Industrial, office and lab space

Land use and permits in Switzerland 

Switzerland’s land use planning system divides residential, commercial, and industrial zones clearly, supporting sustainable growth. Investors developing industrial real estate in Switzerland must obtain building permits from local authorities, with timelines depending on project scope.  
 

Additional environmental or operational permits may be required for factories, logistics hubs, or service facilities. Cantonal economic development agencies help foreign investors navigate permitting, environmental regulations, and site selection. 
 

Swiss property law and foreign investors 

Foreign companies may freely acquire commercial property, including office space in Switzerland, industrial sites, and hospitality properties. However, the Lex Koller law restricts foreign acquisition of residential and recreational property unless it directly supports business operations. 
 

What taxes apply to real estate transactions? 

Real estate taxes vary by canton but typically include: 

• Transfer Taxes: 0%–3.3% depending on location 

• Registry Fees: 0.05%–1.3% 

• Capital Gains Tax: Applied to discourage speculative sales 

• Property Tax: 0%–1.3% annually 

• These costs should be factored into long-term investment planning. 

Greenfield investments  

Greenfield projects allow companies to build customized production sites, logistics centers, or office campuses. Cantons often provide zoned land, industrial parks, and fast-track permitting to attract investment. Projects must comply with the Planning and Building Law (PBG), the Building Ordinance (BVV), and environmental rules. Large-scale projects may require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).  

Commercial real estate market  

Real estate prices in Switzerland vary by location. Urban centers like Zurich and Geneva come with higher costs due to strong demand and excellent infrastructure. More affordable options are cities such as Lausanne, Lucerne, and St. Gallen. These cities offer cost-effective alternatives while maintaining excellent connectivity - a key advantage in Switzerland’s compact and highly efficient transportation network.  
 

Commercial real estate prices  

Commercial real estate prices in Switzerland vary widely depending on location and usage.   
 

• City of Zurich is a prime real estate market, with prime office rents around CHF 1’050 (Q4 2024) (approx. USD 1,300) per m²/year  

• Geneva follows at CHF 920 (approx. USD 1,140) and Lausanne at CHF 450 (approx. USD 560) per m²/year  

• Bern and Basel average at CHF 370 (approx. USD 460) per m²/year  

Regional cities like Lucerne, St. Gallen, Aarau, Schaffhausen and Solothurn offer cost-effective options with excellent infrastructure, public transport, and talent access, often within 60–90 minutes of major airports and business centers. Locations such as:  
 

• Lucerne (Office CHF 150-330 (approx. USD 180-410), Retail CHF 160-600 (approx. USD 200-740) per m²/year) 

• St. Gallen (Office CHF 120-280 (approx. USD 150-350), Retail CHF 120-380 (approx. USD 150-470) per m²/year) 

• Aarau (CHF 120-280 (approx. USD 130-310) per m²/year) 

• Schaffhausen (CHF 130-270 (approx. USD 160-340) per m²/year) 

• Solothurn (CHF 110-250 (approx. USD 140-310) per m²/year)  

offer strong infrastructure and connectivity at lower rental costs.  

Laboratory and R&D spaces  

Companies planning R&D in Switzerland can access some of the most advanced laboratory and innovation facilities in Europe. From biotech and life sciences to high-tech engineering, laboratory space in Switzerland is available in prime hubs like Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, and Bern, often integrated with universities, hospitals, and research institutes. 
 

Switzerland’s research and innovation ecosystem is concentrated in clusters: 
 

• Science parks – Switzerland Innovation Parks and Technoparks provide modular labs and pilot production areas connected to top universities. 

• Private biotech hubs – Superlab Suisse (Zurich, Lausanne, Basel) offers turnkey lab rental in Switzerland for startups, scale-ups, and multinationals. 

• Academic campuses – Biopôle Lausanne integrates GMP-compliant labs with the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and EPFL. 
   

These environments give companies immediate access to talent, industry partnerships, and advanced research networks. 
 

What facilities and equipment are available? 

Swiss R&D facilities offer scalable options, from shared incubator labs to fully equipped private suites. Standard features include: 
 

• Wet and dry labs, cleanrooms, and prototype workshops 

• Shared instrumentation (e.g., autoclaves, biosafety cabinets, NMR spectrometers, PCR machines) 

• Advanced IT infrastructure with secure data storage, cloud access, and isolated networks 

• Specialized utilities such as high-purity gases, deionized water, UPS, and HVAC systems 

• Compliance with biosafety and certification standards (e.g., BSL-2, GMP) 
   

This makes lab rental in Switzerland suitable for both early-stage startups and established R&D teams.  
 

What value-added services do Swiss labs offer? 

Beyond physical infrastructure, Swiss laboratory space typically comes with integrated services to help companies scale: 
 

• Regulatory and compliance guidance (e.g., Swissmedic approvals, biosafety certifications) 

• IP strategy and legal advisory access 

• Collaboration with researchers, PhD talent, and clinical experts 

• Platforms for joint research, tech transfer, and pilot projects 

• Access to investor networks, innovation grants, and government programs 

These features ensure businesses can benefit from the broader innovation hubs in Switzerland. 
 

Examples of specialized ​​Swiss ecosystems:  
Switzerland Innovation Park   

• Offer modular wet and dry labs, co-working zones, and pilot production areas  

• Direct access to ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Basel, PSI, universities of applied sciences and other academic partners  

• Lease flexibility ranging from small R&D offices to multi-floor anchor tenant labs  

Superlab Suisse (Zurich, Lausanne, Basel)  

• High-end, turnkey BSL-1 and BSL-2 labs for life sciences, biotech, and pharma companies  

• Lab space starts from CHF 600–800 (approx. USD 660–880) per m²/year, depending on customization  

• Tenants include startups, scale-ups, and subsidiaries of multinational firms  

Biopôle Lausanne starts from CHF 330-370 (approx. USD 410–460) per m²/year  

• Home to over 130 companies and institutions focused on life sciences and digital health  

• Offers shared lab equipment, GMP-compliant space, and on-site business support  

• Integrated with the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and EPFL innovation ecosystem  

Technopark Zurich 

• Focus on medical technology, artificial intelligence, data science and environmental & energy technology. 

Home to 260 tech companies, 47’000m2 site area 
 

Basel Stücki Park 

• A hub for life sciences, medical technology, nanotechnology, cleantech, and information and communication technology (ICT) 

• Encompasses approximately 69,000 m², with plans to expand the total rental space to over 111,000 m² 

Next steps for companies 

Switzerland’s real estate market is built for long-term stability and growth. Whether you need turnkey labs, custom production space, or a prime office in a major city, the combination of predictable regulations, strong infrastructure, and innovation-driven campuses supports every stage of expansion.  
 

Ready to explore your next site in Switzerland?​ Contact us to discuss location options, permitting guidance, or tailored space for your operations.