How St.Gallen Wants to Become an Attractive Start-Up Canton

A lively start-up scene has developed in the canton of St.Gallen in recent years. The major research and educational institutions in the canton, namely the University of St.Gallen, the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland OST, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research "Empa" in the city of St.Gallen and the Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, are primarily responsible for this encouraging development. Compared to other cantons, however, St.Gallen does less well when it comes to promoting startups and spinoffs with scalable business models and steep growth curves.

The government of the Canton of St.Gallen has therefore adopted a new concept with the aim of establishing a more attractive and competitive start-up environment and ecosystem in the Canton of St.Gallen. The basis for the new strategy is a study by the Center for Entrepreneurship of the University of St.Gallen. The study shows that the canton of St.Gallen is challenged in various areas to make the canton more attractive as a location for startups. For example, it should act as an impetus to stimulate startup contact points in research and educational institutions, optimize access to knowledge and technology transfer points, and establish a central contact point that simplifies the digital as well as physical process of starting up a business.

Today, it is difficult for startups in the canton of St.Gallen to find sufficient financing in the particularly important growth phase. This is why fast-growing and scaling startups often move to other regions.

The canton of St.Gallen has applied to the cantonal parliament for a special credit to implement initial measures derived from the new concept. 

The canton wants to...

... create central contact points to simplify the start-up process.

... facilitate a regular exchange between key players.

... improve financing options during the growth phase.

The Innovation Center Rapperswil as a component in the new strategy

The planned innovation center in Rapperswil is aligning seamlessly in various areas with the new concept and strategy of the Canton of St.Gallen:

• Enhancing the Start-up Ecosystem: Our center aims to be a hub of innovation and creativity, providing a fertile ground for startups to thrive, collaborate, and grow.
• Bridging Financing Gaps: Recognizing the challenges many startups face in terms of financing, our Innovation Center intends to collaborate with financial institutions and investors to facilitate and streamline funding opportunities.
• Competitive Edge: By offering state-of-the-art facilities, mentorship, and a network of industry experts, we’re positioning Rapperswil / St.Gallen as a preferred destination for budding entrepreneurs and innovators.