immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Standortqualität

  • Aargau wants to attract more companies

    Aargau wants to attract more companies

    The Aargau government council has presented the task and financial plan for the years 2022 to 2025. It also provides for measures to increase the attractiveness of the business location, including the settlement of new companies. According to the government's embassy, Aargau and its advantages should be made better known to companies abroad. "That is why additional measures should be examined and implemented in this area in order to increase the density of companies in Aargau in the long term."

    When it comes to settling in, the canton wants to concentrate primarily on the sectors in which it is already strong today, namely the life sciences and the energy industry. The focus is on industrial companies and industry-related service providers who rely on a highly qualified workforce. The aim is to locate between twelve and 14 companies each year, including six to eight in the two focus industries. In the past year five companies were relocated, three of them in the focus industries. The acquisition strategy is to be developed next year and applied in a selected market from 2023.

    According to the embassy, it will be checked as early as 2022 whether the canton should join an existing cross-cantonal organization of location marketing. The canton was one of the founders of the Greater Zurich Area (GZA) in 1999, but later left it. Today, GZA is the largest location marketing organization with nine German and Italian-speaking member cantons, including the three neighboring cantons of Aargau: Solothurn, Zug and Zurich. Aargau also borders the Basel Area Business & Innovation , to which the two Basel cantons and the Jura belong.

    With Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden, the Aargau is only one of four cantons that do not belong to any cross-cantonal organization of location marketing. Western Switzerland is organized in the Greater Geneva Bern area , the four cantons of Eastern Switzerland in the St.GallenBodenseeArea .

  • Lucerne University of Applied Sciences tests augmented reality for urban planning

    Lucerne University of Applied Sciences tests augmented reality for urban planning

    Together with the City of Lucerne, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is testing the potential of augmented reality (AR) in urban planning. To this end, the university has developed an AR visualization of possible redesign measures in Bahnhofstrasse and Theaterplatz. For example, the projected second row of trees, the new Velostation and the mobile seating including planting could be experienced visually, according to a press release from the university.

    The research groups Visual Narrative from the Department of Design & Art and Immersive Realities Research Lab from the Department of Computer Science as well as the Civil Engineering Department of the City of Lucerne were involved in the joint project. It has now been presented to the media. Presentations for the general public will follow on three days in September.

    The AR visualization can be used on common tablets. The real environment appears on the display with virtual objects projected over it. Planned structural interventions can be viewed three-dimensionally and spatially. “Users can experience on site how Bahnhofstrasse could be designed and used in the future without any real structural or other interventions being necessary,” project manager Tobias Matter is quoted in the press release.

    This would give all decision-makers from different areas the opportunity to take an uncomplicated and active part in the planning. In contrast, plans, models and specialist vocabulary are not immediately understandable for everyone. “The immersive visualization technology of augmented reality can thus be an effective tool to inform the public more transparently about construction and renovation projects, to encourage their participation in the planning and ultimately to create more acceptance for such projects among all those involved,” said Matter .

  • City council approves design plan for Obertor

    City council approves design plan for Obertor

    The design plan for the Obertor area was drawn up in a cooperative process with the participation of interest groups from the old town, representatives from the people's initiative for Obertor, the landowners, the city council and the city administration, the administration of the city of Winterthur informs in a message . According to her, the city council of Winterthur has now approved the design plan. Objections can be raised until October 12th.

    Shops, offices and apartments are to be built on the approximately 6,500 square meter area in the old town. The design plan provides for different uses for the individual properties. Shops on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors are planned for the buildings at Obertor 11 and 13. The historical inventory of the building at Obertor 17 is intended to be used to furnish offices. In the court properties Obertor 15 and 17a, the establishment of an innovative mixed use of residential and commercial is planned.

    At Badgasse 6, the concept aims to use wellness based on what was once the so-called bathtub mosque, is further explained in the communication. If this turns out to be impractical in practice, renting a health center, for example, will be considered as an alternative. The inner courtyard between Obertor and Badgasse is to be made accessible to the public as a “green island”.

  • Institute publishes guidelines for spatial development

    Institute publishes guidelines for spatial development

    The Institute for Spatial Development (IRAP) of the OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule has published a free step-by-step guide for questions about redensification in small communities. It is intended to support communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants to prepare their own settlement strategy, according to a media release .

    A total of 95 percent of the municipalities in Switzerland have fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. The correspondingly small administrations often do not employ any specialist staff for spatial planning. According to a press release, this means that nobody cares about high-quality settlement densification. Since the revision of the Spatial Planning Act 2014, however, localities have only been allowed to develop within their existing area in order to prevent urban sprawl.

    The free guide of the IRAP is intended to give you a start. The paper comprises seven chapters on 40 pages and is intended to answer questions such as "how much growth can our community expect?", "Where in our building zones makes the most sense of densification?" And "how do we launch these projects?".

