More tenants have signed lease agreement for office space and laboratories at the GRID (in French: Grand Réseau d’Innovation et de Développement). The GRID, which covers a total area of 50,000 square meters, is considered a key pillar in the emerging biotech cluster of Allschwil and is regarded as one of the most important Life Sciences ecosystems in Switzerland. The new, striking building in a campus style was designed by Herzog & de Meuron architects and developed by SENN Construction AG, which is based in St. Gallen. The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area has been a strategic partner and anchor tenant at the GRID since the fall of 2019.

As outlined in a press release issued by SENN, two institutes of the University of Basel are to relocate to the GRID. The Department of Biomedical Engineering (DBE), which is sponsored by both the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel will move into an area of around 3,500 square meters in 2023 where it will therefore be able to realize its planned growth. Current plans envisage the creation of around 150 jobs, while there will also be space for approximately 100 students. This new facility will also allow the DBE to conduct intensive collaborations with external partners.

According to SENN, the University of Basel will also be represented at the GRID by way of its Innovation Office, the central point of contact for all matters related to innovation and entrepreneurship. From the start of 2021, this department will move into office space at the “Innovation Garage” on the ground floor of the adjacent car park west.

Furthermore the biopharmaceutical company Basilea Pharmaceutica AG will move into the GRID in the middle of 2022 and bring together its teams distributed across other sites. “We will benefit from the close proximity to innovative startup companies, academic institutions and other biotech companies in the emerging life sciences and technology cluster”, comments CEO David Veitch in a press release. In addition, Basilea expects to leverage positive effects on its operating and capital expenses on the back of this move.

“We are delighted to have taken another step closer to achieving our vision of becoming a reference point for anything that can help to improve people’s lives in the future”, explains Johannes Senn, CEO of SENN.