FRZ General Assembly 2026: Record figures and fresh forces

Kloten, April 13, 2026 - 226 voters took part in Monday's The 14th General Meeting of the FRZ Zurich Airport Region, Business Network & Location Development, was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport in Kloten. President André Ingold opened the evening, followed by words of welcome from the Mayor of Kloten, René Huber. He talks about the importance of Kloten as a location for business and innovation in the heart of the airport region. Housing construction is currently booming in the city, which is very positive, as there are only 23,000 inhabitants compared to 40,000 jobs.

Carmen Walker Späh, Director of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich, conveyed the canton's greetings and emphasized the economic dynamism of the airport region. She highlighted the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich in Dübendorf as an up-and-coming center of the space economy. One highlight is the establishment of Starlab Space - a joint venture between Airbus, Voyager Space, Mitsubishi and MDA Space - which intends to develop a commercial space station there. This is complemented by the UZH Space Hub under Prof. Dr. Oliver Ullrich, which promotes transatlantic research and logistics through cooperation with Space Florida.

Monika Rühl, CEO of economiesuisse, spoke about challenges and opportunities in her keynote speech "Switzerland as a business location: How do we remain a champion?". The export-heavy Swiss economy struggled with geopolitical tensions and trade barriers. She called for a customs agreement with the USA and the deepening of EU relations through Bilaterals III, citing low bureaucracy, a high level of innovation and sufficient skilled workers as crucial to future prosperity.

Record year 2025 and high member satisfaction

Managing Director Rahel Kindermann Leuthard presented a strong track record for the past year: 50 events, over 5,600 participants and membership growth to 901 companies and institutions. Turnover rose to over 2.8 million francs. A survey confirms record figures for the network: 95 percent of members are very satisfied, and for 80 percent, FRZ is the business network of choice. Highlights included the 11th ImmoSummit and the 25th Business Forum in the Circle.

Location development and the "New Zurich" vision

As part of a strategy review, FRZ has sharpened its focus and is now positioning itself even more explicitly as a driving force behind location development. Sustainability is a central strategic pillar here. A new advisory board and an online "Sustainability Navigator" will promote ecological, economic and social best practice in the region. The most important project for the future is the "New Zurich" development strategy, which has been developed with 14 municipalities and external experts since 2022. "We are one of the most dynamic regions in Switzerland. Growth alone is no longer enough. The decisive factor is how we develop the region sustainably," explained Kindermann Leuthard. The official launch of the "New Zurich" reader will take place on June 10, 2026 at the 12th ImmoSummit in Dübendorf.

Honorary membership and new members on the Board of Directors

The farewell to Board members Edith Zuber, Peter Spörri and Thomas Peter marked an emotional moment. The latter was made an honorary member for his formative commitment since the company was founded. From now on, three newly elected personalities will strengthen the Board with fresh energy: Stefan Ammann (Managing Director of dormakaba Schweiz AG), Marc Osterwalder (new Administrative Director of the City of Kloten) and Roman Schmid (Mayor of Opfikon-Glattbrugg). André Ingold was confirmed as Chairman by the voters. The meeting also approved the 2025 annual financial statements and all other business.

Promoting young talent and outlook

In order to secure the future of the network, FRZ invests specifically in young talent. The "FRZ NXTwork" format and a mentoring program with around 100 experienced mentors are aimed at managers aged between 20 and 40. Jorin Lecaj was also welcomed as a new FRZ Ambassador. President André Ingold closed the official part of the event with a big thank you to the team, sponsors and partners. Before the evening ended with networking and a performance by the improv theater "anundpfirsich", CEO Rahel Kindermann Leuthard summarized: "From talent to champion - this is not a promise for tomorrow, but a decision that we make today."

About the FRZ Zurich Airport Region

The FRZ Zurich Airport Region is the leading economic network in Switzerland's most dynamic economic region. With 901 members - companies, cities and municipalities as well as organizations - the FRZ connects decision-makers from business, science and politics. The 14 towns and municipalities that form the core area and the sponsorship of the FRZ Zurich Airport Region - Business Network and Location Development association include Bachenbülach, Bassersdorf, Bülach, Dietlikon, Dübendorf, Kloten, Nürensdorf, Oberglatt, Opfikon, Rümlang, Volketswil, Wallisellen, Wangen-Brüttisellen and Winkel.