
A new giant reorganizes the insurance market
The merger of Helvetia and Baloise has created a new insurance giant in Basel. Helvetia Baloise Holding AG will become the second-largest insurance group in Switzerland and the largest employer in the industry. Behind the sober formula "merger of equals" are strategic power shifts, opportunities

Expansion of Basel SBB West station
With the major Basel SBB West project, the federal government, the canton of Basel-Stadt and SBB are creating the infrastructural conditions for the station of the future. The extension, which is due to be completed from 2034, will link rail, streetcar, bus and bicycle in a new way and give the

The fifth generation of the Basel agglomeration program
The Basel region is sending out a strong signal for sustainable, cross-border development. With the submitted fifth-generation agglomeration program, investments totalling CHF 2.86 billion are being prepared, including CHF 293 million for projects to be implemented urgently from

Master builders and trade unions agree on new national collective agreement
After months of wrangling, the Swiss Federation of Master Builders and the trade unions Unia and Syna have agreed on a new national collective agreement for the construction industry. The six-year agreement includes new rules on working and travel times, a wage package including inflation

Swiss premiere in building automation
The sfb is the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland whose Building Automation HF course has been officially recognized by the federal government. This provides state protection for qualifications, strengthens the profession of building automation technician HF and sends an important

Real estate market 2026 stable tailwind from low interest rates, AI boom and scarce space
The National Bank's interest rate freeze, high valuations on the real estate markets and a global surge in investment in artificial intelligence will shape the investment year 2026. While Wüest Partner expects financing costs to remain low and price momentum to slow on the Swiss construction and

How much of the past can densification tolerate?
The Brunnergut residential development is a child of the post-war era. Functional, dense, with underground parking and a lot of neighborhood history. Now the building appeals court is stopping its removal from the municipal inventory and demanding an independent additional report. Winterthur must

Training offensive for networked building technology
The sfb is the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland to achieve state recognition for its Building Automation HF course. This enables recognized qualifications and also takes into account the need for highly qualified specialists in this field in the context of the Energy Strategy

Railroad modernization in the sensitive Alpine region
STRABAG is continuing the renewal of the Central Railway line in the Haslital. The modernization project is intended to ensure flood protection there. The location of the construction site, which runs through several nature reserves, is a particular challenge for logistics and

Million-euro financing accelerates autonomous construction site technology
Gravis Robotics can intensify its global market launch with 23 million dollars in funding from several venture capital companies. The Zurich-based start-up has already found numerous new industrial partners for its autonomous

Building objections Federal Council wants to crack down harder
Building objections delay housing projects in Switzerland and exacerbate the housing shortage. The federal government should now create a legal basis to sanction obviously abusive objections. However, without undermining the legitimate participation rights of the

Bassersdorf plans the next growth step
Bassersdorf is getting serious about the development "along the tracks". At the consultation event on December 3, 2025, the municipality showed how a little-used commercial area south of the train station is to be transformed into a mixed-use district with housing, workplaces and plenty of green

Switzerland rethinks electric mobility
Inductive charging makes electric cars automatic partners in the energy transition. Empa researchers, together with industry partners, have tested the wireless technology under real conditions for the first time with convincing results. The first converted vehicles are already registered on Swiss


27 years of commitment to Schlieren’s transformation
On November 26, 2025, Albert Schweizer received a special honor. The award as Site Promoter of the Year 2025 recognizes his many years of commitment to the development of Schlieren into a leading biotech and medtech location. A transformation that was significantly shaped by his work as Head of

ImmoTable Basel – Of superclusters, new bridges and the path out of digital antiquity
On November 27, 2025, the real estate industry met for the well-attended ImmoTable in Basel. The atmosphere was characterized by grand visions and concrete large-scale projects. While location promotion is boosting innovative strength with a massive investment package, SBB and the canton of

Between stability, housing protection and growth pressure
The Basel real estate industry is facing a paradox. The economic fundamentals are stable, demand is high and there is theoretically enough land available. However, strict regulations and sluggish processes are slowing down the production of new living space. A picture of the mood from the current

Generation change at suissetec with Dennis Reichardt
With the election of Dennis Reichardt as the new Central President, suissetec is implementing a carefully prepared change in leadership that combines personnel continuity and strategic renewal. At the same time, the association is relying on a strengthened, broad-based Central Executive Board team

Norman Gobbi points to sustainability in Ticino
Since September 1, Norman Gobbi has been head of the Construction Division of Canton Ticino. In the interview he shows a clear vision. Sustainability, climate adaptation and close cooperation with municipalities will be the pillars of a new building culture in southern Switzerland. State Councillor

Power from the parquet floor
Researchers from ETH Zurich and Empa are working with the Bauwerk Group to develop a parquet floor that uses ecological raw materials, achieves the properties of oak and can also act as a sensor or microgenerator. The combination of modified poplar wood and piezoelectric Rochelle salt creates a

Zurich readjusts housing and transport policy
The Zurich electorate clearly rejects a municipal right of first refusal, but is narrowly in favor of doubling cantonal housing subsidies and clearly in favour of stricter rules against 30 km/h on main roads. At the same time, a new basic right to digital integrity was rejected, as was a higher

Why 2026 could be the year of the construction strike
Two worlds collide in the construction industry. Construction workers, who are demanding family-friendly working hours and full compensation after years of falling real wages, and master builders, who are demanding greater flexibility and cost stability. If a new national collective agreement is

Basel Area has developed into a life sciences supercluster
If you want to gain a foothold as a company in the Basel region, there is no getting around Basel Area Business & Innovation. The agency for location promotion and innovation support helps companies, institutions and start-ups to be successful in the Basel Area, i.e. in the cantons of






