Schaffhausen – area for makers
The Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen is a government-funded One-Stop-Shop economic development agency established in 1997, providing free company settlement, retention, startup, and technology transfer services to international corporations, entrepreneurs, and SMEs seeking to establish or expand in the Swiss canton.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSchaffhausen, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schaffhausen – area for makers does
Schaffhausen – area for makers (legal entity: Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen; also operating as Wirtschaftsförderung Kanton Schaffhausen) is a cantonal government economic development agency established in 1997 and managed on behalf of the Canton by Generis AG. It operates as a One-Stop-Shop for businesses, politics, and administration, providing free initial consultations, company settlement support, business retention services, startup mentoring (via StartHub, 100+ active members), technology transfer, and relocation/regional marketing services. The agency's core customers are international corporations considering Swiss locations (e.g., Unilever, Johnson Controls, TE Connectivity, Medtronic, Acronis, SIG Combibloc), startups and entrepreneurs, and existing local SMEs. Targeted industries include advanced materials, food-tech, pharma & medtech, water & environmental technologies, and mobility & automation.
The organization does not sell products or technology platforms; instead it orchestrates a regional ecosystem through formal partnerships with ITS (Industry and Technology Center Schaffhausen, founded 1999), INOS (Innovation Network Ostschweiz), the Swiss Transit Lab (founded 2017 for autonomous mobility pilots), Constructor Institute (university-level digital tech education), Empa and EPFL (Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics), Schmerlat Airfield (UAV/drone testing), and go tec! (a MINT education initiative with nearly 50 partner companies). It also produces a quarterly business magazine (Schaffhauser Wirtschaftsmagazin) and a podcast (Pioniercast), and runs the Female Makers Initiative for women in business.
The revenue model is non-commercial: the agency is funded by the Canton of Schaffhausen's government budget and charges no fees to businesses for its core services. Track record includes 600+ company settlements supported and approximately 2,800 jobs created since 1997, a +6 rank improvement in UBS cantonal competitiveness indicators between 2012 and 2021, and 5th-highest GDP per capita among Swiss cantons. There is no proprietary technology stack, no AI/ML capabilities, no app or API, and no disclosed operating budget.
Schaffhausen – area for makers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schaffhausen – area for makers
- Legal name
- Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen
- Website
- https://schaffhausen-area.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen is a government-funded One-Stop-Shop economic development agency established in 1997, providing free company settlement, retention, startup, and technology transfer services to international corporations, entrepreneurs, and SMEs seeking to establish or expand in the Swiss canton.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schaffhausen – area for makers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)
Keywords
Where Schaffhausen – area for makers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schaffhausen
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Schaffhausen – area for makers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Cantonal Government Funding: Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen is a government agency funded by the Canton of Schaffhausen. The organization has been developing and promoting the economic location for over 25 years on behalf of the Canton.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One-time | Free initial consultation for startups and entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Schaffhausen – area for makers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen promotes the Canton of Schaffhausen as a business and technology location. It supports companies in settling, expanding, and relocating to the region; assists startups and SMEs with advice, financing and network access; and drives cluster initiatives in Smart Mobility, Robotics, Nutrition Manufacturing, and other fields. All services are provided free of charge to companies, financed by the Canton of Schaffhausen.
Product overview
Schaffhausen – area for makers is the economic promotion agency for the Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It is not a technology product company but rather a regional development organization that offers a suite of economic promotion services including business attraction, business retention, startup support, technology transfer, and living/relocation services. The organization promotes several ecosystem initiatives such as the Smart Mobility ecosystem, the Female Makers Initiative, the Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics, and the Swiss Nutrition Manufacturing Hub. Additionally, it publishes the quarterly Schaffhauser Wirtschaftsmagazin business magazine and produces the Pioniercast podcast. The organization positions Schaffhausen as a hub for makers, innovation, and high-tech businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Mobility Area: Mobility and automation ecosystem focus area showcasing companies developing autonomous vehicles, drones, UAVs, and smart farming applications
- Female Makers Initiative
- Female Leaders Schaffhausen
- Swiss Transit Lab
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600 company settlements supported since 1997
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Schaffhausen – area for makers
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Schaffhausen – area for makers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Schaffhausen – area for makers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Swiss Transit Lab (STL)coreNonprofit network for intelligent mobility in Switzerland founded by private companies and Schaffhausen public transportation authorities. Led three pilot projects in Canton Schaffhausen involving first autonomous vehicles on Swiss public roads.
- ITS - Industrie- und Technozentrum SchaffhausencoreITS is a nonprofit entity supporting Schaffhausen businesses in technology and innovation topics. Founded in 1999 as an initiative of local industry to strengthen innovation capability and competitiveness. Provides knowledge transfer, contact brokering, events, and project funding.
- INOS - Innovationsnetzwerk OstschweizcoreINOS provides innovation coaching for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as platforms on specific topics including sustainability, circularity, and supply chains. Works with companies on structured innovation processes.
- Schmerlat AirfieldminorLocal non-commercial airfield offering opportunity to test UAVs in natural environmental conditions. Located in Klettgau region approximately 10 minutes from Schaffhausen city, offers safe and low-traffic test area with variety of weather conditions.
