The Swiss Center for Luxury Research

What The Swiss Center for Luxury Research does

The Swiss Center for Luxury Research (SCLR) is an academic think tank founded by Prof. Dr. Felicitas Morhart and anchored at the University of Lausanne (HEC) in Switzerland. It functions as a research and convening hub dedicated to luxury management, bringing together academic faculty from HEC Lausanne, IMD, University of Zurich, and other institutions alongside luxury brand executives, technology providers, and graduate students. Its stated mission addresses the transformation of luxury driven by digitalization, global mobility, social inequality, and eco-conscious consumers, and it positions Switzerland as a counterweight to established luxury powerhouses in France, Italy, and Germany.

SCLR's core offerings are organized around four pillars: the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium (co-founded with E4S, UNIL-HEC, IMD, and OriginAll), which now comprises 50+ luxury brand members and 20+ technology partners focused on transparency and traceability; the Luxury On Air podcast series produced in partnership with Deloitte Switzerland, which has reached 70+ episodes across six seasons featuring executives from global luxury brands; the Research Handbook on Luxury Branding published via Edward Elgar Publishing; and a portfolio of conferences and competitions held in collaboration with Luxury Tribune on topics such as deconsumption, gender-free icons, new luxury rituals, and luxury gaming. The center does not develop proprietary technology platforms; rather, it analyzes and maps third-party digital transparency solutions (blockchain, NFTs, digital product passports) used by member brands.

The organization's revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed but appear to derive from consortium membership fees (for the 50+ brands and 20+ tech partners in ORIGINALLUXURY), research and advisory engagements with luxury houses (including Cartier, Bvlgari, Audemars Piguet, and IWC Schaffhausen), event sponsorship, and academic publication royalties. With 7 employees and no disclosed funding rounds, SCLR operates as a small, lean academic unit whose value is primarily intellectual and reputational rather than commercial scale, monetized through prestige, access, and consortium coordination rather than product sales.

Name

The Swiss Center for Luxury Research

Legal name

Swiss Center for Luxury Research

Website

https://swisscenterforluxuryresearch.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Swiss Center for Luxury Research is an academic think tank at HEC Lausanne that researches luxury management and runs the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium (50+ brands, 20+ tech partners), the Luxury On Air podcast with Deloitte, and industry events for luxury houses, researchers, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research & Advisory Services: The Swiss Center for Luxury Research operates as an academic think tank under University of Lausanne (HEC). Revenue appears to be generated through research partnerships with luxury brands, member fees from the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium (50+ luxury brand members, 20+ tech partners), event sponsorship, and publication sales such as the Research Handbook on Luxury Branding published by Edward Elgar Publishing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Swiss Center for Luxury Research is an academic think tank that produces luxury management research, publications, and events for the global luxury industry. Its core offerings are the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium for transparency and traceability, the Luxury On Air podcast series with Deloitte, the Research Handbook on Luxury Branding, and conferences and competitions hosted with Luxury Tribune.

Product overview

The Swiss Center for Luxury Research is an academic think tank based at University of Lausanne (HEC) that focuses on luxury management research and innovation. The organization operates as a platform with multiple offerings: ORIGINALLUXURY (a consortium for transparency and traceability in luxury), Luxury On Air (a podcast series produced in collaboration with Deloitte), a Research Handbook on Luxury Branding publication, and hosting events and conferences. The center serves as a hub connecting academic institutions, luxury brands, and technology partners to drive innovation in luxury management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORIGINALLUXURY: A collaborative initiative initially known as THE INDEX, established between E4S, UNIL-HEC, IMD, The Swiss Center for Luxury Research, and OriginAll. Focuses on assessing transparency and traceability initiatives within the luxury sector with over 50 luxury brand members and 20 technology partners.
• Luxury On Air

