What energie-cluster.ch does

energie-cluster.ch is a politically neutral, non-profit association (Verein) under Swiss law, founded in 2004 in Olten and now headquartered in Bern at Gutenbergstrasse 21. It operates Switzerland's largest multi-stakeholder network for the CO2-neutral energy transition, with approximately 530 members drawn from energy, construction, architecture, and real-estate companies; federal, cantonal, and municipal public authorities; educational and research institutions; and individual energy professionals. The organization explicitly aligns its charter with Switzerland's Energy Strategy 2050, the Paris Agreement, and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and contributes to four formal innovation groups covering sector coupling, net-zero buildings, CO2-neutral building stock, and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The product portfolio is a platform-plus-services stack rather than a singular technology. Membership is the relationship layer, sold in six tiered annual fees ranging from CHF 100 (individuals) to CHF 2,000 (enterprises above 500 employees), with a CHF 1,000 collective tier for public-sector and educational members. On top of membership, the cluster runs paid professional training courses (CHF 525-580 per day), more than 70 events per year including flagship congresses such as the AI in Energy Sector congress and the Power-to-X Congress Switzerland, and self-paced learning through the energie-cluster.ch Academy. Adjacent commercial products include the Job-Hub career platform (CHF 250-300 per posting, with members-only CV-database access) and the Grüner Sessel video discussion series. Distribution is dominated by direct member signup via the bilingual (DE/FR) website, complemented by an active newsletter, a presence on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, and structured partnerships with Kanton Bern, AUE, Energiepark Grischa, HEIG-VD, EnergieSchweiz, SuisseEnergie, Axpo, Hassler Energia, CSEM, SPIN, Swisspower, and Réseau H2.

Revenue is generated from three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues, one-time course and event fees (with roughly 20% member discounts), and Job-Hub listing fees; the organization reports no app, no proprietary software products, and no external API. The association is led by Frank Schürch (Geschäftsleiter / Managing Director), governed by member voting at annual general assemblies, and updated its statutes most recently on 30 April 2025 — the fifth governance revision since founding.

Name

energie-cluster.ch

Legal name

energie-cluster.ch

Website

https://energie-cluster.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

energie-cluster.ch is a politically neutral Swiss non-profit association founded in 2004 that runs a 530-member national network for CO2-neutral energy transition, delivering membership programs, training courses, 70+ annual events, the Job-Hub career platform, and innovation groups for companies, public authorities, and energy professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Industry Network Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy, Utilities & Sustainability Management (BPABAAAF)

Keywords

• Energy network association
• CO2 neutral transition
• Renewable energy cluster
• Energy knowledge transfer
• Energy industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees based on company size: Individual membership CHF 100, companies up to 10 employees CHF 200, 11-100 employees CHF 500, 101-500 employees CHF 1,000, over 500 employees CHF 2,000, collective membership for public sector/schools CHF 1,000.
2. Event and Course Fees: Revenue from paid courses and events. Course fees typically CHF 580 for in-person, CHF 525 for online participation, with 20% member discount. Event/congress fees range from CHF 290-520 for non-members with member discounts available.
3. Job-Hub Listings: Job posting fees: CHF 250 for 2 months, CHF 300 for 3 months. Members get access to resume database.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

energie-cluster.ch operates a membership-based network organization that promotes CO2-neutral energy solutions in Switzerland through knowledge transfer, professional courses, congresses and events, a career platform (Job-Hub), innovation groups, and consulting services for SMEs. The association connects companies, public authorities, research institutions and individuals active in the Swiss energy and building sectors, and operates sub-brands such as the Academy, the Grüner Sessel (Green Chair) discussion platform, and the Job-Hub.

Product overview

energie-cluster.ch is Switzerland's leading network organization for a CO2-neutral energy world, established as a politically neutral association in 2004. The organization operates a platform-plus-services model comprising: membership programs with tiered pricing for companies and public institutions; professional training courses covering topics like ZEV, photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and e-mobility; large-scale events and congresses including the Power-to-X Congress and AI in Energy Sector congress; the Job-Hub career platform connecting energy sector employers with professionals; the Grüner Sessel video discussion platform featuring expert interviews; innovation groups and labs addressing sector coupling and net-zero buildings; the Academy online learning platform; and regular newsletter communications. The organization facilitates knowledge transfer across the entire value chain in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grüner Sessel: A discussion platform featuring interviews and talks with experts on energy topics, innovation, and sustainability solutions
• Job-Hub
• Academy
• Energie-cluster.ch Academy

