The grow foundation strengthens the cohesion of the economic region on the left bank of Lake Zurich. The traditional annual event was held at the Horgen site for the first time. This is now the fifth location of the foundation, which began 20 years ago in Wädenswil. Around 70 guests attended the grow aperitif on 5 June 2024 to explore the new location and to get to know the three grow companies based there.
“It’s a first”, Philipp Kutter was pleased to say in his welcoming speech at the annual event of the foundation “Stiftung grow”. This was the first time he had spoken as President of Wädenswil City Council at an event in the municipality of Horgen. He highlighted how grow plays a vital role in fostering economic growth in the region on the left bank of Lake Zurich, helping businesses collaborate and strengthen one another. The mayor of Horgen, Beat Nüesch, agreed and added that the region offers a high quality of life and good jobs, he said.
Premiere in Horgen
The 19 member companies of Stiftung grow alone now employ around 210 people. Three of the companies presented themselves at the annual event. They are all start-ups in the life sciences sector and are based in Tödistrasse in Horgen. To provide them with optimal conditions for their research and development work, they were actively supported by the foundation and F. Aeschbach AG, the owner of the property. As Sepp Fuchs, representative of F. Aeschbach AG, reported, the rooms of the building complex, which was built in 1964, were fully renovated before the three companies moved in and equipped with customized state-of-the-art laboratories.
Successful relocation of Navignostics AG
“It was a stroke of luck for us,” confirmed Jana Fischer, CEO and co-founder of Navignostics AG, during the tour of the building with the guests. “The location and the timing were ideal for our next growth step, and we were able to design the premises to suit our needs.” The spin-off from the University of Zurich specialises in precision medicine for the personalised diagnosis of cancer tumours so that patients receive precisely the therapy that works best for them. Since moving into Horgen last year, the number of employees has already grown to 15. And the trend is upward.
Positive developments at CDR-Life Inc. and Arethia AG
The two other grow companies at the Horgen site were similarly positive. “We were able to design the premises entirely according to our preferences with a lot of transparency and glass walls,” said Konstantin von Schulthess, CFO and co-founder of CDR-Life Inc. The biotech company has just reached an important milestone. The first clinical trial with an immunotherapy against cancer developed by CDR-Life is due to start this month. Around 60 employees work at CDR-Life in Horgen.
Arethia AG is also on course for growth. Originally founded in Germany, the group of companies specialises in flavours. It has been building an international innovation centre in Horgen since the end of 2023. “With universities such as the ZHAW and ETH Zurich, the region offers us access to precisely the specialists we need to develop flavourings for food production,” explained Philipp Hertz, Managing Director of Arethia.
Networking and a finale on the roof terrace
After the guided tours of the company premises, grow hosted an aperitif on the roof terrace of the building complex. With a view over Horgen extending to Lake Zurich, the guests engaged in lively discussions and deepened the conversations from the tours.