages could become an individual competitive advantage. No more targeted marketing campaigns without data analytics know-how. And it is certainly not wrong to deal with blockchain technology and terms like DeFi and NFT …

    However, it is not just about technological knowledge itself, but also about the correct use of technology and the new digital possibilities. Cloud-based application programs and virtual team applications are springing up like mushrooms – without conscious effort and targeted handling, these helpers can quickly become time wasters and burnout accelerators. “Ordinary employees” will also have to deal more and more with the topic of cyber security.

    Last but not least, a new understanding of leadership and collaboration is also required. The often traditional hierarchical thinking in the group certainly does not have the potential of a modern leadership model. However, the pure startup peer-to-peer culture without procedural rules is not the golden way either. Above all, it requires mindfulness and participation, sensible autonomy and personal responsibility as well as a new culture of error. Plans and activities must be able to be adapted quickly and flexibly – from this point of view, agile methods are therefore a must in (project) management in the future.

    You can find more impulses here: https://proptechmarket.net/impulse

  • Construction of the InnoQube Swiss has started

    Construction of the InnoQube Swiss has started

    The latest innovation center in the Alpine region is currently being built in Graubünden. The groundbreaking ceremony for the InnoQube Swiss was celebrated on Friday in the Rossboden area of Chur. According to a notification , the project will be fully financed by the Liechtenstein- based ITW group of companies . It specifies the total investment at around CHF 25 million.

    The CEO of the investor and project developer, Dr. Martin Meyer, is convinced that this will create “a place of innovation, inspiration and progress that will become known far beyond the Swiss borders”. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the operating company InnoQube Swiss AG, Franco Quinter, emphasizes that the InnoQube Swiss is viewed as a temporary or permanent “base camp for innovations”. The offer is aimed “specifically at start-ups, spin-offs and companies from research, development and digitization”. “The key issues of health and performance would play a decisive role”.

    Completion is planned for the end of 2023. From 2024 research and work will be carried out in the four-story InnoQube on a total area of 11,200 square meters. It offers flexible office space for around 300 workplaces, various co-working and meeting rooms, an event arena, a restaurant and a daycare center.

  • SimplyNano wins award for promoting young talent

    SimplyNano wins award for promoting young talent

    This year’s Building Awards for outstanding engineering achievements in construction were presented on November 2nd in Lucerne. In the category promotion of young talent in the field of technology, the jury selected the SimplyNano project as the winner, the innovation society informed in a message . The company, which was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the University of St.Gallen , developed SimplyNano. The project is carried out by the SimplySience Foundation and supported by a number of other foundations and companies as well as the public sector.

    The award recognizes the concept, high-quality didactic content and broad support from SimplyNano, according to the announcement. “Upper school children are motivated to deal with the nanoscale – just at the moment of choosing a career,” jury member Clementine Hegner-van Rooden is quoted as saying. “On a didactic, but very concrete level, this awakens a sensitivity for an area that is so far little known at this level and hopefully creates creative specialists for our professional world.”

    SimplyNano pursues “an integrative approach in promoting young talent on three levels”, is further explained in the communication. Schools are provided with an experiment kit with 40 ready-to-teach experiments and materials. Further training courses are offered for teaching staff. They take place at partner companies and thus also make it possible to network teachers and trainees.

    The engineering offices WaltGalmarini AG and COWI A / S have prevailed as the overall winner of the Building Awards with their project Second Hinterrheinbrücke. They were also victorious in the infrastructure category. Other awards went to Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG and WaltGalmarini in the building construction category, to Kegel Klimasysteme in the energy and building technology category and to Alain Escher, eicher + pauli Bern AG in the young professionals category.

  • sfb continues training on building informatics

    sfb continues training on building informatics

    The sfb Higher Technical College for Technology and Management has responded to the increasing demand for specialists in building networking. As the first higher technical school, it has therefore introduced the course technician HF building technology with a specialization in building informatics. After a successful start in August this year, the sfb will continue to offer the course. New courses will start on August 18, 2022 at the Dietikon, Emmenbrücke LU and Zollikofen BE locations.

    The new courses also last six semesters. At all three locations, lessons are held on the entire Monday and Thursday evening. In Zollikofen there is also the possibility to attend classes on Thursday evenings and all of Saturday. Participants have the opportunity to qualify for the next step in their careers in the “largest growth market in the construction industry”, as sfb director Dorothea Tiefenauer puts it. “The technician HF building technology course at sfb focuses on building information technology and is geared towards the needs of the economy. Professionals with this training are in great demand on the job market, ”she adds.

    The sfb has a total of eight locations and, with more than 1200 students and 500 teachers, is one of the largest higher technical schools in Switzerland. It is supported by social partners in the machine, electrical and metal industries.

