Fribourg has so much to offer. First, there is its enviable central location that includes excellent transport links to the main Swiss and European road and rail networks. The country’s main cities and airports – Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich – are only a 90-minute journey away.

The canton’s unspoiled nature, diverse landscapes, vibrant sporting and cultu- ral life, rich history, and exceptional cultural and culinary heritage are some of the reasons why Fribourg is such a great place to live, work and study. The people of Fribourg are famed for their down-to-earth, open-minded, optimistic and friendly approach to life. At the same time, their drive has transformed the canton into a dynamic region and an ideal breeding ground for a host of innovative and exciting projects. Why not come see for yourself?

Since 1971, the Fribourg Development Agency has been helping local businesses get off the ground, outside com- panies to relocate to the region, and established compa- nies to expand their operations.

We are on hand to advise and guide you through the many support mechanisms and opportunities offered by the canton of Fribourg. A dedicated project manager will be appointed to assist and coordinate your project, and will take the lead and put you in touch with the right people for: financial assistance and tax incentives, finding the ideal site or premises for your business, staff recruitment, applying for and obtaining work and residence permits, apartment/house hunting, the social integration of your family and your personnel, contacting institutions of higher education, and any other issue that might arise. Get in touch. We’re here to help

These companies, among many others, have chosen the canton of Fribourg as their location:

Alcon (Switzerland/USA)
Cartier (France)
Cailler/Nestlé (Switzerland)
Geberit (Switzerland)
Ladurée (France)
Johnson Electric (China)
Liebherr (Germany)
Mapei (Italy)
Medion Grifols Diagnostics/Grifols (Spain)
Michelin (France)
Nespresso (Switzerland)
Pall International (USA)
Parker Meggitt (USA)
Richemont International (Switzerland)
Rolex (Switzerland)
Scott Sports (Switzerland)
Sika (Switzerland)
Spiro (Sweden)
UCB Farchim (Belgium)
VeriSign (USA)
Wago Contact (Germany)

Fribourg has the youngest population in Switzerland and a higher education landscape that is as diverse as it is dense.

Alongside its cosmopolitan university, where over 10,000 students are enrolled in a wide range of undergra- duate and postgraduate programs, the canton has five specialist higher education institutes: the School of Engineering and Architecture, the School of Management, the School of Social Work, the School of Health Sciences and the School of Teacher Education. It is also home to the Adolphe Merkle Institute, Switzerland’s leading research and teaching center in the field of nanosciences and material sciences.

The renowned EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) has a satellite here. Added to these is a plethora of colleges specializing in fields such as business administration, agriculture, music, art, multimedia and hospitality.

Of course, there is a broad host of primary, junior and senior high schools, as well as vocational training schools and colleges. Throughout the education system, classes are taught in French and German, while English is the language of choice for many postgraduate programs.

The transfer of knowledge and technology is a core feature of Fribourg’s economic ecosystem. It allows industry to remain inno- vative and competitive, fosters collaborative projects, and generates win-win outcomes. There is a wealth of resources and specialist services to help companies leverage techno- logy transfer to grow their business.

They include three sectoral clusters, five centers of expertise, a material sciences research center (AMI), the technology platform INNOSQUARE and a dedicated technology transfer office.

On top of all this, the Fribourg School of Engineering and Architecture has 10 applied research institutes in three distinct fields: information and communication technologies, construction and environment, and industrial technologies. They work hand in hand with companies to find novel solutions and develop innovative products and processes.

Since 2011, five innovation clusters have been created in the canton. Offering first-class infrastructure and superlative services, these technology centers are now home to numerous start-ups and high-tech companies.