Products and services

• Membership (Mitgliedschaft)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.5 million people reached through network activities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kanton Bern (Canton of Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2026Kanton Bern collaborates with energie-cluster.ch to organize the Agri-PV event on August 12, 2026, focusing on opportunities for combining agriculture and solar energy production. The event takes place in the Grossratssaal (Grand Council Chamber) and is offered free of charge.
• AUE (Amt für Umwelt und Energie Kanton Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing the Agri-PV event showcasing opportunities for combining agriculture and solar energy production.
• Energiepark GrischacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Forum Zukunfts-ENERGIE on August 26, 2026, responsible for the Heat/Cold thematic pathway. The forum showcases real energy systems and infrastructure at the park.
• HEIG-VD (Haute Ecole d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner hosting the Symposium on thermal networks and courses in French-speaking Switzerland. Provides venue and academic credibility to programs.
• EnergieSchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment program supporting energy transition initiatives. Provides backing for courses on electromobility and other energy topics.
• SuisseEnergiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal energy program supporting training and education initiatives in energy efficiency and renewables.
• AxpocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Swiss energy company confirmed as partner for the E-Production thematic pathway at Forum Zukunfts-ENERGIE.
• Hassler EnergiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the E-Production thematic pathway at Forum Zukunfts-ENERGIE, contributing to energy production content.
• Fachhochschule GraubündencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences partner for the Robotics thematic pathway at Forum Zukunfts-ENERGIE.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute partner for the AI/Artificial Intelligence thematic pathway at Forum Zukunfts-ENERGIE.
• SPINcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Power-to-X Congress Switzerland, combining competencies and networks from previous Power-to-Gas Congress and SPIN Day events.
• SwisspowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner network for the Power-to-X Congress Switzerland and member rate benefits.
• Réseau H2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Power-to-X Congress Switzerland and member rate benefits.
• NeoVac ATA AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for courses on monitoring and optimization in building stock, photovoltaic facades, and storage. Provides technical expertise and promotional support.
• smart-me AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for courses, providing promotional support and technical content for energy monitoring and ZEV courses.
• Solar Manager AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for storage courses and ZEV/vZEV/LEG courses, contributing technical content and promotional support.
• Solarmarkt GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for photovoltaic facade courses, providing technical expertise and promotional support.
• Enpuls AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for ZEV/vZEV/LEG courses, hosting the course location and providing technical content.
• Blockstrom AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for ZEV/vZEV/LEG courses, contributing technical content on self-consumption optimization.
• Primeo EnergieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for storage courses, supporting professional education in energy storage solutions.
• Solstis SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for photovoltaic facade courses, contributing technical expertise on BIPV solutions.
• Solaxess SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for photovoltaic facade courses, providing nanotechnological film expertise.
• CREnergie SàrlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for photovoltaic facade courses, contributing fire safety and regulatory expertise.
• 3S Swiss Solar SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for photovoltaic facade courses, contributing expertise on building-integrated photovoltaics.
• EBPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the electromobility in municipalities symposium, contributing expertise on consulting and project implementation.
• Schweizerischer Gemeindeverband (Swiss Municipal Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for electromobility symposium, providing access to municipal decision-makers and member benefits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Swiss official trade and investment promotion agency. Adjacent rather than competitive — both organizations support Swiss firms and ecosystem development, but S-GE focuses on internationalization and investment promotion rather than domestic energy transition member services.

Direct peers

• World Energy Council Switzerland: Swiss chapter of the World Energy Council, convening energy leaders and publishing energy insight. Comparable as a Swiss-focused energy convening body providing member networking, thought leadership, and policy engagement.
• Suisse Eole: Swiss wind energy industry association. Comparable as a focused member-based association in the Swiss renewables space, offering events, training, and policy advocacy — directly overlapping with energie-cluster.ch's renewable energy mandate.
• Verband Schweizerischer Elektrizitätsunternehmen (VSE): Swiss Electricity Industry Association representing electricity utilities and grid operators. Comparable as the leading Swiss energy sector industry association, with similar member-driven governance, training programs, and policy engagement in the Swiss energy market.
• Swisssolar: Swiss solar industry association representing solar energy companies and professionals in Switzerland. Directly comparable as a member-based industry association focused on a specific energy sub-vertical, offering similar member services, events, and policy advocacy.
• Holzenergie Schweiz: Swiss wood energy association promoting biomass heating and combined heat and power. Comparable as a Swiss energy sub-sector association with member-based governance, training offerings, and policy advocacy similar in structure to energie-cluster.ch.
• Cleantech Cluster Switzerland: Cluster organization promoting cleantech innovation and networking in Switzerland. Closely comparable in the cluster-network business model, member recruitment, and event-based knowledge transfer, though focused on cleantech more broadly than energy specifically.

Broad incumbents

• Swissmem: Leading Swiss industry association for the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Comparable in association governance and member services, but covers a broader industrial base and includes energy sector firms among its members rather than specializing in it.
• Cleantech Group: Global cleantech research and advisory firm with broader international reach. Comparable in serving the cleantech ecosystem with data, research, and events, but at significantly larger scale and global scope, making it a broader incumbent rather than a direct domestic competitor.

Regional players

• Swiss Sustainable Finance: Swiss association promoting sustainable finance. Comparable in association structure and Swiss market focus, but operates in the adjacent financial sector rather than energy/technology, and is more of a thematic peer than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/energiecluster
• Facebookfacebook.com/energiecluster.ch
• LinkedInch.linkedin.com/company/energie-cluster.ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/energiecluster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about energie-cluster.ch