
Mobile networks must receive emergency power
From 2031, Swiss mobile network operators will have to back up their networks with emergency power so that emergency calls, telephony and the Internet can continue to function in the event of power failures. An amended Telecommunications Services Ordinance stipulates how long which services must

Improve quality, streamline processes
Switzerland needs to grow inwards, but many building permit procedures take too long and are unnecessarily complex. What is needed is early cooperation between all parties involved, clear responsibilities and digitally supported processes so that high-quality inner-city development becomes a

More living space from the system
Serial construction is a response to the housing shortage, cost and climate pressure and opens up new opportunities for quality, sustainability and the circular economy. The decisive factor will be whether it is possible to combine standardization with architectural diversity and social

Choice of materials to combat the urban heat
The material catalog "Building materials for cities in a changing climate" is now available in an expanded new edition. It shows how the right choice of materials can specifically influence heat stress, urban climate and quality of stay in densely built-up areas and provides planners with a

Startups that are turning construction upside down
Six start-ups competed in the final of the Swissbau Startup Challenge in the Swissbau Lab. They showed how CO₂ can be reduced, processes streamlined and resources circulated. An expert jury selected the winners, Basel Circular presented the Circular Award for the first time and one thing was

New Center for Social Sciences
The historic building on the corner of Petersgraben and Spalenvorstadt will become the University of Basel's new Center for Social Sciences from 2029. The careful renovation combines monument protection with state-of-the-art infrastructure and creates a place for education, exchange and

Klybeckquai and Westquai as a hinge between the city and the future
Basel is setting new standards in urban planning with the development of Klybeckquai and Westquai. A newly conceived quarter on the Rhine, flexible uses on Westquai and generous open spaces define the face of a dynamic, complex urban

View into the fire zone
The FireDrone flies into burning buildings, tunnels or industrial plants and delivers real-time data from extreme environments. Developed at Empa and continued as a spin-off, it combines heat-resistant materials with intelligent robotics for greater safety and efficiency in firefighting and


Canton of Zurich presents design plan for Limmattal Energy Centre
The canton of Zurich will be presenting the design plan for the Limmattal Energy Centre for a period of 60 days starting on 20 January. In future, this centre, located on the site of the current waste incineration plant, will also include wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment at Antoniloch

Pension funds focus on sustainable living
Vertina Investment Foundation has successfully completed a capital increase. Its Vertina Wohnen investment group exceeded its target volume of CHF 50 million, raising CHF 74.3 million. The proceeds from the issue will be used to finance and realise two residential projects in

Modernization and building mobility: Why we need to build on the existing infrastructure
Cities of all sizes face a common challenge: their key infrastructure was never designed for the relentless pace of modern life. Millions of people rely on systems that are decades old, well past their intended lifespan and incompatible with climate

Sustainable commercial real estate in the focus of institutional investors
Swiss Life Asset Managers plans to launch a listed Swiss real estate fund focusing on commercial properties. The fund, which is based on an integrated ESG strategy, holds real estate in direct ownership and offers investors high income

Regional strength compensates for weakness in the Asian market
Sika AG, a company active in the specialty chemicals sector, achieved preliminary sales of CHF 11.2 billion in the 2025 financial year. In local currencies, this corresponds to growth of 0.6 per cent. In Swiss francs, negative currency effects (-5.4 per cent) resulted in a decline of 4.8 per

Long-term supply agreement strengthens global wind energy industry
Gurit Holding AG has signed a five-year supply contract with a manufacturer of wind turbines. The contract covers the supply of core kits featuring Gurit OptiCore technology and is expected to generate net sales of CHF 250 million for

Prices for detached houses and condominiums continue to rise
The Raiffeisen Transaction Price Index reports continued strong price momentum for single-family homes and condominiums. Prices for single-family homes rose by 0.2 per cent compared to the previous quarter, while condominiums cost 1.2 per cent more.


Expansion of Building Solutions through acquisitions in Western Europe
Building materials specialist Holcim has acquired French concrete component manufacturer Alkern. The acquisition strengthens Holcim's business in the Building Solutions segment and brings it closer to its goal of this segment accounting for around 50 per cent of net sales by

Winterthur introduces new guidelines for sustainable procurement
The city of Winterthur is changing its public procurement rules as of 1 July 2026. These rules are binding for all municipal departments for contracts worth CHF 50,000 or more and are intended to have a positive impact on the climate and the

New double-track line relieves congestion on the route between Zurich and Winterthur
SBB has commissioned Implenia and Marti to construct five of the six lots in the Zurich-Winterthur multi-track project. The contract is worth around CHF 1.7 billion. Construction work is expected to be completed in around ten

Farewell to an energy price with a signal effect for the future
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy is awarding the Watt d'Or energy prize for the last time to recognise outstanding achievements in the energy sector. The winners include Rigitrac Traktorenbau AG, gas supplier Gaznat, endigo Holding AG, the building cooperative mehr als wohnen, Lemon Consult and

Modern eGates drive terminal modernisation forward
Dormakaba has received several major orders from German airports for the 2025/2026 financial year. The specialist for door and security gate systems will supply, replace and maintain more than 650 Argus Air sensor gates at Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf


Real-time data against heat stress in construction and energy
TrueWindSpeed is starting to industrialise its Heatector. The sensor for the WBGT index (wet bulb globe temperature index) has been developed for construction sites, agriculture, industry and urban heat islands to accurately assess thermal stress. It is now being presented at Abu Dhabi

Market digitally. Sell more economically.
In a persistently competitive real estate market, it is not just visibility that determines marketing success, but rather the benefits of the necessary investments. Efficiency, quality of contacts and the shortest possible marketing periods are increasingly becoming the focus of estate agents and

SVIT Zurich political talk “Zurich municipal council elections 2026”
On March 8, 2026, the city of Zurich will elect its municipal council. In the SVIT Zurich Polit Talk, seven committed candidates will discuss their positions on housing and real estate policy, present solutions for the tight housing market and enter into direct dialog with the

Energy future in the Limmat Valley
The "Limmattal Energy Center" is being built in Dietikon. The waste incineration and wastewater treatment plant is being extensively renovated for this purpose. The design plan will be open to the public from January 20, 2026. An important step for the energy and climate strategy in the canton of

Future model for life sciences, research and cluster power
The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus, Europe's highest-profile innovation cluster for life sciences, biotech and healthcare technologies, is being created in the Bachgraben area of Allschwil. International corporations, top research institutes, start-ups and academic leaders work

Engineers’ Day 2026
On March 4, 2026, Switzerland will once again be dedicated to the art of engineering. Engineers' Day will bring together experts in engineering, STEM and tech professions. Supplemented for the first time by the national "National Conference of Engineers" at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences
