
New strategy pays off – more profit and green share of sales increases
Building materials producer Holcim improved its recurring operating profit margin by 90 basis points to 18.3 per cent in the first half of 2025. The construction company's recurring operating profit rose by 10.8 per cent in local currency to CHF 1.440

Strong franc weighs on quarterly results despite gains in market share
The construction chemicals group Sika has reported revenue of CHF 2.49 billion for the first quarter of 2026, representing growth of 0.9 per cent in local currencies. The main drivers of growth were gains in market share across all regions. In Swiss francs, revenue fell by 7 per

A lack of clarity in legal requirements is holding back the circular economy
The circular economy is still often held back by a lack of clarity regarding the application of existing regulations. This is shown in a report compiled by ecos in Basel and Rytec in Münsingen (Canton of Bern) for the Zurich Department of Construction. Furthermore, there is a lack of incentives

Innovation project to serve as a starting point for the new construction industry
North America’s first passive house is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The BioHaus on the Waldsee Campus of Concordia Language Villages was built at the time by Stephan Tanner and his team at Intep. It also served as the starting point for the company TANNER Building

Building Services Group boosts profits and continues to grow
The Burkhalter Group has once again improved its financial performance in the 2025 financial year. Thanks to sustained high demand, the building services provider recorded revenue growth of 1.8 per cent to CHF 1.2 billion, as well as a 6 per cent increase in EBIT to CHF 73.8 million.

PropTech start-up is driving the digitalisation of property management
Venture Kick, a start-up accelerator based in Schlieren, is providing CHF 150,000 in funding to the Zurich-based proptech firm Bewy. The funds will be used to further develop an AI-based property management service and to scale the start-up’s operations across

Energy provider reports declining results alongside rising investments
Repower achieved an operating result of CHF 133 million and a profit of CHF 101 million in 2025. This is 24 and 27 per cent less than in the previous year. The lower water volumes in the Graubünden hydropower plants had a negative impact on electricity

Infrastructure works tackle challenging terrain on Lake Zurich
Walo Bertschinger AG is involved in an infrastructure project between Tägerst and Buchenegg. By the end of 2027, a road, drainage systems and engineering structures will be newly constructed or reinforced there. Two new Lehnen viaducts, measuring 90 and 130 metres in length, are also central to

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

Construction and Housing Fair in Wettingen attracts considerable interest
The 19th edition of the Bauen Wohnen trade fair will take place from 16 to 19 April at the Tägi Wettingen Event Centre. The event marks the start of the spring season and offers inspiration for home improvement projects through practical insights into the latest building


Where others park, you soon live
If you're looking for living space in Baden-Dättwil, you'd better look up. Eight modular wooden houses are to be built above a fast food outlet and a supermarket - compact, sustainable and already fully booked. An investor from Aargau proves that unused roofs could be the answer to the housing

When architectural monuments pack their suitcases
An entire area at Wollishofen station is being reinvented. A historic timber building is being dismantled and reassembled at a different location. What sounds like a compromise is actually a solution that sacrifices neither residential construction nor monument protection. After more than ten years

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

Ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of a new residential development in Baden
The symbolic laying of the foundation stone at the Brisgi site in Baden marked the official start of the construction phase. By 2028, around 220 affordable and sustainable homes will be built there for people in various life

Lucerne cantonal government plans to set up a foundation for innovation
The Lucerne Cantonal Government has requested a special grant of 24 million Swiss francs from the Cantonal Assembly for the proposed Lucerne Innovation Foundation. The canton aims to use this to boost its competitiveness and support SMEs and start-ups in implementing innovative

Smart building becomes a location factor
Smart buildings are no longer just digitally controlled properties, but operational ESG tools. They measure energy consumption in real time, control lighting, climate and shading automatically and provide reliable data for taxonomy, ratings and regulation. Lighthouses such as The Edge in Amsterdam,

Schlieren is modernising its maintenance depot
The town of Schlieren is renovating its maintenance depot to ensure its long-term operation. Key parts of the facility have exceeded their service life, making modernisation necessary. Furthermore, the current site no longer complies with fire safety and occupational health and safety


Energy supplier boosts profits despite lower turnover
In 2025, the AEW Group generated total revenue of CHF 833 million, 4.2 per cent less than in the previous year. At CHF 131 million, the operating profit was CHF 24 million higher than in the previous year, thanks to one-off effects. The Group invested CHF 94

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

Smart plant care is making its way into high street shops
The Bern-based Ecotech start-up Boum and the DIY and garden centre chain Hornbach have entered into a partnership. Under the agreement, the Boum Core plant care system will be available in selected Swiss Hornbach branches in future, making it accessible to a wide

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

Start-up is driving the scaling up of CO2-to-raw-material solutions
DeltaSpark has received 150,000 Swiss francs from Venture Kick. The funding is intended to scale up the company’s CO2 capture process and technology and to pave the way for a new round of seed funding. The process converts CO2 into clean hydrogen and solid