    "With this methodology, qualified spatial planners should be able to work out an interior development strategy for the entire municipality within a maximum of 200 to 300 hours for communities with up to 10,000 inhabitants, and thus for less than CHF 50,000" -Professor Andreas Schneider quoted in the press release.

    The complete method manual is available online for download free of charge.

  • Greater Zurich Area nominated as Innovation Place of the Year

    Greater Zurich Area nominated as Innovation Place of the Year

    The portal Die Deutsche Wirtschaft wants to award the innovation location in Switzerland, Germany and Austria for the year. Six locations were nominated for this. These are not cities, but rather universities, business development agencies or regions, for example. The goal is to find “exemplary examples of new thinking in various fields”, according to the portal's website.

    The Greater Zurich Area is also among the nominees. It competes against KölnBusiness, Munich Urban Colab, Reutlingen INNOPORT, MCCI Innsbruck The Entrepreneurial University and d.velelop Campus Münsterland.

    Anyone interested can vote for a location on the website of Die Deutsche Wirtschaft. The result of the vote will be communicated at the end of July. People who vote can win prizes.

  • City of Schlieren adopts economic strategy

    City of Schlieren adopts economic strategy

    Schlieren has developed into a strong business location just outside the gates over the past two decades. There are now 1162 companies based in the city. There are 18,500 jobs for every 19,500 inhabitants. Schlieren now ranks 20th out of 132 municipalities in the city ranking of “Bilanz”.

    The city wants to expand this strong position. This emerges from the economic strategy 2021-2025 , which was drawn up with over 80 business representatives and has now been presented .

    Schlieren starts with its existing strengths. In the field of biotech around the Bio-Technopark Schlieren , the city is to further expand its international position. On a national level, Schlieren wants to position itself even more strongly as a location for start-ups. In Schlieren, clusters in the field of medtech and health care and in ICT are also to be added to match these two topics. Schlieren wants to establish itself as a node in networks that extend far beyond the city.

    This also requires increased communication. In the future, the city also wants to communicate in English and French on selected topics.

    But the city also wants to maintain its other clusters. For example, a service agreement with Shopping Schlieren is planned in the purchasing area. Important actors are to be retained and niche providers to settle in Schlieren. The automobile cluster should also be looked after and preserved.

    A good location needs space: Areas such as the Gasi, Geistlich-Areal, Wagi, Rüti and others should receive tailor-made development strategies. A good location also needs people: the leisure and service offers should be expanded.

    The city wants to further develop the location with partners such as Limmatstadt AG and the Greater Zurich Area. An economic council made up of representatives of the companies in Schlieren is also planned to support the city in the further development of the location. There will also be a change at the top of location promotion: Albert Schweizer built it up in over two decades. He will retire in around five years; the successor should be prepared in the next few years.

  • The borders disappear in the Limmatstadt

    The borders disappear in the Limmatstadt

    The customer magazine " blue " of the electricity works of the canton of Zurich ( EKZ ) dedicates its cover story to the development of the Limmatstadt. In conversation in Schlieren and at urban development centers along the Limmattalbahn, the managing director of the Limmatstadt AG location promotion company, Jasmina Ritz, explains the idea behind the project. “A city is emerging” is the title of the latest edition of “blue” with a photo of Jasmina Ritz on the roof of the Bio-Technopark in Schlieren. "Here we are in the epicenter of the urban development of the Limmatstadt," Ritz is quoted as saying. And: "From up here you can no longer see any boundaries."

    With this sentence and in the long conversation with the author Luc Descombes, the person responsible at Limmatstadt AG makes it clear that the advantages and strengths of the individual communities should be brought together in the common vision of the Limmatstadt. "That is why a common self-image is so central," Ritz is quoted as saying. According to the text of “blue”, at least 200,000 people live in the catchment area of the so-called Limmatstadt, depending on the perspective. In the opinion of Jasmina Ritz, this deserves “a strong joint appearance and powerful location marketing”.

    In the main story published under the second title "Vision Limmatstadt", the examples of the communities of Schlieren and Dietikon show the emergence of a "liveable city" across the canton border into Aargauische Spreitenbach. The importance of the Limmattalbahn, which is currently under construction, for regional merging is emphasized. Jasmina Ritz says: “Wherever a tram goes, urban space is created. The Limmattalbahn is crucial for the positive development of the region. "

    The EKZ's commitment in this area is made clear in "blue" with the company projects. The Dietikon EKZ hydropower station supplies 4,500 households, the Oberengstringen substation has been providing an additional 80 megawatts since 2020 and the EKZ has been laying dozens of kilometers of new lines and conduits for the Limmat Valley Railway since 2020 to strengthen the future power grid in the Limmat city. "Blue" appears twice a year with a circulation of 300,000 copies throughout the canton. The magazine goes to every household.

