Innovation Park East in the Swiss National Circuit
Government’s yes to the facilities at the Lerchenfeld Campus and Buchs, supported by the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Innerrhoden, Thurgau and Liechtenstein
On April 21, 2021, the Federal Council approved the plan to integrate the Innovation Park East into the overall network of the Swiss Innovation Park as the sixth responsible entity.
The goal of this new location in eastern Switzerland will be to promote innovation by forging close links between business and science.
2.6 billion in value from Zurich Innovation Park
The report ‘Economic Footprint Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich’ by BAK Economics (in German)
In the first phase, work will focus on the sectors of healthcare, digitization and the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metalworking industry (MEM industry).
The headquarters of the Innovation Park East (Innovationspark Ost) is the Lerchenfeld Campus at the Federal Materials Testing and Research Laboratory EMPA in the City of St. Gallen. A new branch office will be built in Buchs, in the same state.
Four cantons and a historic partner… foreign
In addition to the canton of St. Gallen, the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Thurgau as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein are represented in the responsible body.
The Innovation Park East offers a development, laboratory and working infrastructure that corporate research teams and scientific institutions can use for joint innovation projects. This ecosystem enables them to evolve in terms of competitiveness and innovative capacity.
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The decision by the Federal Council completes a year-long examination and approval process that included an evaluation of the project by an independent jury of experts.
With its affiliation to the Swiss Innovation Park’s umbrella organization – i.e., the “Switzerland Innovation” foundation – the Innovation Park East will now be integrated into the national network.
Switzerland will have an ad hoc ambassador for… science
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Six Innovation Parks already implemented
The Swiss Innovation Park is a public-private partnership initiative of national importance run by the federal and cantonal governments, the scientific community and the private sector.
Under the brand name “Switzerland Innovation”, this park now comprises five responsible entities (two at the Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne, one in Aargau, one in northwestern Switzerland and one in Biel), three of which are interconnected with various regional sites.
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More flexibility in promoting Swiss innovation
The sites in Central Switzerland and Ticino have recently joined the responsible body “Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich”.
The individual locations are usually co-financed by the respective cantons and private investors.
In the medium term, however, they should be able to finance themselves with income from the rental of space and the provision of services.
The private-law foundation “Switzerland Innovation” acts as an umbrella organization and contact point for the federal government.
