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Greater Zurich Area: Where tech invests.

Connecting businesses to opportunities and ecosystems in Switzerland

The Greater Zurich Area is where world-class technology meets Swiss reliability. As the global leader in innovation and talent attraction paired with Switzerland’s business-friendly, stable, and reliable environment, Greater Zurich offers international companies real added value and peace of mind for their strategic expansion.

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GZA annual report 2024

In 2024, the Greater Zurich Area Ltd. settled 91 companies in the Zurich economic region. With settlements such as Revolut, AWS, and Anthropic, it surpassed previous years in quality, scale, and excellence.

Annual report 2024

Higher BigTech density than Silicon Valley: Welcome to Greater Zurich

For decades, Silicon Valley has reigned as the undisputed center of global innovation. Yet, 5,800 miles away, the Zurich region has built a reputation as Europe’s compact tech powerhouse, attracting an impressive list of global giants.

Get all insights in our latest blog post and discover the world's leading region for talent and innovation.

Discover BigTech in Greater Zurich

Settling your business is easy. Making a difference is extraordinary.

Google Switzerland

After 20 years in town, Google is an integral part of the Zurich ecosystem, and enjoys the internationality, great partnerships and wealth of innovative ideas offered by Zurich as a business location.

Revolut in Greater Zurich - Julian Biegmann

Revolut Switzerland

Greater Zurich is the base for Revolut's ambitious plans for the Swiss market. Speaking to GZA Managing Director Lukas Huber, Revolut Country Manager Julian Biegmann provides insights into new features and the region's locational advantages - and explains why Revolut has come to stay.

Anthropic

Anthropic’s expansion to Greater Zurich has made headlines - and so has its choice of location. We spoke with their team about research culture, talent, lakeside bike rides, and the unexpected places where you just might bump into world-class AI minds.

Treiber der Robotik: Das Robotics and AI Institute und Marco Hutter

Boosting robotics: the Robotics and AI Institute and Marco Hutter

The Robotics and AI Institute (RAI) opened its European headquarters in the Greater Zurich Area in early 2024. Headed by Professor Marco Hutter, it plays a key global role in the development of robots.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

From a small Zurich office to a cornerstone of Switzerland’s digital infrastructure - AWS is scaling fast. With major investments, a growing cloud region, and a strong focus on AI and talent development, Amazon Web Services is shaping the future of tech in the Greater Zurich Area. But what makes Switzerland so central to AWS’s vision? Chris Keller shares insights on innovation, customer focus, and local roots.

Alnylam

Alnylam is the biotech industry pioneer leading the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into an innovative approach to medicine. The US-based company established its European headquarters in Zug in the Greater Zurich Area in 2016.

Starlab Space

Starlab Space, backed by Airbus and Voyager Space, selected Greater Zurich for its European operations. Learn how Prof. Oliver Ullrich drives collaboration in the New Space Economy, fostering groundbreaking advancements in biotech and space innovation.

Salesforce

Since establishing its Zurich office in 2016, Salesforce has grown into a vital part of the region, leveraging Greater Zurich’s exceptional talent pool and collaborative environment to drive innovations like Agentforce, where autonomous agents and humans work closely together. In our conversation with Rami Habib, General Manager of Salesforce Switzerland, we explored how Salesforce is empowering businesses, fostering sustainability, and building lasting partnerships to shape a prosperous future for the region – because for Salesforce, Greater Zurich is not just a stopover, they’re here to stay.

PIX Moving

PIX Moving has emerged as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology. Specializing in the design and manufacture of smart vehicles, PIX Moving integrates cutting-edge robotics and digital manufacturing techniques to craft innovative solutions for modern transportation challenges.

ClimeFi

ClimeFi, a leading global portfolio manager for CDR assets, has built a presence in the Greater Zurich Area to join one of the largest centers of CDR expertise in Europe and enable the scale-up of an industry essential to meeting global climate commitments and helping humanity stay within planetary boundaries.

DFINITY Foundation

The DFINITY Foundation, headquartered in Zurich, focuses on developing the Internet Computer, a third-generation blockchain that hosts secure and resilient services. Leveraging Greater Zurich's innovative environment and rich talent pool, DFINITY aims to advance decentralized blockchain technology for widespread adoption.

FunPlus

Discover why top gaming companies choose Greater Zurich: FunPlus, one of the world’s largest private gaming companies, has established its global headquarters in Zug. It benefits from Greater Zurich's reliability, international talent pool, and growing gaming ecosystem. With over 2,000 team members worldwide, the company continues to shape the future of interactive entertainment and expand its presence across Europe and beyond.