  • Dietikon takes part in Zurich's image campaign

    Dietikon takes part in Zurich's image campaign

    The image campaign for Zurich's cities and municipalities starts on April 26th under the motto: There for you. Your Zurich communities. The city of Dietikon is also there, as a media release shows . The campaign is supported by the Association of Zurich Community Clerks and Administrative Experts (VZGV) and the participating cities and municipalities. It includes billboard advertising, videos and a special page on the Internet. The aim of the communication is to make residents aware of the wide range of services that city and municipal administrations provide on a daily basis. With “great commitment and a high level of quality awareness”, as it is called there.

    The campaign in Dietikon will also start on April 26th. The services are to be presented in striking motifs. For example, several symbols such as wedding rings, a voting envelope, but also a dome lid to cover a sewer pipe are shown on the online campaign page. The latter is accompanied by a video about the laying of such lines. If you click on one of the symbols, a new window opens with comprehensive information.

    The campaign is to run in three phases. After the first part, which is now starting, the VZGV wants to start the second part in autumn to present Zurich's cities and municipalities as attractive employers. The final third part of the campaign is to follow in 2022. In it, the municipalities will present themselves as companies and present their offers for training and any further training.

  • Sascha Zahnd is to lead digitalswitzerland

    Sascha Zahnd is to lead digitalswitzerland

    The digitalswitzerland general assembly is called upon to approve a change at the top of the location initiative: Sascha Zahnd is to take over the presidency of the executive committee on July 1, informs digitalswitzerland in a message . The Bernese succeeds Ivo Furrer. Furrer had already announced when he took office that he would give up the presidency after three years in office.

    By the end of 2020, Zahnd was "one of the closest employees of Tesla founder Elon Musk", the message further explains. At Tesla , the designated President of digitalswitzerland had acted as European boss and Vice President Global Supply Chain. Zahnd had previously worked for ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse and IKEA . He is currently active for mytheresa.com and Valora AG , among others.

    "Sascha Zahnd is one of the most impressive top managers in Switzerland with a lot of international experience," Marc Walder, founder of digitalswitzerland, is quoted in the press release. The designated president of the location initiative stands for “innovation, transformation and entrepreneurship”. According to Walder, digitalswitzerland wants to continue campaigning for the country's digital transformation. Here the pandemic "relentlessly exposed Switzerland's existing weaknesses".

    Ivo Furrer will stay on digitalswitzerland as a member of the board of directors. The vice presidency is to remain with the FDP National Council (SG) and entrepreneur Marcel Dobler.

  • Switzerland falls behind in the country ranking

    Switzerland falls behind in the country ranking

    The Best Countries Report was published for the sixth time this year. It rates 78 nations across a range of categories, including economic impact, education, and quality of life. It is produced by US News & World Report in collaboration with the BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .

    Last year, the ranking was still headed by Switzerland. This year, however, the country has dropped three places to fourth. Canada now takes the top spot. Both Japan (second place) and Germany (third place) have overtaken Switzerland.

    However, Switzerland is still seen as the best location for companies. As the country report shows, it once again took first place in the Open for Business category this year. Above all, it scores with its low corporate taxes and the transparency of government practices.

    As a location for entrepreneurship, however, Switzerland has fallen from fifth to seventh place since the previous year. In contrast, it was able to move up from seventh to fifth in terms of quality of life. In the remaining categories, Switzerland did not make it into the top seven countries this year.

  • Despite the pandemic, Switzerland is attracting companies

    Despite the pandemic, Switzerland is attracting companies

    The location promotion by the federal government, regions and cantons can look back on a successful year, explains the Conference of Cantonal Economics Directors ( VDK ) in a press release . Once a year, it compiles statistics on the number of foreign companies relocating to Switzerland. According to the latest VDK survey, a total of 220 foreign companies settled in Switzerland in 2020.

    Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a decrease of 9 percent, explains the VDK in the announcement. The new settlements booked in the previous year would have created 1168 jobs but at the same time 11 percent more jobs than the settlements in the previous year. Even with the new jobs forecast for the next three years, the value of 2019 was exceeded by 21 percent with an expected 3,583 jobs.

    As in the previous year, most of the settlements in the year under review came from the ICT and life sciences sectors. In terms of origin, French, American and Chinese companies in particular were drawn to Switzerland.

    The national location promotion aims to advertise, above all, value-added and innovative companies, writes the VDK. The communication refers to the “successful cooperation” between the federal government, regions and cantons. In addition, the VDK emphasizes the role of the Swiss Business Hubs. These representations of the official Swiss organization for export promotion and location promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise ( S-GE ), are active abroad as part of the Swiss embassies or consulates general.

