Meet our Journalist


Urs Seiler is a professional news editor, global matchmaker and he is a peak communicator. He helps tech companies, professional organizations, and NGOs to bring their unconscious brand mission to the surface. He is a black belt in Gojy-Ryu karate. Famous last words: words are not words, they are actions.

His motto in life is: «Always give yourself a chance to get lucky.»

 

Switzerland’s business metropolis


Global technology companies such as Google, Ethereum, Micro
soft, IBM, Disney, Oracle, Facebook, Apple, Huawei or China
Telecom didn’t choose Zurich by chance: With over 5,000 companies (multinational corporations, SMEs and startups) and 
50,000 computer specialists, Zurich is one of the major hubs for 
information and communications technology (ICT) in Europe.
 ETH Zurich, the leading university in continental Europe, the University of Zurich and several universities of applied sciences are,
among other things, the innovation drivers in the fields of soft
ware engineering, artificial intelligence, computer vision, virtual
 and augmented reality and other subsectors. The dynamic ecosystem also includes suppliers, specialized service providers, in
novation-friendly authorities, investors, and incubators.

Closely linked with the global economy

Zurich is a business center offering international experience and a top network of
global connections. The finance sector generates around a third of the wealth and
a quarter of the jobs in the city. Zurich is also a leading location for information
and communications technologies in Europe. The Swiss Federal University of
Technology (ETH) represents an important anchor for this success. In the field of
computer science, ETH Zurich is the second-best university in the world – behind
Oxford, but ahead of Stanford, Cambridge and M.I.T (source: 2019 Times Higher
Education World University Rankings). Specific courses of study cover the spectrum of information and communications technologies as well as associated
engineering fields. They encompass information science, information technology
and electrotechnology as well as many specialized fields of data science, computer vision and robotics. All of the educational institutions are strong research centers and representatives of science.

Multicultural and internationally oriented

In addition to German, most people in Zurich
also speak one or more foreign languages, in
particular English, French, and Italian. Indeed,
so many speak English that it is widely regarded as one of the city’s working languages.


Direct flights to all
 destinations

Zurich International Airport is just 
a few kilometers from down-town
 Zurich. An 11-minute rail service
 operates from Zurich main station.
 Zurich International Airport is the
 leading European airport in terms
 of quality and ecology. At the end
 of 2018, the airport operated well
over 2600 flights a week to all five
 continents.

A leader in the public
 transport sector

Public transport in Zurich is fast, clean, safe,
 punctual and enjoys a legendary reputation.
It is extremely user-friendly: the coordinated 
rail, bus, tram and boat network throughout
 the entire region operates on the basis of 
“one ticket for all types of transport”. The
Zurich public transport system is internationally recognized as the leader in its field and
 is frequently copied by other major cities. 
Zurich is an important rail crossroad with
 fast connections within Switzerland and to 
key European destinations. High-speed services – ICE (Germany), TGV (France) and 
Pendolino (Italy) – operate to and from
 Zurich.

Zurich and Europe


The bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU accord allow Switzerland equal
 status with EU member countries in a number of important areas. Hence there are
 no competitive distortions to put the Swiss economy at a disadvantage relative to 
its EU competitors, without affecting the traditional advantages of Switzerland as a 
business location. There are virtually no remaining technical barriers to trade with
the EU. Switzerland continues to adapt its legislation to that of the EU. With the signing of the bilateral agreements, professional qualifications are now widely recognized on a mutual basis, especially those in academic, and paramedical disciplines. Swiss research teams are fully entitled to apply for EU research
 funding.


The Swiss tax system is one of the most attractive in Europe – both for companies
and individuals. Employees and entrepreneurs also benefit from low incidental 
wage costs.


Switzerland is the world’s most innovative country according to the 2019 edition of
the Global Innovation Index. Sweden is a close second followed by the United
States, Netherlands, and United Kingdom.

Google

The internet giant Google capitalizes on the internationality and wealth of innovative ideas
offered by Zurich as a business location.


Google is the world's best-known firm for internet services, advertising, and software development. Its Zurich location is Google's largest technological corporate headquarters in 
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and is mainly involved with its Maps, Search, Gmail,
Calendar and YouTube divisions.


Google sets great store by the creative development of its employees (Google Zurich 
employees are called Zooglers - Google + Zurich). The American company operates according to the premise that great ideas are born only when a creative working atmosphere is
 provided. The Google Switzerland office in Zurich specifically encourages this type of 
open corporate culture to ensure that there are no obstacles to innovation. Google develops and improves diverse tools at its Swiss location which are then used around the
 world.


With its central location in Europe, Switzerland offers a setting in which Google employees
can feel at ease and develop themselves creatively. Furthermore, the ideal conditions for
 local research and development work can be found in the Greater Zurich Area. The central 
location, excellent infrastructure and high quality of living make Zurich extremely attractive for Google employees. The close proximity to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 
(ETH Zurich) and the EPFL in Lausanne is also decisive for Google.

Ethereum

Mihai Alisie is the co-founder of Ethereum, one of the blockchain pioneers that settled in
Zug in 2014. The rapid success of Ethereum attracted many more blockchain companies
in and around the area of Zurich and made Switzerland a well-known hub for crypto and
 blockchain businesses.


What makes Switzerland particularly suitable for cryptocurrency businesses?

M. Alisie: "I believe Switzerland is a great place for cryptocurrency businesses and block
chain initiatives for many reasons: First, it is strategically placed in the heart of Europe.
There are several airports well connected with the whole world. Furthermore, decentralization as a mindset is deeply embedded in Switzerland with its different cantons. I believe,
that’s why blockchain as a concept is seen more as an opportunity for improvement here
 whereas in other countries, where there is more of a top-down hierarchy, blockchain is
 rather viewed as a threat. When we came to Switzerland with Ethereum, we were pleasantly surprised to see the openness and forward-thinking attitude of the Canton of Zug
 and of other authorities. This reassured us that we had made the right choice."