1 PARK innovAARE PARK innovAARE – THE INNOVATION park AT PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTE APPLICATION AS A NETWORK LOCATION OF THE NATIONAL INNOVATION PaRK NETWORK LOCATION OF THE SWISS INNOVATION PaRK WWW.parkINNOVAARE.CH TabLE OF CONTENTS 03 PARK innovAARE – long-term project for growth and innovation 04 Swiss Innovation Park – strengthening Switzerland's competitive ability 04 PARK innovAARE – the innovation park at Paul Scherrer Institute 06 PARK innovAARE – where innovation accelerates 08 Main innovation areas at PARK innovAARE – basis for a clear focus 12 PARK innovAARE – top address for technology companies 14 Opportunities for companies 16 Active funding by industrial companies – guarantor for a market-driven development 17 Buildings and infrastructure – flexible room concepts in an attractive campus 18 PARK innovAARE – convincing innovation profile 19 Outlook and Contact LegaL NOTICE This publication is based on the application submitted by the Canton of Aargau on 28 March 2014 in response to the call for tender for network locations of the Swiss Innovation Park issued by the Conference of Cantonal Directors of the Public Economy (CDPE). The dossier was devel- oped by SSG SwissSpaGroup AG of Zurich in collaboration with Paul Scherrer Institute and the Canton of Aargau on behalf of the Cantonal Government. Client – Government of the Canton of Aargau Team of authors – Prof. Daniel Kündig, PARK innovAARE Lead Project Director, CEO SwissSpaGroup AG – Dr Andri Vital, Hightech Aargau Project Manager, Canton of Aargau – Nils Gebhardt, Senior Project Manager, SwissSpaGroup AG – Dr Giorgio Travaglini, Head of Technology Transfer, Paul Scherrer Institute Image sources – Canton of Aargau, Hornberger Architekten, Paul Scherrer Institute, Scanderbeg Sauer Photography © November 2014, Canton of Aargau 3 PARK innovAARE – LONG-TERM PROJECT FOR GROWTH AND INNOVATION Switzerland is the most competitive country in the the latest research results. The University of Applied world. We are at the top of the World Economic Forum's Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW competition index for the sixth time running. The in- has a focus on applied research and closes the chain novative power of our economy is based on a first- of innovation between fundamental research and class education system with leading universities and business. research facilities combined with political and eco- nomic stability, transparent administration, as well as PARK innovAARE has wide support in politics, science an outstanding infrastructure and efficient financial and business. This is especially visible in the signifi- and labour markets. cant financial participation of leading corporations, financial institutes, media companies and SMEs. The Swiss Innovation Park is an opportunity to sus- These companies play a significant role in designing tainably secure Switzerland's power of innovation. the development of innovAARE AG as the future fund- The country's best competencies will be bundled on a ing and operating entity. national level. The aim is to bring innovation to market more quickly through close cooperation between re- Developing the network between universities, re- search and business. search facilities and businesses is a major ambition of Aargau's Cantonal Government. It has set a strategic As part of the Swiss Innovation Park, PARK innovAARE focus with the successful launch of the Hightech Aar- brings innovators from research and industry together gau programme, which is also of benefit to PARK in a state-of-the-art technology centre at Paul Scher- innovAARE. rer Institute PSI. PSI has research and technology competencies of world repute and operates a combi- The Swiss Innovation Park with PARK innovAARE is an nation of large-scale research facilities that is unique important long-term project. Switzerland cannot af- by international comparison. ford to lose any time pooling its resources in the inter- national race for future-oriented innovations. PARK Aargau's economy is characterised by an above-average innovAARE provides a major contribution in this re- proportion of high-tech companies ranging from inter- gard. Thanks to its unique profile and well-developed nationally aligned industrial corporations to highly strengths, it will contribute towards the success of the specialised SMEs. These companies depend on a fast Swiss Innovation Park. and intensive knowledge and technology transfer of Minister Minister Dr Urs Hofmann Alex Hürzeler Prof. Dr Joël Mesot Head of the Department of Head of the Department of Director of the Economy and Internal Affairs Education, Culture and Sports Paul Scherrer Institute 4 SWIss INNOVATION PARK – STRENGTHENING SWITZERLAND'S COMPETITIVE ABILITY As an instrument of economic promotion and a coor- SWISS dinated innovation policy, the