Startup center grow becoming a life sciences cluster

For grow, 2022 was an exceedingly good year, as the founder organisation reported in a press release. In the Zimmerberg-Sihltal region, grow is currently developing into a life sciences cluster. At the end of last year, grow encompassed 19 companies across its four sites over a total area of 5,350 sqm. “This means we have exploited the current potential of new, larger spaces in Wädenswil that can be developed into laboratories by the owners,” explained grow’s CEO Dolf van Loon.

“After an intensive search”, grow found what it was looking for in Horgen: in the district of Oberdorf, the property company F. Aeschbach from Horgen is currently developing a further 3,500 sqm for three life sciences companies, which will move to the region in spring. Other spaces will be created for grow at this same location. F. Aeschbach also has plans to construct a large new laboratory and office building on its plot that was formerly the site of Frutarom. This will be ready for use at the end of 2024.

The municipality of Horgen has become a new member of grow’s foundation board and will provide financial support to the organisation, as the town of Wädenswil does. Through this involvement, the municipality “wants to help the founder organisation expand quickly and boost the economic growth of the region as a whole” said Wädenswil’s mayor Philipp Kutter. “Our collaboration with Horgen will allow grow to cover demand for laboratory and office space in the coming years as well,” explained Dolf van Loon, “and thereby not just retain existing companies in the area but also facilitate further economic growth in the Wädenswil-Horgen region”. mm