    The task of the Swiss Business Hubs is to “market Switzerland as a leading innovation and technology location” and to identify “companies with settlement potential”, explains the VDK. S-GE will present specific settlement projects to the regions and cantons, "which will then campaign for a settlement in their canton in a federal competition". Align Technology is mentioned in the announcement as an example of success. The American medtech company is run by former ABB boss Joe Hogan and relocated its European headquarters from the Netherlands to Rotkreuz ZG in the reporting year.

  • Limmatstadt welcomes Integral as a new shareholder

    The location promotion organization Limmatstadt AG has got a new shareholder in Schlieremer Integral design-build AG. According to managing director Jasmina Ritz, the Limmatstadt now has a total of 170 shareholders and twelve network partners.

    According to a press release, Integral design-build AG has specialized in the area of new working environments. However, the Schlierem-based company also offers overall services for interior design in general. This ranges from workplace management and design to turnkey handover. Integral takes over all phases of development, planning and implementation of working environments, it says there. With the maximum use of digital processes and 3D tools, the new working worlds would be visualized and a smooth planning and construction process would be ensured.

    Last year, Integral implemented the new work environment for Halter AG and its sister companies in JED Schlieren .

    The company was founded in 2016 as W21 Innenausbau AG by Peter Pfiffner – owner of Pfiffner AG in Altstetten – and Michael Peter. Today, Integral, as a sister company of Halter AG, has twelve employees in the areas of architecture, design and execution. The company is currently overseeing 30 ongoing projects across Switzerland.

  • The innovation award is intended to promote the Unterland location

    The innovation award is intended to promote the Unterland location

    SMEs based in the Zürcher Unterland can apply for an innovation award for the first time. The official announcement takes place in summer. This award is being launched by the new business and trade council of the Zürcher Unterland location association. It is endowed with 5000 francs. It is donated by the Zürcher Kantonalbank .

    According to a press release, the ZKB Innovation Prize Zürcher Unterland will be awarded for the first time on October 1st at the new Zurich North business symposium in Glattfelden ZH. Both the innovation award and the business symposium are viewed by the Zurich Unterland Economic and Commercial Council, which was founded last autumn, as its first two “flagship events”.

    According to Co-Managing Director Darius Daftarian, the Zürcher Unterland is still insufficiently perceived as a business location in a cantonal comparison. What is missing is “a regional and supra-regional awareness of the strength of the location”.

    This is one of the reasons why the new economic and trade council wants to promote knowledge transfer for SMEs. To this end, existing economic and trade networks would have to be merged. "When different people with different backgrounds meet, everyone can benefit," said Michael Ricklin, President of the Dielsdorf ZH district trade association, quoted in the press release.

  • The Zurich economic area remains attractive for new settlements in the corona crisis

    The Zurich economic area remains attractive for new settlements in the corona crisis

    Together with partners, the location marketing organization Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA) was able to relocate 86 companies despite the corona crisis, which corresponds to a decrease of 21 percent compared to the previous year. According to the GZA, the new settlements have already created 510 new jobs in the region, and 1599 new jobs are to follow in the next five years. GZA published these figures at a digital media conference. On this occasion, GZA managing director Sonja Wollkopf Walt commented: “In view of the global crisis, the result is very solid.” This is due to a well-filled project pipeline at the beginning of the crisis, but also to long-term networks abroad and the sustainable work of GZA and the partner of the location funding. According to Walt Wollkopf, the crisis has digitalized the work of the GZA even more: Existing instruments have been expanded and others newly developed.

    Almost half of the companies located here come from the information and communication technology (ICT) and life sciences sectors, with biotech accounting for the lion's share. Machine industry and financial services take third and fourth place. According to GZA, the origin of the companies by world region reflects the course of the pandemic in 2020. The US remains the leader with 20 companies, but the number of projects here has almost halved. With 14 settlements, Germany remains almost at the previous year's level and there are even two more projects from China than in 2019.

    The successful ICT settlement Speed U Up stands for the digitization boost caused by the pandemic and the strengths of GZA in the digital sector. The digital agency from Austria with a focus on alpine tourism founded a joint venture in Chur GR with the Swiss media company Somedia in October 2020. A technology hub with 75 new jobs is to be created. Somedia CEO Thomas Kundert said: "For us, the joint venture is a further step towards the growth market of digital services." This is playing an increasingly important role in the media company's strategy.

    Sven Thoenes, member of the Board of Directors of Speed U Up Suisse AG , emphasized: "In the Zurich economic area we find excellent talents to further develop our technologies in the areas of speech recognition, artificial intelligence and augmented reality." U-Up customers like Zermatt Tourismus benefit.

  • Basic report on the merger of Baden and Turgi is available

    Basic report on the merger of Baden and Turgi is available

    The basic and financial report on the opportunities and risks of a community merger , drawn up by seven working groups with representatives from Baden and Turgi, is now publicly available. According to a media release from the city of Baden, it can now be viewed publicly on the project website under Reports.

