Lucerne must measure itself against the world’s best

Mr Wermelinger, you are returning to Luzern Economic Development after ten years as its director, a role you previously held from 2006 to 2016. What has changed most significantly in Luzern as a business location?
Over the past ten years, the canton, the municipalities and many Lucerne-based companies have consistently worked to improve the business environment. Lucerne has become more visible internationally as a business location and can now offer an even more attractive overall package. This includes planning certainty, a high quality of life, an innovation-friendly environment and the lowest standard corporate tax rates in Switzerland.

You bring international experience from your role as Chief Investment Promotion Officer at Switzerland Global Enterprise. What will you draw on from this global perspective in your new role?
Proud, because Switzerland and the canton of Lucerne rank among the world’s most competitive business locations by international standards. Proud, too, because many Lucerne-based companies are global leaders in their niches and defend this position every day with a pioneering spirit and innovative drive. And I am proud because, in the past, policymakers have consistently developed key location factors in such a way that entrepreneurship is valued and can flourish. These include innovative regulations, predictability and security.

At the same time, I feel a sense of unease. Technological development is rapid, and the geopolitical situation remains challenging. Both present opportunities, but also create new risks. Other countries and metropolitan regions are adapting very quickly to changing customer needs. We must therefore measure ourselves against the best in the world. Only in this way can we maintain and further improve our current position.

What priorities have you set for your first hundred days as the new director?
Three things will be the main focus during the first hundred days: building a network, listening and, for the time being, continuing what has been successful.

Lucerne Economic Development is a genuine public-private partnership model. The canton, 79 municipalities and around 190 partners from the predominantly Lucerne-based business community are working together to promote the region as a centre for business and innovation. In the initial phase, I therefore want to get to know my team, the key partners and Lucerne’s businesses – and their needs – in detail. After that, the aim is to jointly define our ambition for 2035 and the path to achieving it.

At the 2026 Annual General Meeting, ETH’s decision on the GeoLab, the new MSD headquarters and the establishment of Axiom Space were celebrated as successes. What links these three projects strategically?
All three projects are of great strategic importance for Lucerne as a centre of business and innovation. They are the result of a strong team effort involving many stakeholders. They help to position Lucerne internationally as an innovative hub for future-oriented industries.

MSD strengthens Lucerne as a research hub through numerous research projects in Switzerland and in Schachen. The ETH Swiss GeoLab brings software engineers and researchers in the field of Earth observation to the region. Axiom Space, in turn, represents the space industry, a rapidly growing global market of the future. Together, these projects demonstrate that Lucerne is an attractive location for knowledge-intensive and internationally networked sectors.

Lucerne Economic Development demonstrates, through international business settlements and local success stories such as Komeo, that both levels contribute to the location’s appeal.
How can international and local companies benefit equally from the services offered by Lucerne Economic Development?
We support companies in their development, regardless of their size, origin or stage of development. We view the economy as a strong ecosystem. Within this, every company plays a role, regardless of sector or company size. International companies setting up here, established firms, start-ups and small businesses all benefit from one another. It is crucial that companies are aware of Lucerne Economic Development, understand our services and can easily get in touch with us. Our aim is to be a reliable and easily accessible partner for all companies.

What role will the many small and medium-sized enterprises play in your location strategy in future?
Lucerne’s economy comprises around 34,000 businesses. More than 99 per cent of these are small and medium-sized enterprises. They form the backbone and character of Lucerne as a business location. At the same time, they are a key reason why foreign companies choose to set up in the canton.

SMEs will therefore also play a central role in the future location strategy. They operate in a competitive environment and should be able to develop at their own pace thanks to attractive framework conditions. Economic development agencies must take their needs just as seriously as those of international companies.
The SP Canton of Lucerne has been criticising the low-tax strategy for attracting multinational companies since 2024. How do you deal with this political headwind?
I value the political debate and consider it important. The Canton of Lucerne is competing for business location at both national and international levels. For certain business functions, a low corporation tax rate is a key factor.

I would like to see us discuss the interrelationships and the impact of a location strategy more broadly in future. This includes not only taxes, but also skilled workers, education, research, mobility, available land and quality of life. Lucerne must be a compelling location as a whole.

Does an aggressive business attraction policy further reduce the supply of housing in the conurbation, as critics claim?
No. Our business attraction policy is not aggressive and does not directly lead to a shortage of housing. Lucerne’s Economic Development Agency supports between 15 and 25 business attraction projects each year. These create an average of around 200 new jobs per year. Most of these jobs are filled by people who already live in Switzerland. Furthermore, we focus on high-value-added sectors that are thematically or functionally suited to Lucerne. Our aim is a business attraction policy that strengthens the location in the long term.

Which new areas or sites do you see as the next growth zones for businesses in the canton?
The focus is on developing the canton’s key development areas. I see particularly great potential in Lucerne South, Lucerne North, Lucerne East, the Rothenburg Station development area and the Sursee region. These areas offer opportunities for businesses if land use, transport and other functions are well coordinated.

The city of Lucerne also remains a highly sought-after business location. It combines urban quality, international visibility and a strong ecosystem of businesses, universities and service providers.

Where do you see Lucerne as a business location in ten years’ time, if your strategy proves successful?
The canton of Lucerne has the potential to rank among the world’s leading business and innovation hubs by 2035. To achieve this, we must systematically build on the canton’s strengths whilst remaining open to change.

It is crucial that Lucerne retains its unique character. Economic dynamism, quality of life, the landscape, social cohesion and entrepreneurial freedom must continue to go hand in hand in the future. Only then will we create a location that is not only successful but also remains attractive in the long term.