Siemens has officially opened a state-of-the-art Research and Development (R&D) facility in Zug, Switzerland, signaling the culmination of a significant CHF 250 million investment and seven years of construction. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, Canton Zug Government Councilor Silvia Thalmann-Gut, and Siemens AG President and CEO Roland Busch.
This campus, operating with a strong commitment to climate neutrality, serves as a vital hub for the development of Smart Infrastructure technologies, with approximately 80 new patents being filed here each year. It comprises a central building, a factory, and a newly integrated R&D Center. The achievement of climate neutrality is facilitated through innovative approaches, including the utilization of heat pumps, Lake Zug water for efficient cooling and heating, rooftop photovoltaic systems for sustainable electricity generation, and green roofs that provide additional insulation.
Siemens’ advanced building automation system, Desigo CC, plays a pivotal role in maintaining optimal room climate control and energy efficiency. Coupled with energy-efficient LED lighting, it ensures the highest levels of indoor comfort. Furthermore, the campus features over 50 Siemens-owned electric vehicle charging stations, promoting eco-friendly mobility.
The campus also boasts LEED platinum-certified office buildings, while the production facility and R&D building meet gold-level standards, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability. The design process of this cutting-edge facility was enhanced through the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM), allowing for comprehensive documentation and precise measurement and adjustment of electricity, heating, cooling, and water consumption.
Siemens’ scalable digital building platform, Building X, a part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, is a standout feature of this campus. It empowers users to digitalize, manage, and optimize building operations, ultimately delivering an improved user experience, enhanced performance, and heightened sustainability.
The R&D building, revamped at a cost of approximately 70 million Swiss francs, stands as the latest chapter in Siemens’ enduring history of investments in Switzerland. More than 70 years ago, Siemens established close collaborations with the then fire alarm company Cerberus. In 1998, Siemens acquired the industrial activities of Elektrowatt, which included the Zug-based company Landis & Gyr, forming the Building Technologies business unit. In 2019, the Siemens Building Technologies division became a part of Siemens Smart Infrastructure, contributing significantly to value creation within the region and throughout Switzerland.
Today, the fully realized campus provides a climate-neutral workspace for over 1,700 colleagues dedicated to advancing technological innovations for critical infrastructure on a global scale.