    According to the press release, the seven working groups from Baden and Turgi examined topics such as authorities, administration, spatial planning, schooling, the local community, forest, factories, and the fire brigade. An independent auditing company analyzed the financial situation and the prospects for the merger.

    In addition to the publication on the project website, several information events are planned. On April 7, the two ammen Markus Schneider and Adrian Schoop and the two women vice-men Regula Dell'Anno-Doppler and Astrid Barben will be discussing the knowledge gained in the first phase of the project in a live broadcast. After completing the basic work, those responsible for the project came to the conclusion that the chances of a merger outweigh the above.

    On May 6th, a Thursday, and on May 22nd, a Saturday, representatives of the working groups will be available for talks at market stalls on Baden's Schlossbergplatz. On May 7th, the information stand will be set up in Bahnhofstrasse in Turgi.

    On June 13, 2021, the citizens of both municipalities will vote on whether they want to commission the Baden City Council and the Turgi City Council to draw up a merger agreement in a second project phase. According to the media release, if both municipalities are yes, the merger agreement would come before the residents' council and the municipal assembly in autumn 2022. The second referendum would take place in March 2023. The merger would take place on January 1, 2024.

    If only one of the municipalities voted no on June 13, 2021, the project would end.

  • Dietikons Bahnhofsplatz is being redesigned with the SBB

    Dietikons Bahnhofsplatz is being redesigned with the SBB

    The planned competition program for the redesign of the Dietikon station area can now be started. The Dietiker city council has approved a loan of 56,000 francs for the preparation of the "Bushof / Bahnhofplatz competition program" and the necessary clarifications, according to a message from the city chancellery. The contract for procedural support had been awarded to the Zurich consulting firm Eckhaus AG. In addition to upgrading the public space with quality of stay and a wheelchair accessible hub for public transport, an attractive location for living and working is to be created on the SBB site, according to the city of Dietikon about the project .

    The city of Dietikon and the SBB jointly awarded an urban planning study contract for the Dietikon station area in 2019. The "in-depth study of the Dietikon station area" was exhibited in plans and models in November and December 2020 on the window front of the Dietikon town hall. The results report was also available on the Internet.

    According to the plans of the city of Dietikon, the bus station is to be redesigned around two islands. This creates a largely traffic-calmed space in front of the train station, which is to be landscaped and planted with trees to create a lingering zone. According to the announcement, the SBB wants to develop a lively district from its parcels west of the track field. The station building is to be extended. Two construction sites for an office building and a complex with 200 apartments are planned on the parking lot.

  • Novartis is developing the site into a life science park

    Novartis is developing the site into a life science park

    The biotechnology and pharmaceutical company Novartis has announced plans to open its production site in Stein and locate more life science companies there. According to a press release, the Rheintal Life Science Park is to be built there.

    "Switzerland is an important location for our production network," is how Steffen Lang, head of Novartis Technical Operations and member of the group management, is quoted. Investments of more than CHF 200 million in 2020 and 2021 at the Stein and Schweizerhalle locations confirmed Novartis' commitment to the region. "With the further development of the Stein location into the Rheintal Life Science Park, we are sending a positive signal for Switzerland as an industrial center and the Aargau region."

    The location offers an ideal environment, access to highly qualified employees from the region and state-of-the-art facilities, for example for the production of cell and gene therapies.

    The Novartis plans are also approved by the cantonal location promotion agency Aargau Services . After all, according to its director Annelise Alig Anderhalden, “the whole Sisslerfeld” is an “important place of work and a focus of development for the canton. The area has great potential for businesses with high added value. "

  • Zürcher Weinland supports first project

    Zürcher Weinland supports first project

    ProWeinland has, according to a media release with AgroCO2ncept selected the first project, with funds from the New Regional Policy ( NRP is supported). AgroCO2ncept is an association of farmers founded in 2012. They had set themselves the goal of reducing their operations' greenhouse gas emissions and spending by 20 percent. This resource project will run until 2022.

    The second goal is now being tackled: the added value is to be increased by 20 percent through the transfer of knowledge and the sale of climate-friendly regional products. To this end, the association has initiated a marketing project that can now be funded. In addition, the association members want to pass on their knowledge to other producers inside and outside the Zurich wine region and thus promote climate-friendly agriculture.

    The Zurich Weinland region has been part of the New Regional Policy of the Canton of Zurich since 2020. The ProWeinland association was entrusted by the canton as the regional project sponsor of the program. Pro Weinland is “very pleased to be able to support and accompany such a promising project in the initial phase of the funding program”.

