The new Healthtechpark Zurich-Schlieren, founded at the initiative of the location promotion agency of the city of Schlieren in the canton of Zurich, was inaugurated on April 12. Carmen Walker Späh, a member of the government of the canton of Zurich, gave the opening speech. According to the press release, the Head of the Department for Economic Affairs of the canton of Zurich pointed out that the canton is the largest healthtech location in Switzerland. So far, however, a dedicated hub has been missing. “Innovations are created in an increasingly less isolated way, but rather as part of a longer, networked process. With the Healthtechpark, we are enabling more effective exchange in the canton of Zurich and, in so doing, are laying the foundations for further innovations in this important growth market”, the government councilor comments.
In the area of biotechnology, the canton of Zurich already boasts the successful Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zürich. A dedicated location is now to be established for the healthtech sector, which includes the areas of medical technology and diagnostics.
The project was initiated by the location promotion agency of the city of Schlieren. Albert Schweizer, who heads up the agency, writes in a press release that the desire for a third cluster has therefore now been fulfilled. He has been pursuing this project for seven years. It rounds off the founding of the Bio-Technopark in 1999 and the IFJ (institute offering support to start-ups) in 2013. A dozen start-ups and companies with more than 100 jobs have already registered for the new Healthtechpark. In addition, with the University Hospital Zurich and Limmattal Hospital, two partners from the clinical sector have also already been brought on board.
“The Healthtechpark offers an exceptional platform for start-ups and established companies alike”, comments Melanie Aregger, President of the Healthtechpark and CEO of Avelo AG, in the press release.
The Healthtechpark Zurich-Schlieren is organized as an association and is financed by membership, sponsorship and patron contributions. The canton of Zurich is represented on the board in the form of its location promotion agency together with the city of Schlieren.
