More than 130 years of industrial history on the Limmat
Baden is a historic spa town and at the same time a strong technology and energy location. The site looks back on more than 130 years of industrial history, which began with the founding of Brown, Boveri & Cie. (BBC) in 1891 and has had a lasting impact on the city. Today, Baden is one of Switzerland's most important technology and energy locations and the undisputed economic centre of the Baden-Wettingen region, which together has more than 60,000 residents.
The city is conveniently located on the Limmat between Zurich and Aarau, with direct rail connections in both directions in under 20 minutes. The former Brown Boveri industrial site is gradually being transformed into a modern urban district that combines living, working and innovation. This transformation gives Baden additional momentum and attracts new companies and skilled professionals.
ABB, Axpo and the engineering firm network
ABB, created through the merger of Brown Boveri with Sweden's ASEA, still maintains a major site in Baden with thousands of jobs in electrical engineering, automation and energy technology. Axpo, one of Switzerland's largest energy producers and formerly known as NOK, has its headquarters in Baden. General Electric operates an international competence centre for gas turbines and energy technology here. Baden Cantonal Hospital is also the largest healthcare provider in the region.
Around these major technology companies, a network of engineering firms, IT service providers, consultancies and specialised suppliers has developed that is hard to match in Europe. The Hightech Campus Baden Nord, on the historic BBC site, attracts additional technology companies and startups. Companies in medical technology, environmental technology and renewable energy have also established themselves here and benefit from the local talent pool of highly qualified engineers.
Hightech Campus Baden Nord: startups next to corporations
Baden offers a strong company landscape in the technology and energy sector. The concentration of engineering firms, energy technology suppliers, automation specialists and IT companies is unusually high for Switzerland. For providers of technical services, software solutions, measurement technology, industrial equipment and recruitment in the engineering sector, Baden is a key region.
The former BBC site is gradually being transformed into a modern urban district that combines living, working and innovation. In the Baden Nord area, technology startups sit alongside established engineering firms, an environment that promotes knowledge exchange and cooperation. The Baden Regio trade association and location promotion organisation regularly arrange exchange formats between large companies and local SMEs.
Baden's business culture is shaped by engineering thinking and technical excellence. The ABB tradition has created a culture of precision, innovation and international orientation over generations. Decision-makers expect well-founded, technically competent outreach. At the same time, the local business community is surprisingly closely networked; the Baden Regio trade association and location promotion organisation play an active role in connecting companies and suppliers.