  • Sevensense co-founder praises Switzerland as a location for robotics

    Sevensense co-founder praises Switzerland as a location for robotics

    Roland Siegwart is Professor of Autonomous Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ). He is also co-director of the Wyss Zurich funding program. In 2018 Siegwart co-founded the ETH spin-off Sevensense Robotics. The company, based in Zurich, develops technologies for robots that help them, for example, with independent orientation. Sevensense also works with Deutsche Bahn to develop technologies for the future of train travel.

    In an interview published on the Sevensense blog page, Siegwart praised Switzerland as a location for robotics. All important specialist knowledge for robotics is available in the country. On the one hand, precision mechanics, which have a "long tradition in Switzerland", are particularly important. On the other hand, sensor technology plays an important role in the industry. This is less known worldwide, but Switzerland is already very advanced in this regard.

    Siegwart also praises the ETH Zurich and the ETH Lausanne (EPFL). The two universities would provide the necessary control and intelligence to be able to make good use of the existing specialist knowledge, he emphasizes. They would also spawn a multitude of successful spin-offs – especially in the robotics area. Switzerland has also been able to attract a large pool of foreign talent who further strengthen the robotics scene.

    Switzerland still has some catching up to do when it comes to major investments. Investors in Europe are generally more risk averse compared to those in the USA. However, this also helps European start-ups develop a sustainable, customer-oriented approach. Accordingly, the survival rate of start-ups – for example in Switzerland – is much higher than that of those in the USA. The long-term survival rate of the ETH spin-offs is 80 to 90 percent.

  • Dietikon relies on location advertising with comedian duo Lapsus

    Dietikon relies on location advertising with comedian duo Lapsus

    The city of Dietikon relies on humor in its location advertising. According to a media release, the well-known Dietiker comedian duo Lapsus has therefore received the order to subject their residential area to a critical examination and to record their impressions. It is said that funny, self-deprecating video productions were created.

    The videos can now be viewed on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. The first is entitled “Dietikon from its most beautiful side”. Dietikon is presented as a noisy and urban city with idyllic green areas as the train passes by. The second video introduces the open-air gallery “DietikON – experience light art”, which will run until the end of February, with humorous puns. Further topics are planned.

    The core of the campaign, which will last in May, is self-irony, according to the media release. The plan is to publish six to seven videos, which will make the qualities and location advantages of the city visible and promote the city's positioning as a center for business, culture, education, local recreation, sport and leisure.

    It is emphasized that the topics have been discussed with the city. The comedians are free to implement it.

  • Andermatt becomes a practical field for the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences

    Andermatt becomes a practical field for the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences

    The location sponsors of Andermatt Swiss Alps and the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden cooperate for the purpose of knowledge transfer. According to an identical press release from both organizations, they signed a corresponding agreement on Monday. The aim of this is to build up relevant knowledge through the university and to scientifically support its implementation in practice. In terms of content, the focus is initially on digital customer experience, guest loyalty, data management, networks and sustainability.

    Joint research and service projects are to be implemented in these subject areas. "The cooperation is proof of the high quality of the innovation promotion at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden and strengthens the exchange with external partners through practical projects", says the rector of the University of Applied Sciences, Jürg Kessler.

    As part of this cooperation, the Andermatt Swiss Alps Group offers the platform to test the results of scientific work in practice. In this way, the holiday destination is to be substantially further developed. "Thanks to the cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden, we can further strengthen our uniqueness in individual topics and test and further develop our modernity", Raphael Krucker, CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, is quoted as saying.

  • Annual review 2020 of the SVSM

    Annual review 2020 of the SVSM

    You, our members, are much more directly and substantially affected by the corona pandemic. Numerous location and economic promotions have had to experience that years of development work can become practically meaningless within a few weeks because of the lockdown or because of regional easing. Suddenly completely different factors were decisive for shopping, leisure and travel behavior, primarily the question: What is still allowed where? In such a situation – in which, in my view, federalism is reaching its limits – location and economic development can hardly exert any influence. To make matters worse: where the industry is struggling to survive, there is neither time nor energy, let alone money, left over to secure and promote regional location advantages. But right now it is important to think long-term, invest and expand on what has been achieved.

    In these special times, we would like to thank you all the more for your loyalty to our association – even if you could not benefit from all the services to which you are entitled as part of your membership in 2020. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, UPC Switzerland and the electricity works of the Canton of Zurich EKZ, for their commitment. We very much hope that we can hold a half-day event as a new format in autumn 2021. Our general assembly in spring will also take place virtually this year. We will send you all relevant information and documents in the next few weeks. Of course, we will also keep you up to date on our annual program, including with our newsletter.

  • Ludicious Zurich Game Festival ceases operations

    Ludicious Zurich Game Festival ceases operations

    The city of Zurich and the Pro Helvetia cultural foundation will no longer continue the Ludicious Zurich Game Festival, according to a media release . The event was considered to be one of the largest gaming festivals in German-speaking countries. It consisted of a combination of presentations, panel discussions, seminars and awards ceremonies. The event last took place digitally in July 2020 due to the corona pandemic.

