Two years after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone, the five-story building for industry-oriented applied research and development directly adjacent to the central train station opened on August 23, 2021.
Around 150 invited guests attended the event in the Industry 4.0 workshop. In his speech, Cantonal Councillor Christoph Ammann emphasized the importance of the new building for the canton of Bern as a research and business location. Mayor of Biel Erich Fehr spoke of his confidence that the city provides breeding grounds for innovation. In addition to excellent educational institutions, the fact that the city is bilingual and the cultural variety it offers also contribute to the region’s innovation potential. Andreas Rickenbacher spoke to the public on behalf of President of the Foundation Board Ruedi Noser. In his former role of Head of the Canton of Bern’s Department of Economic Affairs, Rickenbacher was a key player in ensuring that Biel, and thus the canton of Bern, was included as a site in the Switzerland Innovation project.
Following interviews with start-up founder Ronja Müller-Bruhn (Stimit Ltd), the team of young architects from Waldrap AG, Sebastian Wörwag (President of the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH), Dario Della Corte (member of the executive board of Rollomatic SA) and CEO Felix Kunz, the innovation park opened its doors for individual tours of the new building. Thomas Gfeller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG, guided visitors through the program.