immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Standortmarketing

  • Location marketing attracts 264 companies to Switzerland

    Location marketing attracts 264 companies to Switzerland

    According to a statement from the Conference of Cantonal Economic Affairs Directors, location marketing organisations have attracted 264 new businesses to Switzerland in 2025. These businesses have already created 919 jobs in their first year of operation. This figure is set to rise to a total of 2,687 jobs over the next three years.

    This represents significant growth for the cantonal, regional and national location marketing organisations. In the previous year, they had attracted 231 companies, which created 716 new jobs in their first year. This figure is set to rise to 2,135 jobs by 2027. In 2023, 206 companies were newly established, creating 640 jobs in their first year.

    Of the 2,025 newly established companies, 60 per cent come from Germany, France, China and the UK. Around 80 per cent operate in the strategic key technologies agreed upon by the federal government, cantons and regions for the years 2024 to 2027. These include the future of healthcare, digital technology, automation, food and the financial sector.

    The promotion of Switzerland as a business location is a joint task between the federal government and the cantons. They have commissioned Switzerland Global Enterprise to handle national location marketing.

  • Six projects have been nominated for prizes from the Swiss Business Location Network

    Six projects have been nominated for prizes from the Swiss Business Location Network

    Six projects from Baden AG, Neuchâtel, St.Gallen, Thusis GR, Greater Geneva Bern area and Central Switzerland have been nominated for the Network Location Switzerland Awards 2024, the umbrella organization of Swiss location and business promotion agencies announced in a press release. A total of twelve projects applied for the annual award for targeted, effective and innovative projects in the areas of location marketing, location development and business promotion. The nominees will have the opportunity to present their projects to a jury in mid-September.

    The nominees are the city center project BAUZONE 5400 – submitted by the BAUZONE 5400 consortium and the city of Baden, the Jimmy Jackson marketing campaign – submitted by the Greater Geneva Bern area, the Industrial Smart Map platform – submitted by the canton of Neuchâtel, the DynREK 2.0 planning tool – submitted by OSRI AG, the Sankt location marketing campaign – submitted by the City of St.Gallen location promotion agency and the Thusis location STORY – submitted by Viamalastorys.ch AG. They were evaluated according to the criteria of strategic approach, organizational form, relevance for stakeholders, innovation, practical relevance and long-term impact.

    The jury will select the winning projects from the nominees in September. The award ceremony will take place as part of the Dialog conference on November 21 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. At the same event, Network Location Switzerland will also honor the location manager of the year.

  • New Managing Director and change of Board of Directors at the location promotion organisation

    New Managing Director and change of Board of Directors at the location promotion organisation

    Lukas Huber is to head Greater Zurich Area AG(GZA). The Board of Directors of the location marketing organisation has appointed the relocation expert, who has been working for the organisation since 2002, as the successor to Sonja Wollkopf Walt, GZA announced in a press release. Wollkopf Walt will be leaving the location promotion organisation at her own request at the end of 2024. A symbolic handover of office will take place on 20 August as part of GZA’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

    Lukas Huber joined GZA as an analyst in 2002. The business economics graduate later took over responsibility for the Life Sciences division. The designated Managing Director is currently COO and Market Manager Asia for the location marketing organisation.

    “We would like to thank Sonja Wollkopf Walt for her many years of outstanding work and her constant 100 per cent commitment to the Greater Zurich Area AG,” said Balz Hösly, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GZA, in the press release. “With Lukas Huber, GZA will be able to continue on its successful course and expand its focus on innovation, sustainability and a strong market presence.”

    In the same press release, GZA announces a change to the Board of Directors. Reto Bleisch, Head of the Office for Economy and Tourism of the Canton of Graubünden, will replace Christoph Schärrer. The Delegate for Economic Development of the Canton of Schaffhausen is stepping down from his post as scheduled. “This change is part of GZA’s corporate governance, which aims to reflect a variety of perspectives on the Board of Directors,” the press release explains.

  • EY attests GZA efficient location marketing

    EY attests GZA efficient location marketing

    The consulting company EY certifies that the GZA and its partners in the member cantons make a positive contribution to the qualitative and sustainable development of the Zurich economic area. This is the conclusion of the third analysis by EY on the activities of the GZA in the years 2018 to 2021.

    According to this analysis and a corresponding media release by GZA, 445 companies from abroad were settled in the Greater Zurich Area during the period mentioned as a result of GZA's location marketing. You created new jobs in 2014. Looking at the entire period analyzed so far since 2009, 9426 new jobs were created directly. According to EY estimates, there were several tens of thousands of jobs indirectly due to so-called multiplier effects.

    EY describes the settlement result as "very sustainable": The survival rate of the directly acquired companies is well above the average of all companies founded in Switzerland.

    From 2018 to 2021, the new settlements brought tax income of CHF 57 million to the Greater Zurich Area. For the period 2009 to 2021, EY calculated tax income of around CHF 647 million, which is offset by total costs of CHF 89 million. This means that every franc invested in location marketing generates around 7.3 francs in additional tax income.

    GZA's proactive and cross-cantonal location marketing has a "positive impact on the development of our common greater Zurich economic area," comments Carmen Walker Späh, President of the GZA Foundation and Zurich Economics Director. That is "very gratifying" because the international competition for the best companies and talents has been fierce for years.