Lausanne Région

What Lausanne Région does

Lausanne Région is a private-law regional association (association de communes) comprising 27 municipalities in the Greater Lausanne area of Canton Vaud, Switzerland. Founded in 1967 as CIURL, it was restructured into COREL in 1990 and renamed Lausanne Région in 2002. The organization is recognized by the Canton of Vaud as the official regional economic development body and serves as the mandatory entry point for LADE (Loi sur l'Appui au Développement Économique) funding requests routed through the region. Its core service is the Guichet des entreprises, a free business gateway offering entrepreneurs and SMEs personalized support across business planning, financing, administrative procedures, real-estate search, and networking, supplemented by the annual PERL (Prix Entreprendre Lausanne Région) awards program that distributes CHF 100,000 in prizes and has supported more than 100 enterprises with cumulative prize money of CHF 2.3 million since 2003.

The association is funded primarily through annual membership contributions from its 27 member communes and cantonal subsidies under the LADE framework, with additional revenue from event and program fees. It operates a small core team — three named project managers in Promotion économique (Anne-Laure Bornoz, Alevtina Zhukova, Caryl Dubuis) plus secretariat and elected leadership under President Thierry Amy (Syndic de Cugy since 2021). Service delivery is direct and human-mediated, with no software-as-a-product offering; technology is limited to a WordPress-based website (designed by Ergopix Sàrl and hosted by Infomaniak), social media channels, and standard office tools. Strategic alliances with EPFL, HES-SO, UNIL, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV), Chambre vaudoise du commerce et de l'industrie (CVCI), Retraites Populaires, and regional media (La Télé, 24 heures, Bilan) underpin the PERL program and broader economic-promotion activities.

Lausanne Région's mandate extends beyond pure economic development into territory, mobility, childhood/youth, social cohesion, sport, and seniors programming across its 27 communes, with active delivery of the LADE 2025-2029 regional economic strategy and a federally selected Projet-Modèle (2025-2030) on local-services co-creation. It is not a venture-backed entity: there is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no funding rounds; governance rests with a General Assembly of municipal delegates and a coordination Bureau.

Name

Lausanne Région

Legal name

Lausanne Région

Website

https://lausanneregion.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lausanne Région is a public association of 27 municipalities in Canton Vaud, Switzerland, recognized by the canton as the regional economic development body. It delivers free business support through the Guichet des entreprises, runs the annual PERL innovation awards, and administers LADE regional economic strategy across the Greater Lausanne area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure & Project Finance Facilities (BPADACAG), Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Business support services
• Municipal coordination
• Innovation awards program
• Cantonal subsidies administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Communal membership fees: Lausanne Région is funded through annual contributions from its 27 member communes. The organization serves as the official economic body recognized by the Canton of Vaud to support regional development projects under the LADE (Loi cantonale sur l'Appui au Développement Economique) framework.
2. Cantonal subsidies (LADE): The Canton of Vaud provides financial support for regional development projects that align with the LADE strategy. Subsidies cover up to 50% for studies, events, and organizational measures, and up to 35% for infrastructure as loans or, in some cases, non-repayable grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lausanne Région is a regional association of 27 municipalities providing free economic development services to entrepreneurs and businesses within its territory. It operates a Guichet des entreprises (business gateway) offering consultation on business creation, financing, administrative procedures, and networking. The organization administers the PERL annual innovation awards (CHF 100,000 prize pool) and manages the LADE regional economic development strategy including subsidy allocation up to 50% for studies and 35% for infrastructure projects.

Product overview

Lausanne Région is a regional association serving 27 member municipalities in the Lausanne area. The organization operates as a service-oriented entity rather than a technology product company, providing economic development services, business support through its Guichet des entreprises, and administering the PERL innovation awards program. The product portfolio centers on the Guichet des entreprises business gateway service, the annual PERL (Prix Entreprendre Lausanne Région) awards program, and the LADE regional economic development strategy framework. Additional offerings include the 'Je vis ici, je consomme local!' communication campaign, economic promotion commission services, turnkey municipality-business meeting organization, and pilot projects for urban center development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PERL (Prix Entreprendre Lausanne Région): Annual innovation awards recognizing innovative enterprises in the Lausanne Region, with CHF 100,000 in total prizes awarded each year since 2003.
• Guichet des entreprises