  • Innovationspark Dübendorf is one step further

    Innovationspark Dübendorf is one step further

    The airport area in Dübendorf is to develop into a lively urban quarter in the coming years. A center for innovation, research and jobs is to be created. The aviation infrastructure is to be secured as a strategic reserve.

    The Zurich Government Council has now submitted a synthesis report to the Cantonal Council, as stated in a communication . This was drawn up by the federal government, the canton, the local authorities and other parties involved. It forms the basis for the further development of the area. It is now to be advised first by a special commission set up by the Cantonal Council.

    The government council intends to submit three proposals to the cantonal council by spring 2022. These deal with the creation of planning rights, a revision of the structure plan and a planning loan.

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run in Switzerland – Get on the move!

    2. Global Real Estate Run in Switzerland – Get on the move!

    After the endlessly long home office and shutdown time, the 1st Global Real Estate Run (impressions: https://globalrealestaterun.com/socialmediawall) came at the start of the year, in order to exchange ideas with like-minded people, and to do more than just active team building To do something good for oneself, but also for the environment: “Around 1400 participants from 46 countries modified the Global Run to meet their individual needs,” says the initiator Mario Facchinetti. “Once again, it is important to complete six kilometers in a time window of 24 hours: every participant is free to run, run or walk. Anyone can take part, free of charge – anywhere in the world. ” The run is of course 100 percent corona compliant. The six kilometers can be completed on a route of your choice, regardless of location. Registration on the Globalrealestaterun.com website is required to participate. Each participant then has access to a geotagged app that accompanies the event interactively.


    Promote sustainability
     Not only real estate professionals take part in the Global Real Estate Run, but also tenants and owners. The “team event of a different kind” is not only health-promoting, but also provides a topic of conversation. And by the way, you are also doing something good for the environment. Thanks to the collaboration with Unispace, Key4 by UBS, Immo! Invest, PropTechMarket, Schäppi Grundstücke and “There for Trees”, a tree is now being planted for every kilometer covered. Well: If these are not enough good reasons to be active to register for the next event and to make a contribution to more sustainability and innovation in the real estate industry.


    Registration and more information: https://globalrealestaterun.com
    Impressions:https://globalrealestaterun.com/socialmediawall
    Media kit: https://globalrealestaterun.com/mediakit
    Contact person: Mario Facchinetti, initiator, mail@globalrealestaterun.com

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run

    2. Global Real Estate Run

    Autumn is approaching with great strides and with it, unfortunately, the time of increasing corona case numbers again. A decentralized team event outdoors provides planning security and does not require a certificate or the associated organizational effort. Companies can register as an entire company or only participate with individual teams. An ideal opportunity for a strategy walk away from the hectic everyday life – or just for a nice chat among work colleagues.

    For this purpose, some companies used the event last spring for additional team building measures and spontaneously organized an aperitif reception, started their own slack channel to strengthen the (international) team spirit or decided to collect waste along the entire route Communicate this good deed through social media. Interested parties can find more impressions of the past event here .

    There are no special requirements for participation, only the will to complete 6 kilometers within 24 hours. Whether jogging or ambitious walking is up to each participant. After registering, the participant receives access to a geotagged app. The route can be chosen freely by the private persons / teams regardless of location.

    With this initiative, the organizers want to draw attention to innovation and sustainability in the real estate industry. Everyone can contribute to this. Because sustainability is not a local but a global issue. Just like the Global Real Estate Run . As a “green” sign, thanks to the main partners Unispace , Immo! Nvest and PropTechMarket , a tree is planted for every kilometer covered.

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run

    2. Global Real Estate Run

    Autumn is approaching with great strides and with it, unfortunately, the time of increasing corona case numbers again. A decentralized team event outdoors provides planning security and does not require a certificate or the associated organizational effort. Companies can register as an entire company or only participate with individual teams. An ideal opportunity for a strategy walk away from the hectic everyday life – or just for a nice chat among work colleagues.

    For this purpose, some companies used the event last spring for additional team building measures and spontaneously organized an aperitif reception, started their own slack channel to strengthen the (international) team spirit or decided to collect waste along the entire route Communicate this good deed through social media. Interested parties can find more impressions of the past event here .

    There are no special requirements for participation, only the will to complete 6 kilometers within 24 hours. Whether jogging or ambitious walking is up to each participant. After registering, the participant receives access to a geotagged app. The route can be chosen freely by the private persons / teams regardless of location.

    With this initiative, the organizers want to draw attention to innovation and sustainability in the real estate industry. Everyone can contribute to this. Because sustainability is not a local but a global issue. Just like the Global Real Estate Run . As a “green” sign, thanks to the main partners Unispace , Immo! Nvest and PropTechMarket , a tree is planted for every kilometer covered.

    Registration and more at: www.globalrealestaterun.com