- StartHub SchaffhausencoreStartHub hosts events and provides support for startup businesses and entrepreneurs. Manages Wall of Fame showcasing verified young companies in the region. Part of economic promotion ecosystem.
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologycoreEmpa researcher Professor Mirko Kovač is establishing Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics in Schaffhausen. Project aims to transfer research from laboratory to real-world environments with focus on environmental monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and infrastructure inspection.
- EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausannecorePartner in Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics with Professor Mirko Kovač holding professorship in Sustainability Robotics at EPFL. Collaboration on interdisciplinary robotics research combining robotics, materials science, and environmental science.
- Imperial College LondonminorAcademic partner in Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics research initiative, working with Empa, EPFL, and interdisciplinary specialists on robotics for environmental sustainability.
- International School Schaffhausen (ISSH)minorInternational school serving children from over 30 countries, a key factor in attracting international companies and employees to Schaffhausen.
- go tec! LaborcoreTechnology education initiative engaging children and youth in MINT topics (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) with nearly 50 partner companies. Founded in 2014, has had nearly 300,000 class visits and 6,500 children in leisure courses.
- Healthcare Business Association (HBA)minorHBA partnered with Economic Promotion and Ascent Health Services to organize Female Makers events for women in leadership positions.
- Swiss Federal Office of Aviation (FOCA)minorFederal aviation authority that Economic Promotion helps connect companies with for discussing test cases or drone projects.
- Generis AGcoreGeneris AG is commissioned by the Canton's Government Council to manage the Economic Promotion office and the Regional and Site Development (RSE) office. Provides team of experienced project managers.
- Constructor InstitutecoreUniversity-level education and innovation ecosystem in digital technologies. Part of canton's vision for higher education and innovation. Formerly Schaffhausen Institute of Technology, merged with Jacobs University Bremen in 2022. Pursuing accreditation as state-recognized university institute.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Schaffhausen – area for makers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Standortförderung Kanton St. Gallen: Cantonal economic promotion office for St. Gallen, providing business settlement, startup support, and location marketing services. Closely comparable mandate and structure to Schaffhausen.
- BaselArea.swiss: Economic promotion agency for the Basel region covering both Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. Same model: cantonal/regional investment promotion, startup support, and location marketing for international companies.
- Standortförderung Kanton Luzern: Economic promotion agency for the Canton of Lucerne, focused on attracting companies, supporting SMEs, and fostering innovation. Direct peer with similar GTM and services.
- Greater Zurich Area Ltd: Joint economic promotion organization for the Zurich metropolitan area, marketing the region to international firms and providing relocation and expansion support. Same model and customer base as Schaffhausen, just at a larger scale.
- INOS - Innovationsnetzwerk Ostschweiz: Innovation network for Eastern Switzerland, listed as a core partner of Schaffhausen's economic promotion. Provides innovation coaching to SMEs in the same geographic region.
- Standortförderung Kanton Aargau: Cantonal economic promotion agency for Aargau, supporting company settlements, innovation, and SME development. Same cantonal-level mandate and service model as Schaffhausen.
Emerging players
- Genilem: Swiss nonprofit supporting innovative startups with mentoring and growth advisory. Overlaps with Schaffhausen's startup support services but is a private nonprofit rather than a government agency.
- Startupticker.ch / Venturelab: Swiss-wide startup news and support network. Comparable in startup segment to Schaffhausen's StartHub but operates at national level and as a media/community platform.
Others
- Switzerland Innovation: Network of federal innovation parks supporting technology transfer and corporate-startup collaboration. Adjacent: provides innovation infrastructure that complements Schaffhausen's ecosystem initiatives.
Broad incumbents
- Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Switzerland's official trade and investment promotion agency, providing national-level support for exporting companies and foreign direct investment. Broader geographic scope but overlapping mandate with cantonal agencies.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Schaffhausen – area for makers social profiles
Digital presenceSchaffhausen – area for makers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schaffhausen – area for makers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Schaffhausen – area for makers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schaffhausen – area for makers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schaffhausen – area for makers
What does Schaffhausen – area for makers do?
The Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen promotes the Canton of Schaffhausen as a business and technology location. It supports companies in settling, expanding, and relocating to the region; assists startups and SMEs with advice, financing and network access; and drives cluster initiatives in Smart Mobility, Robotics, Nutrition Manufacturing, and other fields. All services are provided free of charge to companies, financed by the Canton of Schaffhausen.
Is Schaffhausen – area for makers a public or private company?
Schaffhausen – area for makers is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Schaffhausen – area for makers founded?
Schaffhausen – area for makers was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Schaffhausen – area for makers based?
Schaffhausen – area for makers is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Schaffhausen – area for makers make money?
One revenue line is on record: cantonal Government Funding.
Who are Schaffhausen – area for makers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Standortförderung Kanton St. Gallen, BaselArea.swiss, Standortförderung Kanton Luzern, Greater Zurich Area Ltd, INOS - Innovationsnetzwerk Ostschweiz and Standortförderung Kanton Aargau. Emerging players are Genilem and Startupticker.ch / Venturelab. Switzerland Innovation is listed as an others. Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Schaffhausen – area for makers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schaffhausen – area for makers.
What industry is Schaffhausen – area for makers in?
Schaffhausen – area for makers's product category is Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIABAM, State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development, with a secondary code of BPADAEAE, Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development.