Participatory innovation the Swiss way

At the European Energy Transition Conference held in Geneva at the end of last January, 12 organisations and companies, including ABB Sécheron, Leclanché, the Geneva Public Transport company “TPG”, Geneva Governmental Water and Energy company “SIG”, the Swiss automobile federation (AGVS) and start-ups Green Motion and GreenGT, cluster to promote projects in the field of mobility.

The launch of the mobility cluster also marked the start of the “Nomads Foundation’s” Innovation Bridge project. As a cluster-supporting structure, the Geneva-based Nomads foundation members encourage new innovative projects for a total of six clusters: mobility, water, health, food, cybersecurity and energy efficiency.

The special feature of the initiative is that it involves apprentices and professional associations. Not only will new products and offers be developed, but their impact on workers and the necessary adjustments in education and training will also be determined. “Vocational training is one of Switzerland’s biggest trump cards in global competition” explains Sabrina Cohen Dumani, president of the Nomads Foundation “and that’s what we should build on in innovation projects.”

Although the Innovation Bridge initiative was only launched in spring, it has had a precursor with the TOSA project which has been developed by a broad group of partners. The technology, which is undergoing a six-month test period in Geneva, charges electric buses in a few seconds and thus allows them to operate without overhead lines. Jean-Luc Favre, head of the TOSA project, is also president of the Nomads Foundation Steering Committee.

First projects launched
Against this background, it is not surprising that Innovation Bridge is making good progress. The mobility cluster has already launched two projects: the first is to develop a pilot hydrogen production station using solar energy to power trucks with fuel cells. A second project aims to develop an intelligent application that will automatically guide motorists to free parking slots and to available charging stations for electric vehicles.

The other clusters are progressing as well. The first projects in cyber security and energy efficiency will start this year. At the same time, the foundation is setting up a campus for co-creation projects. Here, apprentices, university graduates, representatives of start-ups, SMEs, larger companies and public-sector organizations, will work together on projects. “The construction of the structure is already planned, now we have to get the necessary permits” explains Sabrina Cohen Dumani. The 40,000 m² building is due to open by 2021 at the latest.

At the moment, Innovation Bridge is focused on establishing permanent representation and processes in Geneva. “Collaboration works best when the partners know and trust each other,” says Sabrina Cohen Dumani. In the long term, however, she can well imagine the concept working in other Swiss cities.

Picture: Fotolia.com / A lot of people