Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt

Name

Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt

Legal name

Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt | Kanton Basel-Stadt

Website

https://wsu.bs.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WSU is a cantonal government department of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, responsible for social security, child and adult protection, economic and labor market affairs, environmental and energy policy, and Rhine navigation, serving all residents and businesses of the canton through approximately 1,300 staff across nine service divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Public Administration Services

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (56121), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Disinfection, Sanitation & Vector-Borne Disease Control Services (IMAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG), Expedited Hazmat / Dangerous Goods Expediting (TLADANAK), Government & Municipal Facility Pest Control (HSAMAKAL)

Keywords

• Cantonal government services
• Social welfare programs
• Environmental regulation enforcement
• Labor market administration
• Food safety inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tax-funded government services: The department operates as a government administrative body funded primarily through cantonal tax revenue. Services are provided to citizens and businesses as public goods without direct user fees for core governmental functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt (WSU) is a cantonal government department of Canton Basel-Stadt that delivers integrated public services across nine service divisions (Dienststellen). Its core offerings include social security and assistance (Sozialhilfe, Amt für Sozialbeiträge), child and adult protection (Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutzbehörde, ABES), economic and labor market administration (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit), environmental and energy management (Amt für Umwelt und Energie, including the Solaroffensive initiative), forestry and wildlife management (Amt für Wald und Wild beider Basel), addiction counseling and treatment (Abteilung Sucht), food and chemical safety inspection (Kantonales Laboratorium), and external relations and location marketing for the canton.

Product overview

The Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt (WSU) is a cantonal government department responsible for multiple administrative service divisions. Its portfolio includes social security and adult/child protection (Amt für Beistandschaften und Erwachsenenschutz, Amt für Sozialbeiträge), environmental and energy management (Amt für Umwelt und Energie), economic affairs and labor (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit), forestry (Amt für Wald und Wild), child and adult protection authority, and social assistance services. Key digital services include the Digitaler Briefkasten for document submission, the Solaroffensive initiative for renewable energy, and the Sozialleistungsrechner calculator. The department employs approximately 1,300 staff across nine service divisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amt für Beistandschaften und Erwachsenenschutz (ABES) Provides guardianship and adult protection services for residents needing legal or personal support. A standing cantonal service for adult welfare matters.
• Amt für Sozialbeiträge (ASB) Administers social benefits programs for residents of Canton Basel-Stadt, including the digital mailbox service and the LIV Leben in Vielfalt (Living in Diversity) program.
• Amt für Umwelt und Energie (AUE) Handles cantonal environmental and energy regulation including building requirements, gastronomy environmental standards, event guidelines for waste and noise protection, complaints handling for noise/air/light/NIS, and the Stromspar-Bonus energy savings bonus program.
• Amt für Wald und Wild beider Basel Manages forestry and wildlife resources across both Basel cantons (Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft) as a joint inter-cantonal service.
• Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit (AWA) Manages cantonal economic affairs and labor market policy, including Basel's economic statistics, employment regulations, location promotion, tourism support, and job placement services for the unemployed.
• Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutzbehörde Cantonal child and adult protection authority responsible for guardianship, child welfare, and protection matters for minors and adults at risk.
• Sozialhilfe (Social Assistance) Provides social assistance including financial support, personal counseling, asylum services, labor and social integration programs, and social/emergency housing for residents of Canton Basel-Stadt.
• Sozialleistungsrechner Online calculator tool that allows residents to determine their social benefit entitlements digitally.
• Solaroffensive Cantonal initiative promoting solar energy adoption and implementation across Basel-Stadt as part of the Netto-Null 2037 climate strategy.
• Kantonales Laboratorium (Cantonal Laboratory) Cantonal laboratory performing food safety inspections, microbiological examinations, chemical safety controls, environmental radioactivity monitoring, Legionella testing, and free mushroom inspections. ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 accredited.
• Abteilung Sucht (Addiction Division) Cantonal addiction services covering prevention, therapy, harm reduction, and repression; provides addiction counseling, treatment financing, family and workplace consultation for approximately 3,000 persons annually. QuaTheDA certified.
• Aussenbeziehungen und Standortmarketing Division managing the canton's external relations and location marketing, including international city partnerships (Boston, Abidjan, Seoul) and promotion of Basel as a business and life science hub.

Quantifiable outcome

• Netto-Null emissions by 2037 for Canton Basel-Stadt
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, internal canton entity, core, strategic and major.