Apellis' success story in the Greater Zurich Area. Image: Business First

Apellis Pharmaceuticals

With 1'400+ medtech and 350+ biotech companies, 82'000 professionals, and world-class institutions also Apellis Pharmaceuticals has established a hub in the Greater Zurich Area for all its non-US activities.

Disney Research

Zurich is home to the only Disney Research center located in Europe due to it's quality of life, talent, proximity to ETH Zurich, and the local expertise of visual computing.

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Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA) - Our mission

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Locations don't build relationships, people do

Headsquarter: Das spannendste Mini-Tech-Ökosystem in Zürich

Headsquarter: Greater Zurich’s most exciting mini tech ecosystem

Greater Zurich's tech scene is booming, and Headsquarter is right at the center of it all. This flexible co-working space has become a hotspot for AI and technology companies. CEO Anil Varghese shares the success strategy, explains why international firms choose Headsquarter, and explains how a boutique approach is shaping the future of work.

How tech can tackle the global water contamination crisis

Clean water isn’t always guaranteed — it’s something we must protect. For Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, this realization came early. Born in Kashmir and raised in Delhi, she saw firsthand how access to safe water can’t be taken for granted. That experience led her to ETH Zurich, where she co-founded Oxyle, a Swiss deep-tech startup dedicated to eliminating PFAS "forever chemicals" from water.

The big Swiss AI secret: How a small country challenges the tech giants

As global superpowers pour billions into AI, Switzerland takes a different route - decentralized, innovative, and surprisingly effective. Alexander Brunner shows how the Swiss model with its smart strategies and grassroots collaboration can rival even the most powerful tech nations.

Greater Zurich’s AI surge: How education, talent and Swissness shape the global AI race

Greater Zurich’s rise as an AI hub is no coincidence. Strong education, skilled talent, and growing investment are shaping the region's AI future. But with global competition heating up, how can Greater Zurich keep its edge – and what role will local talent play? AI expert Daniel Naeff sheds light on Switzerland's role in the global AI race.

Inside the rise of humanoids

Humanoid robotics is experiencing a remarkable surge in development and investment, building on recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and automation. The International Humanoid Forum in Biel, Switzerland, offered a timely window into this rapidly evolving field. Leading companies like Booster Robotics and Unitree showcased their advanced humanoid platforms, demonstrating capabilities that would have seemed implausible just a few years ago. These demonstrations underscored the forum's central message: Humanoid robots are no longer science-fiction but emerging solutions poised to address real-world challenges.

Breaking new ground at EthereumZuri.ch: Blockchain, AI, and the power of the Swiss ecosystem

Beyond the hype: What’s next for blockchain, AI, and the Swiss ecosystem?

Two weeks ago, we attended EthereumZuri.ch, a leading blockchain conference at the University of Zurich, now in its third edition. Switzerland—often hailed as a “Crypto Nation”—lived up to its reputation, showcasing a wide range of exciting projects that highlighted the country’s balance of innovation and pragmatism. We also caught the panel “Industry Outlook 2025: Navigating the Future of Crypto”. Here’s a snapshot of the top takeaways—from the synergy between AI and blockchain to the rise of tokenized finance.

AI and mobility trends 2025: Milo’s insights from CES

Outside, neon lights lit up the Vegas sky; inside, cutting-edge technologies illuminated the future. Meet Milo, our expansion expert and Director US, who shares his insider take on the hottest AI trends and mobility reshaping industries worldwide.

How Starship boosts the space economy: An interview with Oliver Ullrich

Oliver Ullrich: How Starship boosts space economy

SpaceX’s Starship is making waves in the space industry, promising to redefine space travel and commercialization. We spoke with Professor Oliver Ullrich, a leading figure in aerospace medicine and Director of the UZH Space Hub, to discuss the impact of Starship and the future of space exploration. Professor Ullrich sheds light on SpaceX's innovative development approach, the transformative potential of Starship for economies and industries, and the pivotal role of the Greater Zurich Area in this exciting new era.

OpenAI sets up office in Zurich

San Francisco/Zurich - OpenAI is coming to Zurich. The creator of ChatGPT has poached three chief engineers in computer vision and machine learning from the Zurich-based office of Google subsidiary DeepMind. They will work on multimodal models for artificial intelligence.

Settling in Switzerland: Four stories from ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is more than just a prestigious educational institution; it's a vibrant cultural melting pot where over 120 countries are represented. This diversity not only enriches the campus but also contributes to the rich talent pool in the Greater Zurich Area, attracting innovative minds and future decision-makers. These talented individuals are drawn to the region not only for its top academic opportunities but also for its exceptional quality of life, making it a preferred destination for those looking to shape the future. In a recent article, ETH Life magazine delves into the personal and emotional journeys of four international members of the ETH community as they navigate life in Switzerland, each bringing their unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the fore.

