The State and the City of Neuchâtel, in collaboration with other institutional partners, recently acquired an industrial complex on Rue des Usines in Serrières. Managed and operated by Microcity SA, this new innovation hub will offer 7,000 m2 of space for cutting-edge light industry, with nearly 400 new jobs expected to be created. In particular, this this acquisition, to expand the Swiss innovation hub in Neuchâtel.
The Canton of Neuchâtel and the City of Neuchâtel, in partnership with the Caisse cantonale d’assurance populaire (CCAP) and the Établissement cantonal d’assurance et de prévention (ECAP), have acquired an industrial complex in Serrières to house and operate a new innovation hub. A corporation—Usinnove SA—was established for this purpose, with the State holding a 40% stake and the City of Neuchâtel holding a 20% stake. The remaining shares are held by the CCAP and the ECAP. Usinnove SA aims to house and operate an innovation hub in synergy with, among others, Microcity SA and its ecosystems. Located at 56 and 90 Rue des Usines, this industrial complex offers7,000 square metersof available space and will be able to accommodate nearly 400 new jobs. Its operations will be self-financed. Situated in the heart of the urban fabric, these two buildings are well-suited for cutting-edge light industrial activities and research and development.
The acquisition of this industrial complex will enable the City and the Canton of Neuchâtel to gain land ownership of a new business park. Like the canton, the City is concerned about the scarcity of available sites to meet the strong demand from businesses already established in Neuchâtel that wish to expand, as well as from international (or other) companies exploring options for setting up operations within the city limits. Furthermore, this acquisition represents an opportunity to ensure the renewal and development of economic activity in an area rich in industrial history.
Strengthening Neuchâtel’s Position within the Swiss Innovation Park
The industrial complex acquired on Rue des Usines will serve as the site for a center of expertise in diagnostics and related technologies, managed and operated by Microcity SA. The site will serve as a hub for companies active in the field of diagnostics—particularly in automation—and will form the nerve center of the “Human Lean Diagnostics” (HLD) program created by Microcity, thereby expanding its role as an incubator and project accelerator. Part of the complex will be repurposed as an economic hub, equipped with laboratory infrastructure and resources, fostering a collaborative environment for projects by hosting large companies, SMEs, and startups alike.
Furthermore, the current location and future use of the premises will offer promising opportunities to expand the Neuchâtel innovation hub through the Switzerland Innovation Park (SIP) – Network West EPFL, of which Neuchâtel is a member through Microcity SA. The Serrières site will enable Neuchâtel to expand its offerings, ensure the long-term preservation of an industrial site, and thereby further consolidate its position as an innovation hub.
A Strategy Based on Opportunities to Address the Land Challenge
This acquisition is part of a government-led strategy—basedonopportunities—to repurpose former buildings for cutting-edge light industrial activity by bringing together startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, and research centers on a single site. This policy, implemented in collaboration with a network of partners including municipalities, research institutes, and industrial companies, aims to partially address the land shortage challenge currently facing the Neuchâtel economy.
Like the Serrières complex, other historic buildings will thus be repurposed for light industrial activities, with a view to ensuring complementarity between the spaces and the activities they can accommodate. For now, this will be the case for the buildings at 7 Rue Jaquet-Droz (JD7) in Neuchâtel and 7 Hôtel-de-Ville (HDV7) in Le Locle, which will house certain Microcity ecosystems, as well as cutting-edge applied research activities in collaboration with the CSEM, the HE-ARC, and the CPNE.
Usinnove Press Conference Presentation