• Seoul, South KoreaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Various cooperation activities including Swiss-Korean Life Science Symposium bringing together researchers from South Korea and Switzerland.
• Abidjan/Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire (City Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021City partnership for social engagement purposes, part of international cooperation and development aid activities.
• Amt für Wald und Wild beider Baselinternal canton entityOthersCollaborative partnership between the two Basel cantons for forest and wildlife management, with joint services and shared resources.
• Gemeinden Riehen und BettingencoreOthersMunicipalities within Canton Basel-Stadt with collaborative agreements for service delivery and local administration coordination.
• Boston/Massachusetts (Sister State)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with the Boston region, one of the world's most important life science locations. Collaboration includes university cooperation and network strengthening through swissnex Boston.
• Nordwestschweizer Regierungskonferenz (NWRK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual plenary conference with cantons Jura, Solothurn, Aargau, and Basel-Landschaft for regional coordination on infrastructure and policy issues.
• Swiss SBB and BVBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partners participating in the Sunflower Lanyard initiative for people with invisible disabilities.
• Behindertenforum Region BaselminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional disability forum distribution point for Sunflower Lanyards, promoting inclusion for people with invisible disabilities.
• Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Asian Tiger Mosquito monitoring and control efforts, combining expertise for public health protection.
• swissnex BostonstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network partner supporting Basel's visibility and connection with the Boston/Cambridge innovation ecosystem.
• Gemeinden Riehen und Bettingen (Tigermückenbekämpfung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with municipalities for Asian Tiger Mosquito surveillance and control in the canton.
• Universität BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for international cooperation projects, particularly with Boston and other innovation hubs.
• Kantonspolizei Basel-StadtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint inspection activities for hazardous goods transport control and other law enforcement matters.
• Bundesamt für Zoll und GrenzsicherheitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for hazardous goods vehicle inspections at borders and within the canton.
• Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Host CitymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBasel as host city for Eurovision Song Contest 2025, with location marketing benefits and international visibility through Opening Ceremony and Turquoise Carpet event.
• Women's EHF Euro 2024majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBasel as Host City for Women's European Handball Championship, hosting 12 games at St. Jakobshalle with location marketing opportunities.
• Women's EHF Euro 2024 OrganizersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost City agreement enabling Basel to use the championship as international marketing platform, with brand visibility on TV broadcasts, arena screens, and promotional materials.
• Pro HelvetiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partnership for 'Kultur divers gestalten' initiative supporting diversity processes in eight Basel cultural institutions from 2021-2024.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU): Swiss federal environment agency sets national environmental policy that the canton's Amt für Umwelt und Energie implements; a hierarchical upstream/downstream peer relevant for environmental regulation, climate programs, and the Solaroffensive execution model.

Regional players

• Stadt Zürich — Präsidialdepartement: Municipal-level government department responsible for economic development, social affairs and integration policies within the City of Zurich; comparable mandate on a smaller municipal rather than cantonal footprint, useful as a peer for citizen-facing service delivery and digital channels.

Direct peers

• Volkswirtschafts- und Gesundheitsdirektion Kanton Basel-Landschaft: The neighbouring Basel half-canton's combined economy/health directorate is the closest structural peer: it covers economic affairs, labour market, social services and public health for a comparable population, and already shares joint services with Basel-Stadt (e.g., Amt für Wald und Wild beider Basel).

Broad incumbents

• Département de l'économie et de l'emploi (République et Canton de Genève): Geneva's economy and employment department performs analogous functions (economic development, labour market regulation, business support) and is a useful peer for international location-marketing and life-sciences positioning strategies.
• Wirtschafts-, Energie- und Umweltdirektion Kanton Bern: Cantonal directorate covering economy, energy and environment for Canton Bern; comparable scope to WSU's environment/economy portfolio and a relevant reference for how a larger canton organises cross-domain policy such as Netto-Null-type climate programs.
• Volkswirtschaftsdirektion Kanton Zürich: Larger Swiss cantonal directorate with overlapping responsibility for economy, labour and environment; it operates at meaningfully greater scale but exercises the same mix of regulatory, economic-promotion, and labour-market functions relevant to Basel-Stadt's AWA.
• Département de l'économie, de l'emploi et de la formation (Canton de Vaud): Vaud's combined economy/employment/training directorate is a relevant peer for integrated labour-market and economic-promotion activity, including workforce integration from social-assistance populations analogous to WSU's Sozialhilfe/Abteilung Sucht programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/baselstadt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kantonbaselstadt/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rathaus.Basel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/departement-f%C3%BCr-wirtschaft-soziales-und-umwelt
• Instagraminstagram.com/kantonbaselstadt

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt