St.Gallen gets ball rolling for Innovation Park East
St.Gallen – The preliminary consultation committee of the canton of St.Gallen has applied for the Cantonal Council to accept its proposal for Innovation Park East. It has also promised to provide initial funding of 10 million Swiss francs.
The canton of St.Gallen is seeking to become the official location of the sixth Swiss Innovation Park and has submitted an application for Innovation Park East. The Innovation Park would be backed by the City of St.Gallen, the cantons of St.Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Thurgau as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. Now, the canton’s preliminary consultation committee has reportedly discussed the proposal and recommended that it be approved by the Cantonal Council.
According to the committee, Innovation Park East would exploit the available potential in the business and scientific communities of Eastern Switzerland. It would also create a space for collaboration and the transfer of knowledge. The committee is furthermore confident of “cross-cantonal cooperation and the involvement of private parties in the project”.
The canton of St.Gallen intends to acquire a shareholding in the Innovation Park and additionally provide initial funding of 10 million francs over ten years. A majority share of the preliminary consultation committee has approved the government's proposal.
The Cantonal Council will discuss the proposal at its November meeting and the Federal Council is expected to make a decision in the first half of next year.