Review of the ImmoSummit 2025

With a record attendance, THE HALL in Dübendorf became the epicenter of an industry in transition. The tenor of the day was unmistakable: in the face of climate change, regulation and economic uncertainties, isolated individual efforts are no longer effective. The future belongs to networked, agile and interdisciplinary teams.

Networking as a warm-up program

THE HALL was pulsating with energy even before the official start at 1:30 pm. The "meet & match" sessions, a trademark of the ImmoSummit, were used intensively. Between the stands of the premium partners and other sponsors, investors, project developers, architects and representatives from politics and science came together for lively discussions. The foyer, deliberately designed by the FRZ as an open playing field, became an ideas exchange where the first alliances were forged even before the first speaker took to the stage.

Rahel Kindermann Leuthard's appeal for team play

André Ingold, President of the FRZ and Mayor of Dübendorf, and Rahel Kindermann Leuthard, Managing Director of the FRZ, opened the summit punctually at 1:30 pm. Kindermann Leuthard captivated the audience with a passionate speech that set the tone for the entire day. "The future is not determined by who works most efficiently in their own silo. Success depends on the team working together," she explained. In times of disruptive cycles and increasing regulatory density, efficiency and isolated brilliance are no longer enough. She outlined the "future skills" of the industry: a radical willingness to cooperate, the ability to make quick decisions and digital expertise. Her message was clear: the airport region is already "the place to be" because the players here are pulling in the same direction. Kindermann Leuthard: "The future is not coming, it's already here! It is where ideas, innovation and projects meet drive, and there is hardly any other region where this is as true as in our Zurich Airport region."

Redrawing the big lines - Martin Neukom: Climate protection as a team learning process

Dr. Martin Neukom, a member of the cantonal government, opened the content. He analyzed the complex logic of change and explained why transformation is rarely linear. Using S-curves, he demonstrated the typical dynamics of technology adaptation. His core message: "Climate protection, the circular economy and a secure energy supply can only succeed if the canton, municipalities and the private sector consistently act as a learning system." Stable framework conditions are needed, but also the courage to experiment and a culture of error in order to accelerate innovation in the construction and infrastructure sector.

Fredy Hasenmaile: The end of the lone wolf in the real estate market

Fredy Hasenmaile, Chief Economist at Raiffeisen Switzerland, drew a differentiated picture of the real estate market. Although lower interest rates are making real estate investments more attractive again, the home-made housing shortage and a flood of regulations are slowing the momentum. The flood of objections, political initiatives and the excessively slow densification are encouraging this negative trend. The days of solo runners are over in this environment, Hasenmaile stated unequivocally. Using data on vacancy rates and approval times, he demonstrated that lone wolves must fail due to the complexity of the processes. His conclusion: "Without systematic, strategic partnerships between investors, authorities and operators, the industry will not be able to solve its structural bottlenecks."

Thomas Sevcik: An appeal for excellence for "New Zurich"

Entrepreneur and thought leader Thomas Sevcik shook up the audience with his usual provocative sharpness. He put forward the thesis that traditional core cities are losing their appeal, while airport regions are becoming the new centers of urban dynamism. Quote: "Airport regions are the rail corridors of metropolitan regions worldwide." For this "New Zurich", however, it is not enough just to be functional. "The airport region is condemned to excellence," says Sevcik. Success is no longer determined solely by the price per square meter, but by the ability to create clusters of excellence and emotional appeal - "excitement". He called on the region to cultivate a shared narrative of excellence and to take on bold, identity-creating projects.

From plan to action - Andrea Claudio Thöny: The Zurich Innovation Park as an economic driver

One highlight was the presentation by Andrea Claudio Thöny, Managing Director of IPZ Operation AG. He took the audience on a virtual tour of the emerging Innovation Park Zurich and presented impressive value creation figures for the first time. The first construction phase alone will generate cumulative added value of CHF 792 million, of which CHF 460 million will remain directly in the Canton of Zurich. According to Thöny's forecast, the park will generate direct added value of CHF 1.87 billion and indirect added value of CHF 820 million annually when fully operational. This corresponds to 1.7 % of Zurich's GDP, secures up to 16,500 high-quality jobs (6,000 of which are indirect) and contributes around CHF 72 million to the tax coffers every year. His presentation made it tangible how a vision becomes a concrete, billion-euro economic engine for the whole of Switzerland. The promising cluster includes ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, Empa, Technoparks and the entire corporate world with smaller and larger companies.

Urs Meier: Leadership is about making the decision

Former FIFA referee Urs Meier provided the final touch. With anecdotes from almost 900 professional games, he translated the principles of high-pressure decision-making into the world of business. "You are the decision," was his central message. He described how to analyze complex situations in fractions of a second, take responsibility and establish a constructive error culture in the team. According to Meier, a real team player does not delegate difficult decisions, but makes them - based on a clear set of rules and trust in the collective. A perfect plea that impressively concluded the theme of the day. Sylwina Spiess (Ringier AG) celebrated a small anniversary. She hosted the event for the fifth time with flying colors. Around 700 people registered for the event - a new record.

After the final whistle: Networking and outlook - 12th ImmoSummit on June 10, 2026

At the subsequent aperitif riche and after-party, the knowledge gained was deepened and the networking continued. The discussions showed that the The 11th ImmoSummit not only informed, but also inspired and mobilized. With this event, the FRZ Zurich Airport Region once again demonstrated its central role as a catalyst and leading business network in Switzerland. The focus is already on the 12th ImmoSummit on June 10, 2026, which will focus on the space economy, robotics and circular construction.