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Canton of Berne
The ICT Cluster Berne (tcbe.ch), with over 200
members, focuses on promoting Berne’s ICT
sector. Berne’s ICT research institutions include
the University of Bern, Bern University of Applied
Science, CSEM, and the Swiss Centre for Electronics
and Microtechnology in nearby Neuenburg. ICT
training centres include the University of Bern’s
Energy and environmental technology
Switzerland is an excellent base for companies involved
in energy and environmental technologies thanks to the
country’s significant spending on research and development,
stable economy, great innovative capability and a
high level of environmental awareness. The Canton of
Berne in particular has a long tradition of sustainable and
efficient energy applications and employs around 15,000
people in this sector. Berne supplies over 60% of the heat
pumps manufactured in Switzerland and is a leader in
energy efficient housing through such initiatives as the
MINERGIE Standard and the ‘Plusenergiehaus’ (Surplus
Energy House). Many local SMEs are working in the fields
of energy efficiency and renewable energies.
Bern University of Applied Sciences pursues applied
research in the areas of energy, mobility and transport
as well as natural phenomena and geo technology. The
Oeschger Institut and the National Centre of Climate
Research of the University of Bern, both based in the
canton, are two of the world’s leading climate research
centres. EMPA (the Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Testing and Research) conducts research in
natural resources and contaminants as well as materials
for energy technologies. In addition, the University of
Bern and Bern University of Applied Sciences offer
undergraduate and graduate courses in climate sciences,
ecology, evolution and more. The Swiss Federal Office
of Energy, the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment,
the Department for Environmental Coordination
and Energy for the Canton of Berne, the MINERGIE
agency and the Swiss Heat Pump Association are all based
in Berne.
GGBa
Institute for Information Technology and Applied
Mathematics and Institute of Information Systems;
Bern University of Applied Sciences; the Swiss
School of Information Systems; and the School of
Telematics. In addition, four key ICT federal organisations
are located in Berne: the Swiss Federal
Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication
(FOITT); the Federal Office of
Communications (OFCOM); the Federal Strategy
Unit for IT (FSUIT); and the Federal Communications
Commission (ComCom).
The canton’s leaders aim to build on Berne’s strengths
through a new initiative in which Berne has joined
forces with Geneva and the cantons of Freiburg, Vaud,
Valais, and Neuchâtel to form the Greater Geneva
Berne Economic Area, or GGBa. Andreas Rickenbacher,
Minister of Economy for the Canton of Berne and future
president of the GGBa in 2012, explains, “Our goal for
the GGBa is not to create a new metropolitan area but
rather to work together to promote our region internationally.
Our project is proof that the diverse languages
spoken in our region are not a handicap but rather an
advantage which makes us more competitive.”
The Berne Economic Development Agency (BEDA) is
ready to assist investors in Berne’s dynamic industrial
sectors.
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