The security of electricity supply will decline in the coming years. This is according to the Swiss Electricity Supply Index, which has been published for the first time by the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE). According to the index, supply will be particularly critical in

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Basel Housing Cooperative and Vivanta AG will implement the winning designs for two residential buildings with a total of 270 affordable flats on the SBB's Wolf site. The tender also placed particular emphasis on recyclability and ease of

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

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

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

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

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

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

The construction company STRABAG is building the shell for the new Zimmerberg wastewater treatment plant. The new pumping station in Thalwil is scheduled to go into operation in 2029 and will serve up to 78,000 residents and

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

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

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

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

The debate about a sustainable building stock is at a crossroads. While the construction of energy-efficient buildings, energy-efficient renovation and the use of low-emission energy sources are now standard practice, the opinion-forming process on grey energy is still in full swing. Grey energy is

The canton of Zurich wants to further reduce emissions in the building sector. To this end, the cantonal government is applying for a new framework credit of CHF 60 million until 2029. Together with federal funds, up to CHF 286 million is available for energy promotion

A new part of the city will be built on the Wolf development site in Basel from 2028. SBB is granting building rights for two plots to the Basler Wohngenossenschaft and Vivanta AG. Around 270 affordable apartments based on the cost-rent principle will create a mixed, lively

In 2026, the Swiss real estate market will continue to be caught between interest rate reversals, political uncertainty and declining construction activity. While residential properties continue to increase in value, the commercial market is coming under pressure. The latest SIV market report shows

Roof areas larger than 300 square metres in the canton of Zurich are to be used entirely for the production of solar power in future. This is what the cantonal government is proposing. In addition, grid operators are to jointly promote long-term storage in

From 20 to 23 January, the industry will meet at Swissbau 2026, where experts, planners and innovators will experience on 80,000 square meters where building, living and design are heading in a practical, inspiring and future-oriented

The Valais-based start-up Urbio has successfully launched its software for planning urban district heating networks on the European market. The reason for the expansion is the potential of district heating, which could cover up to 50 per cent of total heating requirements in the future. Currently,

Swissbau, which begins on 20 January 2026, will focus not only on digitalisation and collaboration, but also on the key topic of circular economy and materials. The construction and real estate trade fair will offer lectures, panel discussions and practical examples on these

Trainees at Basel-based energy supplier IWB have turned their Metro project into a start-up. They are giving disused Metro 45 street lights a new lease of life as floor lamps. Basel-based lighting specialist Regent AG is acting as a partner for quality and safety