Canton of Zurich creates interface to the Innovation Park

(CONNECT) According to a press release, the canton of Zurich has created the Innovation Park Zurich office. In doing so, it is implementing a government council resolution from April 2025, which provides for the transfer of the coordination office, which was previously managed by an external mandate, into a standard organization. The specialist unit is located in the Office for Economy and began operations at the beginning of the year.

The specialist unit is to ensure the implementation of the division of tasks between the Department for Economic Affairs, the Innovation Park Foundation, IPZ Property AG and IPZ Operations AG. It should coordinate the cantonal projects and involve the various stakeholders in the local municipalities, the federal government, the business community and other partners.

In addition to the Innovation Park as the most important site development project in the canton, the specialist unit should also deal with the active development of economic areas as a key location factor. This involves areas for growth, transformation and the establishment of companies, particularly in or around the Innovation Park, but also throughout the canton.

Benjamin Grimm is the first head of the specialist unit. The geographer holds a Master's degree in Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and a Master of Advanced Studies in Real Estate from the University of Zurich. He has worked at the Federal Office for Spatial Development and the Office for Spatial Development of the Canton of Zurich, among others. ce/ug