Located on the site of the former European headquarters of Dupont in Grand-Saconnex, the "Octagon by B Living" innovation campus is set to become an emblematic site of the international Geneva ecosystem, at the intersection of the United Nations community, the Lake Geneva region and the Geneva airport.
Consisting of three octagonal-shaped commercial buildings with a total of 22,590 square meters of rental space, the incubator will be able to accommodate up to 200 start-ups, for a total of approximately 1,500 people. This new center dedicated to innovation is among the largest in the canton of Geneva, positioned between the 40,000 square meters of the Biotech Campus and the 5,000 square meters of the FONGIT.
The campus is run by Salvatore Matteis, a former Yahoo executive who is very active in the start-up world. "Octagon is more than just an incubator. It should be seen more as a gigantic laboratory, where innovation will be the focus," he explains.
A place to grow
In a ruthlessly competitive market, Salvatore Matteis intends to shake up the usual conventions of workplaces. By combining an incubator, a co-working space, living and dining areas, a conference program and events, Octagon wants to facilitate the development of innovative projects while promoting the emergence of more sustainable models of professional activity and healthier living environments.
"The companies we are targeting all have activities that facilitate the emergence of innovations with a positive social, environmental and economic impact. Whether they are start-ups, entrepreneurs, or more mature companies, the idea is to create an innovation ecosystem dedicated to social entrepreneurship," he concludes.
