Higher membership fees agreed

The meeting was opened by André Ingold, Mayor of Dübendorf and President of the association FRZ Flughafenregion Zürich - Wirtschaftsnetzwerk & Standortentwicklung. In his introductory remarks, he emphasized the special importance of Dübendorf as a traditional aviation location and dynamic future-oriented community in the canton of Zurich. With a view to current development projects - from new educational infrastructures to the large-scale innovation park project and mobility solutions - he pointed out the responsibility, but also the opportunities for the entire region. Ingold thanked the city of Dübendorf and the partners Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Tom's Original and VBG for their support.

Greetings from the Zurich Department of Economic Affairs

Fabian Streiff, Head of the Office of Economic Affairs, conveyed the greetings of the Canton of Zurich and presented key findings from the cantonal location analysis. He spoke about demographic changes, increasing regulatory density and new geopolitical challenges. He particularly emphasized the high dependency of the Zurich economy on the EU region, both in terms of exports and the recruitment of skilled workers. Despite global uncertainties, the Zurich economy is proving robust. Streiff cited making working life more flexible, promoting innovation and securing bilateral relations with the EU in the long term as key areas of action. He concluded his pointed greeting with the quote "It is not our job to predict the future, but to be well prepared for it".

Visionary outlook at the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich

In his keynote speech, Peter E. Bodmer, President of the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich Foundation Board, gave an inspiring insight into the emerging ecosystem for research, development and innovation on the historic airfield site in Dübendorf. Under the motto "The future is created here", he explained the role of the park as a bridge between science and business. The focus is on technologies such as robotics, space travel, artificial intelligence and sustainable mobility. The Switzerland Innovation Park is set to grow in stages and create up to 10,000 new jobs. Bodmer emphasized the importance of interdisciplinarity, the benefits for SMEs and the central role of start-ups. The establishment of Starlab Space is regarded as a milestone, particularly with regard to applications of space technology in biotechnology.

Review of a successful association year 2024

In the subsequent report, Rahel Kindermann Leuthard looked back on a stable, professionally managed and strong financial year 2024. The association held over 50 events with a total of 5,570 participants, including the 10th Real Estate Summit and the 24th Economic Forum, which closed with record attendance. Member satisfaction was 93 percent and 86 percent would actively recommend the FRZ to others. The number of members rose further to over 850 companies and institutions.

At the same time, the organization was raised to a new operational level. A comprehensive fitness check in collaboration with the Swiss Safety Center led to optimized processes, reduced risks and increased resilience. The relaunch of the corporate design, a new website and the expansion of marketing partnerships underlined the progress made in terms of content and communication. The 2024 annual financial statements show a profit of CHF 4,678 on sales of CHF 2.72 million. With the FRZ Excellence Award, the association honored special social commitment for the first time in 2024. The award winner was Hannes Schmid, founder of the Smiling Gecko Foundation.

Strategies and priorities for 2025

Rahel Kindermann Leuthard announced the annual theme "High Performance" for the current year. This will be reflected in new formats, targeted leadership development and impulses from top-class sport. The newly created Sustainability Advisory Board will support companies and municipalities in the implementation of specific sustainability projects. The digital sustainability navigator will be launched in summer 2025 as a new platform that makes sustainable initiatives in the region visible. Other highlights in 2025 include the 11th Real Estate Summit in June, the 25th Business Forum in November and new formats such as a mentoring offer and a digital marketplace for member services.

Business unanimously approved

The ordinary agenda items of the Annual General Meeting went smoothly. The minutes of last year's meeting, the annual report and the annual financial statements were all approved unanimously. The actions of the Board of Directors were approved and OBT AG was confirmed as auditor. The 2025 budget with a planned profit of CHF 1,160 was acknowledged. The members approved an increase in membership fees from 2026 by a large majority. Personnel changes in the team were also presented at the meeting, including the new deputy manager Halime Memishi. 

Skills shortage and pension provision as a strategic issue

Another item on the program was the presentation by Pascal Jacqmin, Team Leader Occupational Pension Plans at Zürcher Kantonalbank. He showed how companies can score points in the competition for skilled workers with attractive pension solutions. Today, occupational pension provision is much more than a legal obligation - it is a strategic instrument for positioning the company as an employer.

An entertaining conclusion

Finally, comedian Fabian Unteregger brought fresh energy to the hall with his humorous performance and ensured an entertaining finale. President André Ingold closed the Annual General Meeting with heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, in particular the team, the city of Dübendorf, the hosts of the Innovation Park and the event and annual partners. The subsequent stand-up lunch provided an opportunity for informal exchanges and in-depth discussions between members and guests.