Innovation and value creation:
108 settlements in the Zurich economic region
The year 2022 stands for diversity, innovation, and stability. The Greater Zurich Area Ltd. (GZA) has accompanied 108 settlement projects in 2022. The economic area has coped well with challenges such as the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, energy shortages, and the shortage of skilled talent. Stable framework conditions and a high level of innovation are, among other factors, reasons that companies have settled here. From the point of view of location marketing, the figures represent continuity.
Particularly noteworthy is the development that new technologies, such as robotics, AI, or blockchain, are increasingly being used in previously traditional industries such as food, life science, and in the construction industry. Industries are becoming more and more intertwined and can thus benefit from each other. GZA considers this development to be positive: it leads to renewal and diversification within the economic area and thus increases the resilience of the location.
Diversity in the ecosystem
We target companies that operate responsibly and cooperatively in the GZA ecosystem – those who understand that long-term success means more than just annual sales and growth. We want to attract companies that enrich the ecosystem with creativity and talent.
In 2022, GZA and its partners located 108 foreign companies in the nine cantons of the Greater Zurich Area.
More technology - fewer jobs
Switzerland is a cost-intensive location when compared internationally. This, paired with global economic trends, means that companies are focusing on new technologies and the consistent automation of processes. The number of newly created jobs in Switzerland is on a downward trend. Learn more about the development of settlements in the Greater Zurich Area in the EY Report 2022.
New players in the ecosystem
The settlement of innovative companies with high added value is important for the economic region and supports the necessary structural change. A selection.
Digitization on construction sites
Digitization on construction sites
In Zurich, Toggle Robotics focuses on developing advanced robotic vision systems and cloud-based 3D modeling tools for robotic reinforcement assembly.
The company is in the early stages of expanding production: from the United States to Europe. It is getting started in Switzerland. Toggle Robotics aims to speed up construction processes, reduce costs and increase safety. Toggle Robotics' goal is a more efficient construction industry driven by automation.
Data center boom in Switzerland
Data center boom in Switzerland
Amazon Web Services, a subsidiary of US giant Amazon, is expanding into the Greater Zurich Area. The long-term investment improves technological services and creates and maintains jobs.
Switzerland now is home to 86 data centers, up from 70 just five years ago. No country in Europe - except the Netherlands - has so many data centers per capita. Crypto, cloud gaming, and metaverse are developments that will require significantly more computing power in the future.
The best-funded AI startup in the world
The best-funded AI startup in the world
SambaNova Systems is a fast-growing computing unicorn based in Palo Alto, California. Founded in 2017, it builds advanced machine learning and Big Data analytics platforms and hardware to optimize the performance of complex data processing. To date, the company has raised $1.1 billion (valuation $5 billion) from venture capitalists including SoftBank Vision Fund, BlackRock, and Intel Capital.
SambaNova is establishing a presence in Europe and has already hired more than 10 people in Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The race for the European headquarters is still open.
Fight against hepatitis B, influenza A, HIV and tuberculosis
Fight against hepatitis B, influenza A, HIV and tuberculosis
Vir Biotechnology develops therapies to treat and prevent severe infectious diseases. In 2021, the Swiss biotech industry played an important role in combating the Covid pandemic.
Two Swiss companies partnered to develop effective Covid-specific therapeutics: Ticino-based Humabs BioMed/Vir Biotechnology and Zurich-based Molecular Partners.
Innovation hub Greater Zurich Area
Innovation hub Greater Zurich Area
Switzerland and the Greater Zurich Area in particular are world leaders in research, knowledge, and innovation. The established exchange between academic institutions and the private sector as well as access to highly qualified specialists make the Greater Zurich Area an innovation hub.
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