
Compact heat storage system wins innovation award for energy solutions
Cowa Thermal Solutions has won the Clean Energy & Storage category at the Start Up Energy Transition (SET) Award 2025. The jury praised the fact that Cowa's compact thermal storage systems with thermodynamic materials are five times smaller than water-based

Online tool to simplify district heating expansion
The cooperative Elektra Baselland (EBL) has set up a new online service for property owners. They can use wärmecheck.ch to check whether it is possible to connect their property to an EBL district heating network. The aim is to expand district heating

3D data platform optimizes transport and infrastructure projects
iNovitas and Geoinfra Ingenieure have created a digital twin of the road network in the Zurich Oberland. They are making around 800 kilometers of roads available in a high-resolution 3D data platform. Interested planners and decision-makers can license the

Life sciences boost the entire Basel Area
The Basel Area continues to develop dynamically: more and more life sciences companies from abroad are settling not only in Basel-Stadt, but also in the neighbouring cantons. in 2024, this key sector accounted for three quarters of all relocations. Innovation areas and targeted location promotion

Roman Mayer takes over as Head of the Federal Office for Spatial Development
With the appointment of Roman Mayer as the new Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development, the Federal Council has chosen an experienced leader with legal expertise, strategic planning skills and extensive administrative experience. The move signals a clear strengthening of integrated

More transparency, more clarity in tenancy law
By amending the Ordinance on the Rent and Lease of Residential and Commercial Premises, the Federal Council is creating more transparency for new tenancies. From October 2025, it will be mandatory to state the reference interest rate and inflation rate on the initial rent form. This step will have

Lucerne responds to tax pressure with a billion-euro package
The OECD minimum taxation puts Switzerland's location policy to the test. The canton of Lucerne is particularly affected. In order to prevent the impending loss of companies, jobs and investments, the Lucerne government is planning a targeted strengthening of the economic and living environment

Basel property market under pressure
The Basel region is facing a challenging development on the housing market. Demand remains high, while supply is stagnating, with consequences for purchase prices and rents. Experts at the Immo Talk organised by the real estate portal Newhome analyse the situation and provide impetus for

New companies strengthen life sciences in the Basel region
Not only Basel-Stadt, but also the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Jura are increasingly attracting foreign companies from the life sciences. Three quarters of all relocations supported by the Basel Area Business & Innovation location promotion programme in 2024 come from this

Comparison of differences in life cycle assessments for building products
Conspark GmbH has published a fact sheet on the life cycle assessment of construction products. It compares the different rules in the EU and Switzerland. As they also produce different results, the company, which specialises in the circular economy, advocates





Glarus North mobilises building land – opportunities for investors and developers
Glarus North is sending out a strong signal in favour of regional development. Attractive potential for investors and developers is being unleashed with the tendering of municipal land. The municipality is taking decisive action to facilitate future-oriented projects in line with the new land use

Complete renovation of the Zug cantonal school
The cantonal school in Zug is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, during which the structural and spatial design will be adapted to meet future needs. With a clear focus on sustainability and functionality, this renovation will meet the requirements of education and pave the way for innovative

Central Switzerland’s economy remains confident
Despite global uncertainties, the economy in Central Switzerland remains confident. According to the "Financial Monitor Central Switzerland 2025", almost two thirds of companies rate their situation as good. However, a shortage of skilled labour and protectionist tendencies in international trade

Government council shortens deadlines in the building permit procedure?
The processing time for planning applications in the canton of Zurich is to be reduced from four to three months. To this end, the cantonal government is planning to amend the law and rely on digital processes to make the authorisation procedure more

Direct investment as a driver of growth
Switzerland is one of the leading countries of origin and destination for direct investment. This strengthens the competitiveness of the economy and brings technological innovations and capital into the country. At the same time, direct investments are increasingly the focus of political


Canton of Lucerne plans investments in living and business location
The canton of Lucerne assumes that the OECD minimum taxation will make the location less attractive. It wants to counteract this with 300 million francs annually from 2026. The investments are to be channelled specifically into the location as a place to live and do

10 years of the Digital Real Estate Summit
On 6 March 2025, the Digital Real Estate Summit celebrated its 10th anniversary at Trafo Baden. Around 400 guests took part in this important event, which has established itself as one of the leading platforms for innovation and digital transformation in the property industry.


Your opinion counts! – Creating living space together
Under the leadership of Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, representatives of the cantons, cities and municipalities as well as the construction and property industry and civil society have agreed on over 30 measures in the housing shortage action plan. The aim is to increase the supply of housing

Engineering solutions for the protection of habitats in the Alps
The Alpine region faces enormous challenges from natural hazards. Civil engineers at the Institute of Construction in the Alps are developing innovative solutions to protect settlements and infrastructure in the long term and to make living spaces safe and

Stricter rules against squatting
The National Council has passed an amendment to the law by a clear majority that is intended to give property owners more room for manoeuvre in the fight against squatters. The new regulation enables homeowners to remove squatters more quickly and independently. A move that triggered controversial