Swiss Innovation Park CONFEDERATION will provide a significant contribution towards the ef- fective collaboration between cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial innovation in Switzerland. The objectives are to secure and increase Switzerland's Swiss Innovation Park international competitiveness as a country of innova- tion. Centres focused on concentrating cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial innovation will be cre- ated in close proximity to leading universities and re- search institutions. The Swiss Innovation Park will HUB around ETH make our country more appealing to internationally Zurich active companies engaged in intensive research, at- tract investment in research and create highly quali- fied jobs. PARK innovAARE The Swiss Innovation Park is a national network of locations for innovation. The initial configuration comprises two hub locations in Zurich and Lausanne and the two locations PARK innovAARE in Villigen HUB around ETH and Würenlingen in Aargau and the Park Region Lausanne Northwestern Switzerland of the Cantons of Basel- Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Jura. Organisation of the Swiss Innovation Park PARK innovAARE – THE INNOVATION park AT PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTE PARK innovAARE is the result of an application sub- partners, including many internationally active cor- mitted by the Canton of Aargau with the support of porations. Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in response to the call for tender issued by the Conference of Cantonal Di- OUTSTANDING INITIAL POSITION rectors of the Public Economy (CDPE). The inten- PSI researches in areas of relevance to society and tion is to construct an innovation park in direct industry. Its aim is to accelerate the utilisation of proximity to PSI. The renowned institute is the larg- scientific insights and in doing so to expand its est research centre for natural and engineering activities in the field of knowledge and technology sciences in Switzerland and employs more than transfer. It also intends to intensify its collaboration 1,900 people. PSI has a globally unique combination with industry. of large-scale research facilities and internationally recognised scientific excellence and is the decisive The Hightech Aargau programme introduced by the success factor for PARK innovAARE. Companies lo- Cantonal Government in 2012 includes various cated at PARK innovAARE will benefit from privileged measures to strengthen its qualitative location access to PSI's large-scale research facilities and factors and promote the transfer of knowledge and the know-how of its highly qualified specialists, re- technology. The Government of the Canton of searchers and engineers, as well as from an inter- Aargau and PSI have agreed on a significant national network of universities, research institu- financial participation in the realisation of the tions, knowledge transfer facilities and development large-scale research facility SwissFEL (Free 5 Electron Laser) in addition to a long-term coopera- the municipalities of Villigen and Würenlingen, the tion. PARK innovAARE is a result of this strategic leading research and education institutions PSI and partnership. the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, and reputable A 5.5 hectare plot ready for development is availa- international corporations and SMEs. ble directly adjacent to the PSI site in Villigen. This PARK innovAARE meets all the requirements for «Outstanding conditions for application-oriented long-term development. Value-adding technology research and innovation» companies will find a suitable location for setting up business right next to PSI. is where the first stage of PARK innovAARE will be realised by 2018. There are also reserve areas of The PSI site in Villigen and Würenlingen has enjoyed around 22.9 hectares in the municipalities of active funding for many years and is firmly anchored Villigen and Würenlingen. These areas are ear- in the structure plan through relevant decrees of the marked for extraction from the structure plan that Cantonal Parliament. The planning prerequisites for is currently under review. Furthermore, an addi- the short-term realisation of PARK innovAARE are tional 20.5 hectares for potential expansion are given, as is the basis for its spatial development in the also available. mid to long term. The funding for PARK innovAARE has a broad support base. It consists of the Canton of Aargau, 2.5 north 10.9 east 9.5 south 11.1 southeast Construction zone Paul Scherrer Institute Structure plan guideline Expansion potential and PARK innovAARE 36.2 hectares 22.9 hectares 20.5 hectares 6 PARK innovAARE – WHERE INNOVATION ACCELERATES VISION UNIQUE COMBINATION PARK innovAARE is a globally leading centre where PSI develops, constructs