
Aargau is speeding up the building permit process through digital procedures
The Round Table Working Group on Building Permits has agreed on specific measures to make the relevant procedures in the canton of Aargau more efficient and to speed them up. The authorities are focusing on digitalisation, standardised processes and regular

Research project promotes circular economy in the construction industry
A group of students at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) is using digital technology to recycle building materials. For their research, they visit construction sites, dismantle buildings and analyse the existing materials to develop new construction processes for external


Federal Council wants to accelerate residential construction
In view of the housing shortage, the Federal Council is planning measures to shorten the planning and building permit procedures for residential construction. For example, it is considering asserting an overriding national interest in certain cases and restricting certain objections.

Lucerne knocks Zug off its throne
For years, Zug was synonymous with low corporate taxes. Now the ranking is changing. Lucerne has lowered its rate again and moved to the top. This is more than just a fiscal side note. It is a signal in the increasingly fierce competition for companies, investments and

Zurich sharpens its innovation profile
Zurich is not resting on its laurels. The Government Council wants to further develop the innovation centre in a targeted manner and bring new technologies to market more quickly. This is not based on short-term funding fireworks, but on a longer-term strategy with a clear focus. It is about

2000 jobs are on the line in Wettingen
It's about far more than just a piece of land. In Wettingen, the ground is to be prepared for a campus that could give Aargau a major boost. there are plans for 1000 existing jobs and up to 2000 new jobs. Nothing has been decided yet. This is precisely why the case shows how hard regions are

The silent ascent south of the Gotthard
Sixth place among 241 European regions in the innovation ranking, 60 million francs in funding by 2027 and a blockchain ecosystem that attracts international corporations. Ticino is building a new self-image as a business location. The real estate industry is observing this change with growing

Research project promotes the reuse of concrete in construction
The Haute école du paysage, d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Genève (HEPIA) is investigating the reuse of concrete slabs from demolition work as part of the CUT project. The aim of the project is to validate this reuse and thus promote more circular

Fuel cells to support power grids
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology have undertaken a project on hydrogen fuel cells in collaboration with the Hälg Group, the Osterwalder Group and H2 Energy AG. These could relieve the burden on local power grids in district

Bellinzona dares to undertake a major renovation
trains rolled into the workshop here for 135 years. Researchers, entrepreneurs and families will soon be moving in. On the 120,000 square meter site of the former Officine FFS in Bellinzona, a new urban quarter is being created that combines housing, commerce, education and innovation. Porta del

The city shapes the traffic and the traffic shapes the city
Why does traffic congestion in Los Angeles differ from that in Zurich? And what does the construction of a new neighborhood have to do with commuter traffic? A new study by ETH Zurich provides answers for the first time and provides urban planning with a tool that was previously


Research project develops global corrosion index for construction applications
Sky-Frame and the Institut für Werkstoffsystemtechnik Thurgau (WITG) want to determine the corrosion risk for materials such as aluminium or stainless steel using a global index. The manufacturer of frameless sliding windows wants to link warranty conditions to


Rethinking building, Freiburg is looking for pioneers
The construction industry is facing a system change and the canton of Fribourg wants to actively shape it. With CHF 290,000 from the new regional policy, the economic development agency WIF is calling on companies to develop circular solutions for the construction of tomorrow. Those who act by

Whoever blocks, pays
An objection about the color of the neighboring house. An appeal that puts a housing project on hold for five years. What is legally possible in Switzerland is set to become much more difficult in future. On April 22, 2026, the Federal Council adopted a postulate report aimed at freeing residential

Zurich reinvents itself
What began five years ago as a platform for networking is now a vibrant ecosystem that brings together inventiveness with capital and minds with opportunities. At the anniversary celebration of "Innovation Zurich" on April 14, it became clear what is possible when 250 people spend an evening

Digital platform simplifies analysis and development of building constructions
Researchers at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) have developed a digital tool for sustainable construction. On the dkon platform, users can check the impact of individual construction decisions on the environment, costs and construction

New head of department to drive strategic development in the economy and labour market
Daniel Müller is set to take up the post of Head of the Office for Economic Affairs and Labour of the Canton of St. Gallen on 1 May. The current head of the cantonal business development agency will succeed Karin Jung, whose duties he has been performing on an interim basis. Jung announced her

The material that thinks – without a brain
Steel bends, rubber stretches, materials always react to forces in the same way. Until now. Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed a metamaterial that learns, forgets and adapts flexibly, without a central brain or program code. The study was published in "Nature Physics" and

Check early, fail low
Developing new products safely and sustainably before damage occurs. This is the aim of the EU's "Safe and Sustainable by Design" concept. Many companies fear that this will mean additional work. However, a new analysis by Empa shows that the concept is already in line with around two thirds of the

Zurich tests AI in the building permit process
Check building applications, check completeness, relieve authorities. What has long sounded like a dream of the future is now becoming a reality in the canton of Zurich. Based on a postulate from cantonal councillor Sonja Rueff-Frenkel, the cantonal government has commissioned two studies and has

How Switzerland is training the PropTech specialists of tomorrow
The digital transformation of the property industry is not possible without qualified specialists. PropTech innovation arises where property knowledge, an understanding of technology and entrepreneurial thinking come together. Switzerland has a broad and practice-orientated educational offering


Location marketing attracts 264 companies to Switzerland
In 2025, cantonal, regional and national location marketing organisations attracted a total of 264 companies to Switzerland. That is 33 more than in the previous year. They have already created 919 new jobs, and the total is expected to reach over 2,687 jobs within three

The Zurich economic region is attracting an increasing number of international companies
The Greater Zurich Area (GZA) location marketing initiative and the associated cantons attracted a total of 98 foreign companies in 2025. Twenty-four of these intend to establish their headquarters in Switzerland, whilst 29 are conducting research and development here. This is highlighted in the

New open space concept enhances quality of life and biodiversity
The local council has adopted the Spreitenbach Open Space Concept as a binding framework for future development. Through this concept, it aims to strengthen the identity of the neighbourhoods, promote biodiversity and make the urban environment

The wood that protects itself
Today, sawdust usually ends up in the oven. Tomorrow it could protect houses from fire. Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have developed a composite material that combines wood waste with the mineral struvite and achieves the fire protection class of conventional cement boards. The material