Products and services

• ORIGINALLUXURY A collaborative consortium involving over 50 luxury brands and 20 technology partners, dedicated to assessing, analyzing, and promoting transparency and traceability initiatives in the luxury sector through academic research, events, workshops, and the ORIGINALLUXURY LAB.
• Luxury On Air Podcast A podcast series produced in collaboration with Deloitte, exploring trends, innovations, and personalities in the luxury industry, featuring guests from global fashion houses, watch brands, automobile manufacturers, high-end retailers, and consumer behaviour experts across 6 seasons and 70+ episodes.
• Research Handbook on Luxury Branding A comprehensive academic publication exploring the body of knowledge on luxury branding, offering direction for future research and management in the luxury industry with contributions from international researchers, sold through Edward Elgar Publishing.
• Events and Conferences Industry conferences and competitions hosted in collaboration with Luxury Tribune, covering topics such as deconsumption and luxury, gender fluidity in icons, new luxury rituals, and the intersection of luxury with gaming and pop culture, featuring executives from leading luxury brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• The ORIGINALLUXURY consortium has engaged 50+ luxury brands and 20 technology partners in a collaborative transparency and traceability initiative
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of Lausanne HEC (UNIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Center for Luxury Research is based at University of Lausanne (HEC), making UNIL its institutional anchor. HEC Lausanne provides academic infrastructure, faculty (including founder Felicitas Morhart), and a platform for public-private collaboration on luxury research. Switzerland's proximity to Europe's luxury powerhouses (France, Italy, Germany) is a key strategic factor.
• E4S (Enterprise for Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE4S co-founded the ORIGINALLUXURY initiative alongside UNIL-HEC, IMD, the Swiss Center for Luxury Research, and OriginAll. E4S is an organization focused on driving sustainability and innovation, aligning with the center's mission to inform and encourage innovation in managerial practices.
• IMD (Institute for Management Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMD is a co-founder of the ORIGINALLUXURY initiative and a key academic partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. As one of the world's leading business schools, IMD contributes to luxury management research and academic-industry collaboration.
• OriginAllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginAll is a co-founder of the ORIGINALLUXURY initiative alongside E4S, UNIL-HEC, IMD, and the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. OriginAll appears to be a technology or platform entity focused on authentication or traceability that underpins the consortium's mission of transparency in luxury.
• Deloitte SwitzerlandflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDeloitte Switzerland is the presenting partner of the Luxury On Air podcast series. The podcast is brought to audiences by both Deloitte Switzerland and the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. Deloitte contributes industry expertise, executive-level guests, and brand credibility to the series. The partnership has produced over 70 episodes across 6 seasons.
• Luxury TribuneflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury Tribune is a communication and media partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. The two organizations collaborate on conferences, competitions, and content covering luxury industry topics. Luxury Tribune serves as a digital media platform covering the luxury industry, amplifying the center's research and events.
• Magic PencilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMagic Pencil is listed as a communication and media partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research, contributing to the center's marketing and media reach.
• ORIGINALLUXURY Consortium — 50+ Luxury Brand MembersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ORIGINALLUXURY consortium, hosted by the Swiss Center for Luxury Research, brings together over 50 luxury brand members who participate in transparency and traceability research, workshops, events, and the ORIGINALLUXURY LAB. Brands include publicly listed members such as Bvlgari, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and IWC Schaffhausen. Some members prefer to remain private.
• ORIGINALLUXURY Consortium — 20+ Technology PartnersflagshipTechnology or IntegrationThe ORIGINALLUXURY consortium includes over 20 technology partners who contribute innovative technologies for transparency and traceability in the luxury sector. These partners collaborate with luxury brands and the academic research hub to foster responsible decision-making through digital innovation.
• CartierflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCartier (owned by Richemont) is listed as a past and present partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. CEO Cyrille Vigneron has participated in SCLR events, debating deconsumption and luxury with students, and discussing the reinvention of luxury rituals.
• Audemars PiguetflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudemars Piguet is listed as a past and present partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. The brand participated in SCLR events on gender-free icons and the influence of gender fluidity on contemporary creative processes in luxury watchmaking.
• BvlgariflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBvlgari is listed as a past and present partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research. The brand has been involved in SCLR events and is a member of the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium.
• IWC SchaffhausenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWC Schaffhausen is listed as a past and present partner of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research and member of the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium, contributing to luxury research and industry collaboration.
• Academic institutions networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe center has established partnerships with multiple academic institutions, bringing together experts from various universities to serve as a hub for future leaders of luxury management. Key faculty members include Reto Hofstetter, Bruno Kocher, Lucia Malär, Nicolas Le Moigne, Jean-Michel Dubois, Nadzeya Sabatini, Fabio Duma, Florent Girardin, Torsten Tomczak, Philipp Scharfenberger, Sven Reinecke, Sandor Czellar, Francine Peterson, Evrim de Groot, and Zitian Adam from institutions including HEC Lausanne, University of Zurich, and other leading universities.
• Edward Elgar PublishingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEdward Elgar Publishing distributes the Research Handbook on Luxury Branding, edited by the Swiss Center for Luxury Research team. The handbook is available for purchase through Edward Elgar's academic retail channels and serves as a key publication for marketing, branding, and advertising students and scholars.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company (Luxury Practice): Global consultancy with a prominent luxury consumer research practice, including the State of Fashion series. Comparable to SCLR as a large-scale producer of luxury industry intelligence and advisory.
• Bain & Company (Luxury Practice): Authors the widely cited Bain & Altagamma Luxury Study, the industry's leading market sizing report. Larger, broader incumbent competing in luxury research and advisory that SCLR operates in.

Direct peers

• Fondazione Altagamma: Italian foundation representing high-end cultural and creative industries, and the closest direct peer to SCLR as a luxury industry consortium and think tank. Both convene industry leaders, produce research, and host events on luxury transformation.
• E4S (Enterprise for Society): Co-founding partner of ORIGINALLUXURY alongside SCLR. Both are Switzerland-based research initiatives focused on sustainability and innovation, with shared faculty and overlapping research outputs.
• Luxury Tribune: Media partner and co-organizer of SCLR conferences and competitions. A digital media platform covering luxury industry trends, comparable to SCLR's content and thought leadership mission.
• OriginAll: Co-founder of the ORIGINALLUXURY consortium alongside SCLR; provides the technology platform for luxury transparency and traceability. Closely tied to SCLR's value proposition and consortium offering.
• Polimoda: Italian fashion and luxury management school with strong industry ties, including LVMH, Ferragamo, and Gucci. Comparable to SCLR for its role training future luxury managers and conducting applied research.
• Institut Français de la Mode (IFM): French institute for fashion and luxury education and research, affiliated with major French luxury houses. Comparable to SCLR as a Europe-based luxury research and education hub with deep brand partnerships.

Regional players

• MIP Politecnico di Milano (Graduate School of Business): MIP runs the well-known Master in Luxury Management and produces luxury consumer research (Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Survey). Comparable to SCLR for academic-industry luxury research and executive education in Europe.

Emerging players

• Aura Blockchain Consortium: Luxury consortium founded by LVMH, Prada, Cartier (Richemont) and others to provide blockchain-based product traceability. DIRECTLY competes with ORIGINALLUXURY's transparency and traceability mission with significantly more brand and capital backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-swiss-center-for-luxury-research
• Instagraminstagram.com/swisscenterforluxuryresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Swiss Center for Luxury Research