Winterthur - Zurich. Smart - Digital - Talented
Winterthur - Switzerland's sixth-largest city - is just a 20-minute train ride from Zurich. In recent years, this large city with an industrial past has developed into one of the most important technology locations in the country and a true birthplace for innovative start-ups. Thanks to its many educational institutions, the region also has a particularly large pool of technically trained specialists.
5 million euros! Never before has such a high amount been asked for in "Die Höhle der Löwen". But that's exactly what the Swiss start-up Scewo did on the German TV show. Anyone who didn't know the high-tech company in the German-speaking world will now be familiar with it. The videos and images of the electric wheelchair that can climb stairs had already inspired people all over the world. Scewo is based on the Sulzer site in the middle of Winterthur. The site is characterized by industrial halls and labyrinthine brick factory buildings. In the past, industrial goods such as engines, pumps and locomotives were produced here for the whole world using brute machinery and muscle power. Today, software for industrial applications is written on the same site, hip implants are manufactured in highly automated production facilities and sensors for smart factories are developed.
Talent is the fuel of the innovation system. They are trained at the ZHAW School of Engineering in Winterthur. © ZHAW
Innovative technological ecosystem
Success stories like that of Scewo are no coincidence, but the result of a locally anchored and internationally interwoven technological ecosystem. Companies such as Autoneum, Sulzer and Kistler have been shaping this system for many years. In addition to these well-known "giants", numerous young companies are currently working their way to the top. The dynamic start-up scene, in which Scewo is also firmly anchored, has found a home to take off in the Technopark Winterthur or the Home of Innovation. Products from the fields of artificial intelligence, digitalization and medical technology are developed, optimized and sold at these locations. The fuel for the innovation engine remains the technically skilled specialists who complete their training at the School of Engineering of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).
Forge for specialists
Today, Winterthur produces one thing above all: expertise. The city is a hotspot for practice-oriented education. The ZHAW, Switzerland's largest university of applied sciences, is located in Winterthur. It alone attracts over 10,000 students from Germany and Switzerland. The ZHAW School of Engineering trains over 2,000 specialists in the fields of systems engineering, data science, aviation and IT every year and is known for its close research collaborations with the private sector. The Mechatronics School Winterthur (MSW) trains automation engineers, polymechanics and electricians. The training places are state of the art. MSW graduates took first place in the "Industry 4.0" discipline at the 2021 EuroSkills vocational championships in Graz.
Ideally positioned
In addition to its innovative strength and skilled workforce, Winterthur has another advantage: its excellent location. Zurich Airport is just 15 minutes away and the train arrives at Zurich main station in 20 minutes. The direct highway connection also ensures that the German university city of Constance can be reached in a 50-minute drive. This not only gives companies quick access to the economic center of Zurich, but also to the major European cities. The company Evobus has discovered this advantage for itself. The Daimler subsidiary is the largest bus manufacturer in Europe. The company has also had a site in Winterthur since April 2020 and employs over 100 people here.
The futuristic electric wheelchair from ETH spin-off Scewo made a big appearance on the TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen". Scewo AG
A year later, the German SAP service provider Natuvion opened a branch in Winterthur. "I chose Winterthur as the location because of its excellent infrastructure: it's not far from Zurich Airport or the border to Germany or Austria," says Jens Engehausen, Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Director of Natuvion Switzerland. Winterthur has undergone a major transformation in recent years. The city is modern, green and safe, says Engehausen. The strong service sector, the "hidden champions" of industry based in Winterthur and the proximity to the ZHAW were further reasons.
Kistler produces and develops sensors for the digitalization of industry. © Kistler Group
Focus on smart health
The pandemic has given a significant boost to digitalization in the healthcare sector. This can also be felt in Winterthur with its smart health cluster: there are several hospitals in Winterthur. These include the Winterthur Cantonal Hospital (KSW), which is one of the largest in the country. The medtech company Zimmer Biomet has almost 1,000 employees in the city, and SWICA and AXA , two of the most important insurers with several thousand employees, are also based here. In addition, the ZHAW School of Health and the Center for Education in Healthcare (ZAG) are two of the largest Swiss educational institutions in this field.
Green city
Winti, as Winterthur is known by its inhabitants, is an attractive place to live as well as a lively business community. The 117,000 inhabitants of the city are cosmopolitan and urban. At the same time, the city is personal and uncomplicated due to its manageable size - people know each other in Winterthur. If you appreciate the mix of nature and urbanity, Winterthur is the place for you. A third of the city's surface area is covered with parks and forests, making the city a national record holder. 15 top-class museums, a number of breweries and a lively, picturesque old town round off the leisure activities on offer.
Even more inspiration from Winterthur
