Building B (front left) is the most recent landmark addition to the bluefactory innovation quarter. It won’t be the last! (Photo © STEMUTZ)

Bluefactory, in the heart of the city of Fribourg, has become a symbol of urban innovation. The inauguration of building B marks a new phase in the site’s development. Interview with bluefactory managing director Philippe Jemmely.

The first tenants moved in to building B last December. What are your initial thoughts about the new premises?

We’re very proud of how things have worked out! Building B should enhance bluefactory’s intrinsic attractiveness and underscore its integration in the urban landscape. It also doubles the innovation quarter’s rental space. In addition to offices, laboratories, and prototyping rooms, there will be a new on-site restaurant, which is set to open in May. In terms of construction, we made the unconventional choice of a solid-lumber load-bearing structure. The use of locally sourced timber is fully in keeping with our environmental values and brings us a step closer to achieving the 2000-watt society objectives. It will also allow us to store CO₂, lighten the overall structure, minimize gray energy, improve energy efficiency, and shorten the build time.

So, would you say that innovation is in the site’s DNA?

Yes, it is. And we have also set ourselves the challenge of managing water at district level and in line with circular economy principles. Our ultimate goal is to create an urban space that is climate-resilient. But achieving this goal required a change in mindset, practices, and procedures. We also had to be very agile due to the geopolitical situation which hampered the delivery of the operating equipment. I would like to point out that the authorities and all the companies involved were invaluable in helping us see the project through to its successful conclusion. Building B, together with the future Smart Living Lab facility, is a brilliant advertisement for the innovation quarter and is seen by tens of thousands of train passengers every day!

There was no shortage of tenants for the new premises. What makes bluefactory such an attractive location?

Our innovation quarter is centrally located in in the heart of the city of Fribourg, the canton’s capital, and is mid-way between Switzerland’s most important business hub. It is thanks to this geographical advantage, and Fribourg Economic Development Agency support, that the Swiss Marketplace Group opted to relocate its 160-strong workforce to the bluefactory site. Our proactive commitment to sustainable development is also attracting a growing number of eco-conscious businesses for whom environmental ethics and cost optimization are top of the agenda. This positioning has enabled us to sharpen our competitive edge.

How does bluefactory foster on-site collaboration between academia and industry?

At bluefactory, we don’t work in silos. We pursue a genuine neighborhood policy which nurtures networking and synergies thanks to shared services and spaces. This generates new business opportunities within our academic and industrial ecosystem, which is set to double its workforce over the course of the current year. We are also involved in New Regional Policy projects that leverage academic and private-sector expertise and develop new practices. Many of these projects dovetail with our positioning strategy with regard to mobility, the habitat of the future, and sustainability. Experimentation makes it possible to demonstrate proof of concept and share knowledge.

Are there any other plans in the pipeline?

An innovation quarter like the bluefactory is a generational project. Investment in the site will total around 450 million euros by 2040. Projects for the ‘West’ site and the ‘North’ entrance are already under way and will run for six years. We are in discussions with the authorities on the renovation of the silo and the repurposing of the former bottling hall (ed. note: bluefactory is located on the site of the former Cardinal brewery). Both these structures are valued parts of our built and industrial heritage. Construction of the flagship Smart Living Lab facility is due to start in the next few months. Exciting and busy time lies ahead for bluefactory.