Products and services

• Guichet des entreprises Business gateway service providing free consultation and support to entrepreneurs and project carriers within the 27 member communes, covering business plan development, financial aid information, company creation advice, administrative procedures, and networking support.
• Prix Entreprendre Lausanne Région (PERL) Annual innovation awards program that recognizes and rewards the most innovative enterprises in the Lausanne region. Winners receive financial prizes (CHF 100,000 total envelope), coaching from partners GenileM and HyperAktiv, media visibility through La Télé, 24 heures, and Bilan, and three years of free CVCI membership.
• LADE Regional Economic Development Strategy 2025-2029 Regional economic development strategy framework under the Loi sur l'Appui au Développement Économique that administers cantonal subsidies for projects of regional interest, with subsidy rates up to 50% for studies and organizational measures and up to 35% for infrastructure projects, available as loans or non-repayable grants.
• Commission Promotion économique Economic promotion commission that facilitates creation and implantation of new enterprises, supports development of existing businesses, highlights regional economic competencies, and defines regional economic support policy axes.
• Rencontres Municipalités et entreprises Turnkey service organizing meetings between municipalities and local businesses, including program development, speaker research, event coordination, invitation materials, and economic leaflets for participating communes in the Lausanne region.
• Projet-Modèle Co-créer des services locaux Pilot model project focused on developing dynamic city centers and co-creating local services, selected by federal authorities (ARE and SECO) among 167 submissions for the Modèles projects 2025-2030 program, producing a methodological guide and monitoring system with pilot sites in Lausanne and Mont-sur-Lausanne.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ enterprises supported since 2003 with CHF 2.3M in prize money
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• GenileMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoaching partner for PERL award winners, providing innovation project coaching services to the five annual laureates.
• HyperAktivcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign methods partner providing project analysis services to PERL award winners using design thinking approaches.
• IFJ – Startup SupportcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides PERL winners with access to Businessplan Tool platform and accompaniment sessions.
• La TélécoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional TV partner producing video content for PERL winners and broadcasting the annual ceremony. Major media visibility partner.
• 24 heurescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMainstream newspaper media partner providing press coverage for PERL awards and regional economic initiatives.
• Bilan MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness magazine media partner covering PERL awards and regional innovation stories.
• Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal partner of PERL awards for nearly 15 years. Provides PME support services and sponsors innovation recognition.
• Chambre vaudoise du commerce et de l'industrie (CVCI)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal partner of PERL awards for nearly 15 years. Offers 3 years of free CVCI membership and Business Club access to winners.
• Retraites PopulairesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal partner of PERL awards. Offers PERL winners complimentary courses on occupational pension planning.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner in the regional innovation ecosystem. Multiple PERL winners are EPFL spin-offs, and EPFL participates in jury composition.
• HES-SOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences partner represented in the PERL jury by Vice-rectrice Christine Pirinoli.
• UNIL (Université de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner represented in the PERL jury with charged lecturer Laurence Halifi.
• CVCIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce partner in the 'Acheter et consommer local' campaign with BCV, FVE, ERL, and other partners.
• BCV (Banque Cantonale Vaudoise)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner in the 'Acheter et consommer local' campaign supporting local commerce and consumption.
• Fédération des Entreprises Romandes (FVE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnterprise federation partner in the 'Acheter et consommer local' communication campaign.
• ERL (Economie Région Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic committee partner in local commerce campaign, represented by Julien Pellegrino.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa): Swiss regional investment and economic promotion agency covering western Switzerland (including parts of Canton Vaud), performing business attraction, settlement support, and inter-cantonal coordination comparable to Lausanne Région's mandate.
• Greater Zurich Area: Swiss regional economic promotion body covering the Greater Zurich area, performing the same mandate as Lausanne Région — attracting businesses, supporting settlement, and acting as a single entry point for regional economic development in its territory.
• Aargau Services: Public umbrella organization of municipalities in Canton Aargau, coordinating regional development, economic promotion, and intercommunal services — a structural twin of Lausanne Région in a different Swiss canton.
• Standortförderung Kanton Zürich: Cantonal economic location-promotion office for Zurich, performing business settlement, location marketing, and inter-municipal economic coordination within Canton Zurich — directly comparable in mandate and public-law status to Lausanne Région.
• BaselArea Business & Innovation: Joint economic promotion organization of the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and Jura, providing business support, innovation funding, and location marketing — structurally analogous to Lausanne Région's role across its 27 communes.

Regional players

• Chambre vaudoise du commerce et de l'industrie (CVCI): Vaud chamber of commerce and industry, a flagship partner of Lausanne Région's PERL awards, providing 3-year free memberships to winners. Operates in the same Canton Vaud geography with overlapping business-support services and membership-based representation.
• Innovaud: Canton of Vaud's innovation promotion agency supporting Vaud-based startups, scale-ups, and innovation-driven companies. Operates at the cantonal level above Lausanne Région's 27-commune scope, creating an overlapping but broader mandate in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Venture Kick / >>Venture>>: Swiss startup funding and coaching platform running nation-wide startup competitions with substantially larger prize pools than PERL. A partial competitor in the entrepreneur-support category within the same Swiss ecosystem where Lausanne Région operates.

Broad incumbents

• Office de promotion économique du canton de Vaud (SPECo): Cantonal economic promotion service within the Canton of Vaud administration, setting cantonal economic policy and managing LADE strategy that Lausanne Région implements at the regional level — the upstream policy authority governing Lausanne Région's operating envelope.
• Switzerland Innovation: Swiss federal innovation park network across multiple sites including Lausanne (Innovation Park Lausanne, EPFL). A broader incumbent player in the same Swiss innovation ecosystem where Lausanne Région runs the PERL program and Guichet services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubelatele.ch/emissions/prix-entreprendre-region-lausanne
• Facebookfacebook.com/lausanneregion.perl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lausanne-r%C3%A9gion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Lausanne Région