New FoodHUB Wädenswil to promote the canton of Zurich’s food industry

The FoodHUB Wädenswil was officially opened on February 1. This is designed to be a place for networking, exchange and collaboration to drive innovations. To this end, the Office for Economy and Division of Business and Economic Development, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the town of Wädenswil have joined forces to found an association together.

According to a press release issued by the canton, the FoodHUB Wädenswil will work in close collaboration with the foodward foundation. Last year, the foundation set up the “Pioneer” promotional program, a new platform for start-ups active in the food industry. Over the coming months, additional partners and members are to be brought on board in order to establish the FoodHUB Wädenswil on a broader footing.

The background to this is the fact that the food sector in the canton of Zurich has seen significant growth over the past few years. According to a cantonal study on the agri-food ecosystem in the canton of Zurich, the local food sector was made up of just under 11,000 businesses in 2022.

“With the FoodHUB Wädenswil we are creating a space to network universities and businesses even more closely and to promote innovations and technological progress in the food ecosystem, with the ultimate aim of strengthening the canton as a location of business”, comments Carmen Walker Späh, member of the cantonal government of the canton of Zurich and head of the Department for Economic Affairs, in the press release. “Thanks to its bundled competencies, the FoodHUB Wädenswil should become a beacon for food innovations across Switzerland”. ce/mm