A fast-growing ecosystem at bluefactory

The highlights of 2024 include the inauguration of the first permanent building, the arrival of new economic actors and a significant increase in employment, particularly within businesses. Dr. Nina Eggert joins the Board of Directors of BFF SA.

At the Annual General Meeting, BFF SA’s shareholders underlined the importance of the past year for bluefactory. At the crossroads of economic, climate and societal issues, the innovation district has seen an acceleration in its development, driven by a clear strategy, ambitious projects and the establishment of new players.

The inauguration of Building B in October 2024 is a major milestone. This first permanent construction already accommodates some 340 jobs, contributing to the 700 jobs identified on the site. Companies such as Swiss Marketplace Group (SMG) and Tecost SA have joined the ecosystem, which is now 70% based on businesses, the principal job providers.

As site manager, BFF SA conducted a survey of all bluefactory players, collecting valuable data for 2024 relating to: employment development, fundraising, diversity of nationalities, collaborations and ecosystem priorities. Almost CHF 45 million was raised by four companies, mainly in the form of venture capital, among other things. In 2024, CertX joined the SGS Group, a global player in inspection and certification. This movement is part of a dynamic initiated in recent years, with notably the acquisition of Vidinoti by Bigtincan in 2021, and Swiss Hydrogen now a subsidiary of Plastic Omnium as OP Mobility.

With nearly 50 nationalities represented, the site is characterised by strong international diversity. The survey also highlights intense internal business collaborations, with a third of respondents maintaining supplier/customer relationships with other entities on the site, while 23% have set up industrial or commercial partnerships. Finally, several players have achieved major distinctions internationally, including Bcomp, Mitipi, Loxo, Yord, the Smart Living Lab and the SMEM.

New appointment to the Board of Directors

The General Assembly elected Dr. Nina Eggert to the Board of Directors of BFF AG, the company responsible for the development of the bluefactory district. She succeeds Dr. Robert Giezendanner-Thoben, who has left EPFL. Currently, Dr. Nina Eggert holds the position of Director of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations Advisor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. With a strong background in public policy as well as proven international experience, she holds a PhD in political science from the University of Geneva and sociology from the University of Trento in Italy. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jacques Boschung stressed that “her in-depth knowledge of the dynamics and interfaces between institutional, academic and business players is an asset in the continuing evolution of bluefactory.”. The Board of Directors of BFF SA is now composed of the following seven members: Jacques Boschung (President), Olivier Curty (Vice-President, State Councillor, representative of the Canton of Fribourg), Mirjam Ballmer (Municipal Councillor, representative of the City of Fribourg), Nina Eggert (Member), Géraldine Pflieger (Member), Nadir Solenghi (Member), and Susanne Zenker (Member).

About BFF SA

Founded in 2014, Bluefactory Fribourg-Freiburg SA (BFF SA) aims to develop, build, operate, promote and animate the bluefactory low-carbon innovation district. The site is now home to 700 people working in over seventy entities (SMEs, start-ups, university research institutes and innovation actors). It actively promotes the principles of sustainable development as well as those of the circular economy.