immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Switzerland Global Enterprise

  • New initiative to strengthen Switzerland as a blockchain location

    New initiative to strengthen Switzerland as a blockchain location

    The Zug-based Swiss Blockchain Federation plans to launch the Home of Blockchain.swiss initiative on May 24 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. According to a media release , this is a public-private partnership under the patronage of Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer. It is also supported by the foreign trade promoter Switzerland Global Enterprise ( S-GE ), several cantons and CV Labs .

    The aim of the initiative is to show the advantages of Switzerland as a blockchain location abroad. For example, Swiss appearances at international conferences are to be organised. A media campaign is also planned.

    According to the initiators, Switzerland offers good breeding ground for blockchain companies. The “business-friendly framework conditions” are emphasized here. In addition, the Crypto Valley is a good example of success. A number of blockchain companies have already settled in the region, the heart of which is in Zug, such as Sygnum Bank and 21Shares .

    “The possibilities of blockchain technology are endless and Crypto Valley in Switzerland is at the forefront of this revolution. Now is the time to seize that opportunity. With Home of Blockchain.swiss, Switzerland’s good reputation will be carried out into the world,” Heinz Tännler, President of the Swiss Blockchain Federation and Finance Director of the Canton of Zug (SVP), is quoted as saying.

    The initiators also want to present the Swiss Digital Asset Market Report 2022 as part of the World Economic Forum. Among other things, providers of digital assets in Switzerland were surveyed for the report.

  • Federal government plans platform for major foreign projects

    Federal government plans platform for major foreign projects

    The federal government wants to help Swiss companies to get better contracts in connection with infrastructure projects. To this end, at the end of 2019 it decided to set up a coordination office at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs ( SECO ).

    According to a statement , the Federal Council is now making a total of 7.8 million francs available for the years 2022 to 2024. The aim is to strengthen and expand the networking of actors such as the official foreign trade promoter Switzerland Global Enterprise , export risk insurance SERV and other federal agencies and interested business associations.

    The federal government is also planning a digital platform that will bring together the supply and demand for infrastructure projects abroad. SERV should also target general contractors and project sponsors who might be interested in Swiss suppliers.

    The federal government also assumes that the expansion of the infrastructure will increase the demand for innovative solutions for sustainable development. Therefore, employees of the external network are to receive more advanced training in the area of cleantech.

  • 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.