Switzerland is most innovative country on Earth for 14th time

Geneva - Switzerland has taken first place in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2024 for the 14th time in a row. It takes pole position for scientific, technological, and creative services.

Switzerland climbs into second place worldwide for digitization

What makes Switzerland a digital powerhouse in 2024? The Alpine nation has leaped from fifth to second place in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, securing its position just behind Singapore and ahead of Denmark. Switzerland's success stems from its exceptional strengths in intellectual property rights, international experience, knowledge transfer, and its ability to attract highly skilled foreign talent.

Driving innovation: Oliver Nahon on Greater Zurich's journey towards autonomous mobility

Autonomous mobility is on the rise, and Greater Zurich is swiftly emerging as a hotspot for this groundbreaking technology. We caught up with Oliver Nahon, Director of Operations at the Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility (SAAM), to explore the dynamic ecosystem driving this growth. We discussed the importance of collaboration, some recent standout projects, and his advice for companies looking to join the region’s autonomous mobility scene.

Alps supercomputer now officially inaugurated

Lugano - The new Alps supercomputer has now been officially inaugurated and ranks among the fastest computers in the world. According to comments made by the Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin at the inauguration event, Alps should be seen as a tribute to the discoverers of as yet unknown scientific fields and the epitome of absolutely outstanding technology.

Zurich ranks third among the world’s most liveable cities

Zurich - The Global Liveability Index 2024 puts Zurich in third place, behind Vienna and Copenhagen. The city scored well in the areas of health and education in particular. Geneva displays the same strengths and shares fifth place among the world’s most liveable cities with the Canadian city of Calgary.

Swiss Drone Industry Report 2024: Exploring the Swiss drone ecosystem with Nathanel Apter

The Swiss Drone Industry Report 2024 has been released, offering insights into the sector's current state and future outlook. We spoke with Nathanel Apter, board member of the Drone Industry Association Switzerland (DIAS), about the unique strengths of the Swiss drone industry, the Greater Zurich Area's pivotal role in fostering innovation, and the regulatory changes needed to maintain and enhance Switzerland's competitive edge in the rapidly evolving global market.

New rules, new opportunities: Crypto’s next chapter in Greater Zurich under MiCA

Why should international companies consider expanding to the Greater Zurich Area under the new MiCA regulations? This framework offers key advantages and compliance opportunities for businesses aiming to thrive in the EU’s dynamic crypto market. In this interview, Dr. Andreas Glarner, Legal Partner at MME, shares his insights on how companies can navigate MiCA successfully.

Google in Greater Zurich: “Powerful AI research in Switzerland - thanks to education, innovation, and partnerships”

Google's powerful AI research in Greater Zurich

Switzerland is one of Google’s most important research locations in the world. Here’s an interview with Jennifer Wadsworth, Research Coordinator at the AI Center ETH Zurich, and Behshad Behzadi, Vice President of Engineering at Google Cloud in Zurich, about how excellence in academic research and entrepreneurial innovation are combining in the age of AI.

Why cleantech thrives in the Greater Zurich Area

The Greater Zurich Area is a vibrant hub for the cleantech sector, underpinned by the Swiss people's commitment to sustainability and environmental innovation. The nation's advanced environmental policies, like the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050, draw significant investment in green technologies. Despite its small size, the Greater Zurich Area's focus on precision and high-quality solutions makes it a standout in the cleantech sector. Collaborative efforts with the EU complement these strengths, representing the collective effort needed to address climate change. We spoke with Tim Duehrkoop, founder of Xilva, to gain his insights on the evolving cleantech ecosystem and Xilva’s role in this promising field.

The secret to Switzerland's and Greater Zurich's global leading talent and innovation hub

Switzerland's Secret as a Global Talent Hub

Switzerland has once again been named the world’s most talent-competitive country. The country offers a high quality of life, including excellent education and employment prospects. Companies benefit from the global talent hubs that are Switzerland and the Greater Zurich Area.

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Work with us - it's different!

Everyone finds facts and figures, even ChatGPT. We bring you the unexpected. We connect you to the game-changers and groundbreakers in the Greater Zurich Area. We are the navigators of the innovation ecosystem who guide interested companies like yours through Greater Zurich's ecosystem.

We are Greater Zurich Area Ltd. (GZA), the official investment promotion agency of the economic region of Zurich, Switzerland. Our services are complimentary for expanding businesses.

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Investment promotion - is it all about risk-taking?

For us, investment promotion goes beyond managing risks; it’s about creating opportunities for people and supporting sustainable growth for the planet. In line with these values, we offer you the convenience of exploring our prime business location from anywhere in the world - virtually or in person.

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