    The city of Zurich intends to support Swiss game developers in the future in other formats, according to the announcement. Meanwhile, Pro Helvetia wants to get involved in the presentation of Swiss developers at international conferences.

    “I am very sad to see Ludicious disappear after years of growth. At the same time, we are aware that we have helped to bring the Swiss game developers together and to support them, ”said Ludicious President Chris Bergstresser as quoted in the press release.

  • Jasmina Ritz promotes the idea of the Limmatstadt

    Jasmina Ritz promotes the idea of the Limmatstadt

    According to Jasmina Ritz, the Limmat Valley and the idea of the Limmat City is more than just the route between Baden and Zurich. The managing director of Limmatstadt AG , now based in Schlieren, pointed out in an interview in the customer magazine "blue" of the electricity works of the canton of Zurich ( EKZ ) that the change from an agglomeration area to a coherent urban area has long been taking place there. "We accompany this change, bundle resources, combine the advantages and strengths of the individual communities into a common Limmat city", Ritz is quoted as saying. It names four important cornerstones for the realization of the idea of transforming the many municipalities – which are not to be merged – into a city on the Limmat: Networking of municipalities and politicians, the economy and the population. As a second point, Ritz mentions the positioning of the region with a common face, the development of the region as well as image promotion and the creation of a supra-regional awareness.

    From Jasmina Ritz's point of view, the Limmattalbahn is very important for the desired cohesion. The managing director is quoted as saying that it is not just a huge commitment to the federal and cantonal region. The railway networks the communities and is the backbone of urban development, "Without the tram, the Limmat Valley would have been just an agglomeration", Ritz is quoted as saying in "blue".

    This growing together and a shared cross-border vision was made possible by the development in the Limmat Valley. In the past, this was only perceived as an industrial location and a traffic axis. But a common city on the Limmat with its numerous municipalities would have much more economic and political weight. Limmatstadt AG is setting a cultural and economic agenda for the entire region. The regional magazine "36 km" – named after the length of the Limmat between Zurich and Baden – draws attention to regional products or recommends the best hiking trails, bike routes and the like. The daily newsletter “punkt4 Limmatstadt”, in which the activities of the companies are exclusively present, contributes to the “branding strategy”, ie the anchoring of the name Limmatstadt in the consciousness. Ritz: "There is no other region."

  • Limmatstadt AG is now based in Schlieren

    Limmatstadt AG is now based in Schlieren

    The Limmatstadt AG location promotion organization has moved from Zurich to Schlieren. With the new year she is now based in JED , the former NZZ printing company. From the new premises within the Coworking Space Branch Collab on the ground floor of JED, managing director Jasmina Ritz and her employees will continue to campaign for the Limmattal location and are now even closer to the pulse of the region, as a message shows .

    In JED with anchor tenants such as Zühlke and Halter , innovations are promoted and jobs are created. The Coworking Space Branch Collab also contributes to this with its flexible workspaces and as a platform for collaborative work. The companies and entrepreneurs based in JED as well as Limmatstadt AG benefit from the easy accessibility via the Limmattalbahn (Wagonsfabrik stop).

  • Dietikon bietet Lichtkunst in der dunklen Jahreszeit

    Dietikon bietet Lichtkunst in der dunklen Jahreszeit

    Mit Lichtkunst der Kulturabstinenz trotzen lautet das Motto der abendlichen Dauerpräsentation „DietikON – Lichtkunst erleben“ vom 15. Januar bis 28. Februar im Stadtzentrum von Dietikon. Die Lichtkunst wird jeweils von 17 bis 22 Uhr das Zentrum erhellen. Das Spektrum der Arbeiten von zwölf Künstlerinnen und Künstlern aus der ganzen Schweiz reicht laut einer Ankündigung von poetischen Arbeiten bis hin zu kräftigen, plakativen Werken.

    „Das Projekt ‚DietikON – Lichtkunst erleben‘ soll Licht in die Stadt bringen und den vielen Menschen Trost und Zuversicht spenden, die sich in dieser dunklen Jahreszeit einsam oder in ihrer Freiheit eingeengt fühlen“, wird Stadtpräsident Roger Bachmann in einer Mitteilung zitiert. Schliesslich habe die Dietiker Bevölkerung im Dezember auf den Chlauseinzug und den Weihnachtsmarkt verzichten müssen. Auch sei die Weihnachtsbeleuchtung im Dietiker Stadtzentrum bescheidener ausgefallen als in den Vorjahren, weil infolge der Bauarbeiten viele Kandelaber fehlten. Deshalb habe ein Projektteam rund um die Standortförderung mit „DietikON“ eine Ausstellung organisiert, die Kunstschaffenden die Möglichkeit bietet, ihre Werke im öffentlichen Raum vorzustellen und so Licht und Trost in die dunkle Jahreszeit zu bringen.

