Over 200 guests at the HTZ anniversary event in the Kultur & Kongresshaus Aarau
Ten years after its start, the Hightech Zentrum Aargau presents a very solid interim result. Over 3,000 innovation projects have been implemented with more than 1,000 companies in Canton Aargau. The success story should be continued.
The first 10 years represented a milestone that makes “a little proud”, said Peter Gehler, President of the Board of Directors of Hightech Zentrum Aargau AG (HTZ), at the anniversary event in Aarau. After a phase of heated discussions about the sense and nonsense of a high-tech center, those responsible for the HTZ convinced the political authorities with actions “that the HTZ is a good thing”. On September 14, 2021, the Great Council of the Canton of Aargau decided to continue the HTZ indefinitely.
Gehler recalled that in the first few years after HTZ was founded at the end of 2012, “regulatory politicians” sensed the start of a subsidy regime. These politicians overlooked the fact that the HTZ operates incubation, encourages SMEs to tackle innovations and that it only finances this part.
The 10-year balance is impressive: The HTZ generated funding of almost 50 million Swiss francs for innovation projects and additional own contributions of 66 million Swiss francs were triggered by the companies. The “Aargau model” is focused, efficient and relatively inexpensive.
Over 1900 companies visited
With the main goal of enabling or accelerating innovation projects by Aargau companies, the HTZ team has visited more than 1900 companies since 2013 to show them the possibilities and opportunities of such projects, explained Dr. Martin A. Bopp, HTZ’s managing director since its inception. So far, more than 3,100 funding projects have been started with over 1,050 companies – over 90 percent SMEs – from various sectors. The direct project volume was over 114 million Swiss francs. The companies’ own contributions do not include those investments that are additionally necessary for the launch of the products or services on the market.
The state as a bridge builder
A number of other cantons, some of which are also larger, envy Aargau for its high-tech centre, explained Canton Aargau Councilor Dieter Egli, head of the Department of Economics and Home Affairs. The state can play its role perfectly by enabling innovations as bridge builders. The founders of the HTZ recognized this – against the background that there are both future-oriented companies and excellent research and educational institutions in Aargau. Egli reminded that innovation is anything but an end in itself and is of existential importance for the Aargau location.
“Mission Innovation” specifically
With videos and short interviews, the HTZ in the Kultur & Kongresshaus Aarau (kuk) provided an insight into the practical innovation work of its team of experts, for which eleven technology and innovation specialists and a total of 17 employees will be working in 2023.
Interim report and outlook
On the one hand, the ten-year balance sheet of the HTZ was acknowledged as part of a panel discussion led by communications specialist Katia Röthlin. On the other hand, the challenges of future innovation promotion were addressed.
Former government councilor Dr. Urs Hofmann recalled that the high-tech strategy to promote innovation in Aargau had long been very controversial and that its implementation was viewed with great skepticism. The successful realization of that idea fills him with satisfaction today. But work must be done to ensure that Aargau remains top as an industrial location and workplace.
Prof. Dr. Crispino Bergamaschi, President of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, praised the HTZ as an innovation hub with great expertise. The FHNW regards its participation in the numerous funded projects as a privilege.
Innovation is not always spectacular
Marianne Wildi, President of the Aargau Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AIHK) and CEO of Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, admitted that the AIHK had also recognized that there was a need for an institution like the HTZ. The example of the Orthopodo Malgaroli in Baden, represented in the panel by Malin Malgaroli, who only came across the HTZ by chance, points to an important point: There is still untapped potential with regard to the level of awareness and the radiance of the HTZ.
HTZ Chairman of the Board of Directors Peter Gehler announced that the HTZ wants to eliminate this backlog, possibly (also) via the AIHK regional groups. With regard to the HTZ’s mission of innovation, it is important that the federal government not only grants funding for groundbreaking innovations, but also that further developments and sometimes less spectacular improvements can be financed. These are essential for SMEs.
Source: Hightech Zentrum Aargau, Aug 1, 2023