Industrial site in Serrières becomes Neuchâtel Innovation Park
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The state and the city of Neuchâtel, together with institutional partners, have acquired an industrial complex in Serrières to expand the Swiss Innovation Park in Neuchâtel. The new innovation centre offers 7,000 m² of space for high-tech light industry and will create almost 400 new jobs.
In collaboration with the Caisse cantonale d’assurance populaire and the Etablissement cantonal d’assurance et de prévention, the State and the City of Neuchâtel have acquired an industrial complex on Rue des Usines in Serrières. The aim is to develop and operate a new innovation centre there. To this end, the public limited company Usinnove SA was founded, in which the state holds a 40% stake and the City of Neuchâtel 20%. The remaining shares are held by CCAP and ECAP. The industrial complex covers an area of 7,000 m² and can create almost 400 new jobs.
Central role of Microcity SA
The new site will be managed and operated by Microcity SA. A centre of excellence for diagnostics and related technologies is to be set up, serving as a hub for companies in the fields of diagnostics and automation. Part of the complex will be converted into a business centre equipped with laboratory infrastructure and offering a collaborative project environment for large companies, SMEs and start-ups.
Strengthening the Neuchâtel innovation cluster
The acquired industrial complex is intended to further strengthen Neuchâtel’s position in the Swiss Innovation Park. The Serrières site offers potential for the expansion of Neuchâtel’s innovation cluster and will secure an industrial location in the long term. Neuchâtel will thus expand its offering and consolidate its position as an innovation centre.
Strategic use of old buildings
The purchase of the industrial complex is part of the state’s strategy to utilise old buildings for light industrial activities. This policy aims to bring start-ups, SMEs, large companies and research centres together on one site in order to meet the economic challenges facing the canton. Similar projects have already been realised at the sites Rue Jaquet-Droz 7 in Neuchâtel and Hôtel-de-Ville 7 in Le Locle, which are also home to cutting-edge applied research activities.
An important step for Neuchâtel
The acquisition of the industrial complex in Serrières and the planned transformation into an innovation centre are an important step for the economic development of Neuchâtel. The close cooperation between the state, the city and institutional partners will strengthen the region and create the basis for future innovations.