Lifestyle-Tech Competence Center investing more

The companies working together within the Lifestyle-Tech Competence Center (LTCC) in the canton of Ticino plan to increase their investments in innovations over the next three years. According to a press release, funds are to be directed to research and development (R&D), lab management, and tech scouting above all. New employees are to be hired as well.

This will continue when it is recognized as Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino. A corresponding initiative was launched on March 31, 2021. The Ticino innovation park will be collaborating with Switzerland Innovation Parks Zurich and Central. It is scheduled to be opened in Bellinzona in 2026.

The announcement of larger investments was made at a press conference at the headquarters of the luxury brand Bally in Caslano. A corresponding decision was said to have been made at the association’s general meeting. Leading representatives of the member companies took part in this, including Accenture, Bally, Barilla, Guess, Lavazza, Microsoft, UBS, and the academic partners of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. 

Bally presented its Heritage and Innovation project at the press conference. In collaboration with Hyphen, Microsoft, Moresi, and USI, this involves the digitization of the heritage of a brand and the associated communication methods. Furthermore, the coffee producer Lavazza launched the second edition of the Food-Tech Award startup competition. This is supported by Barilla, UBS and others. 

LTCC President Carlo Terreni comments: “I am very pleased with the advances that we have made in just two years since establishing the association.” He expects these new investments will “attract talent, create jobs and increase R&D activities, tech scouting as well as startup collaborations,” adding that this will have an effect on the economic development of the canton of Ticino.