WERS – Economic Development of the Schaffhausen Region

Developing a Roadmap out of the Crisis

Initial Situation

Developing a Roadmap out of the Crisis

The dominance of manufacturing meant the Schaffhausen area was hit hard by 1990s deindustrialisation: 11 percent of jobs were lost, unemployment hit record levels. To get Schaffhausen back on track, representatives of several business and sectoral associations – Industry & Commerce Association (IVS), Trades Association (KGV), the farming association, city-centre businesses (Pro City), Schaffhausen Tourism and the municipal and cantonal governments – joined forces to launch a new project: economic development of the Schaffhausen region.

The concept underpinning the project was developed by Thomas Holenstein, founder of Generis AG.

Project Profile

Working groups

Claims

Approach

Intensive Work in Expert Groups

Around 150 representatives from business, politics, and local government formed 16 working groups to develop ideas and demands on a range of issues, with the main focus on economic development (incl. support for innovation, taxation, attracting inbound businesses, help for start-ups and agriculture), transport (incl. regional and national road and rail links), tourism, education and training, legislation etc.

Thomas Holenstein, founder of Generis AG, was appointed to lead the overall project and personally took charge of 3 of the working groups.

Achievements

Firm foundations for the future

The 150 demands emanating from the project were summarised in a report and shared. The demands set the direction of political decision-making in Schaffhausen. With a strategy and targeted measures resulting from the demands, politicians were able to continuously increase the attractiveness of Schaffhausen as a business and residential location – improving «the Schaffhausen product».

A direct consequence of the project to develop the economy of the Schaffhausen region was drafting and passing legislation on economic development which forms the foundation of the ongoing and successful economic promotion of the Canton today.

Marcel Wenger

Former President of the City of Schaffhausen

«Generis AG succeeded in developing a shared vision and uniting decision-makers from across the political divide around a common view of the economic and location development we must undertake.»