    Der Grossteil der Objekte werde im Aussenraum stehen, heisst es auf der Kulturseite der Stadt Dietikon. Dort sind auch die Standorte auf einem Stadtplan eingezeichnet. Vereinzelt werden auch Schaufenster und Innenräume bespielt. Die wenigen im Innenraum aufgestellten Kunstwerke können, ganz corona-konform, durch Schaufenster betrachtet werden, die Räumlichkeiten müssen dafür nicht betreten werden, heist es dort.

    Gezeigt würden sowohl neu erarbeitete Werke, die einzig für die Stadt Dietikon geschaffen wurden und auch mit den örtlichen Gegebenheiten spielen, als auch bereits bestehende Werke, die durch den neuen Kontext der urbanen Stadtlandschaft eine andere Bedeutung erhalten, wird Cinzia Marti von der Standortförderung Dietikon zitiert.

  • Sphery co-founder speaks at GZA Live Talk

    Sphery co-founder speaks at GZA Live Talk

    The location marketing organization GZA regularly introduces personalities from the greater Zurich area in its Live Talk series. In the next episode on January 18, Anna Martin-Niedecken, co-founder and CEO of Sphery , will be a guest on the series. She will talk to Reto Sidler, head of communications at GZA.

    Sphery develops computer games in which players have to perform physical activities. The goal is to combine games with sports. The start-up's games are based on innovative training concepts. During her appearance at the GZA Live Talk, Martin-Niedecken will explain, among other things, how games can revolutionize the fitness and health industry. She will also talk about the greater Zurich area as a location for innovative start-ups in the gaming sector.

    Martin-Niedecken is a sports scientist and, in addition to her work at Sphery, is also a senior researcher at the Zurich University of the Arts . In September she was selected from a list by digitalswitzerland , “BILANZ”, “Handelszeitung” and “Le Temps” among the 100 most important people in Switzerland who are driving digitization in the country.

    Interested who want to follow the sequence Talk GZA live, online can register . Registered participants will also be able to ask questions during the event.

  • Basel Area launches its own podcast

    Basel Area launches its own podcast

    Basel Area Business & Innovation has a new podcast . From now on, the location promotion will present interesting personalities and their view of the location. In the first episode , Hans-Florian Zeilhofer starts.

    The specialist with the titles of Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent. Dr. hc has lived and worked in Basel for 18 years. The Upper Bavarian works as a professor at the University of Basel , as chief physician at the specialist clinic for oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University Hospital Basel and as a senior consultant at the Cantonal Hospital in Aarau . At the same time, he initiated many high-tech research projects and founded various start-ups.

    Among other things, he is one of the founders of the Basel start-up AOT . It created a laser bone cutting robot called Carlo. In this 30-minute podcast, he explains the role played by a leg disk that Zeilhofer bought from a butcher. What he particularly appreciates about the Basel Area is the short distances, the proximity to the border and the dynamic ecosystem: "One of the main advantages of the Basel Area is that all major companies in the life sciences and medtech sectors are on site."

    With this podcast and its interview guests, the makers of the Basel Area want to provide a platform. Their discussions should address what distinguishes the business and innovation location, which innovations could cause a sensation and, for example, whether researchers can be good CEOs. It is available in German and English and can be subscribed to from the popular providers Spotify, Deezer, Apple Podcast and Google Play.

  • Solothurn further strengthens location development

    Solothurn further strengthens location development

    The Department of Economics of the Canton of Solothurn wants to strengthen the development of the location, according to a media release . In this context, the business development department is renamed the business development department. Organizationally, the department changes directly to the department secretariat.

    The new name of the department is intended to express that it will deal more intensively with site development in the future. In addition, it should, for example, be more networked and cross-departmental when implementing projects within the framework of the location strategy or the new regional policy of the federal government (NRP).

    In addition to site development, the support of companies in Solothurn and the processing of settlement projects will continue to be part of the core business of the department.

  • Uri adopts digitization strategy

    Uri adopts digitization strategy

    According to a press release , the Uri government council has passed its digitization strategy. This defines the general direction that the canton wants to take in the area of digitization. It also serves as an orientation framework for implementing strategic projects over the next five to ten years. Overall, the strategy should give the attractiveness of the residential and business location Uri a positive boost, it is said.

    Digitization could "become a real development driver for the canton of Uri and significantly strengthen Uri's positioning", the government council stated in the government program for 2020 to 2024. For this, the “social peculiarities of Uris as well as the special opportunities Uris as an economic and home office location with a quality of retreat” must be taken into account.

    The Canton of Uri was also supported by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences ( HSLU ) in developing the digitization strategy. As project manager Stephan Käppeli points out in a communication from the HSLU in February, the canton is suitable “in various ways as a model region for digitization”.