Parliament gives green light for innovation park
The federal government can support the national innovation park with guarantees and building land. Following the Council of States, the National Council has now also given the green light for a framework credit of CHF 350 million for guarantees to pre-finance equipment and facilities. In addition, the federal government can provide its own land for the project at market prices in building rights. The bill is now ready for the final vote.
For the time being, the innovation park is to be spread across five locations: Two hubs are planned near the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne, as well as network locations in the canton of Aargau, in the region of northwestern Switzerland and in Biel. The innovation park will be implemented by the siting cantons, the private sector and the participating universities.
The federal government's land transfer primarily affects part of the site of the current Dübendorf military airfield. There, up to 70 hectares are to be made available for the Zurich hub. A second land levy is currently planned, on a smaller scale, only in Neuchâtel.
However, the establishment of an innovation park in Dübendorf is not yet secured. At the end of August, Forum Flugplatz Dübendorf had filed a voting rights complaint with the Federal Court in order to obtain a referendum. (ah)
