schaffhausen – · pdf filethe best of both worlds – on the swiss-german border the...

SCHAFFHAUSEN – SwitzerlandInnovation. Attraction. Location.

SCHAFFHAUSENInnovation. Attraction. Location.

Edition 2009

Economic Promotion Canton SchaffhausenHerrenacker 158200 Schaffhausen

www.sh.ch/wf

Schaffhausen – the attractive alternative to the urban agglomeration:

Short distances to work, shopping and municipal offices as well as first-rate business

conditions. Close proximity to an international airport, metropolises and the EU.

And right in the middle of one of the nicest river-landscapes in Europe, the rolling hills

of the Randen and the largest connected vineyard in the German-speaking part

of Switzerland, you will find attractive and affordable property locations, charming

old towns and a manifold of cultural offerings.

SchaffhauSen Innovation. attraction. Location.

The best of both worlds – on the Swiss-German border

The canton Schaffhausen is situated in the north of Switzerland. The landscape is varied – shaped in turns by the River Rhine with its unique scenery, the wooded slopes of the Jura foothills, fields and meadows and the clear con-tours of lovingly tended vine-yards. The gently rolling hills and valleys are the foothills of the distant Jura mountains and were created by glacier movement during the last ice-age.

The canton covers 298 km2 and represents 1% of the area of Switzerland. 43% of the surface area is woodland, the fourth highest proportion of woodland in Switzerland’s 26 cantons.

The population of the canton is just 75,000, of whom almost half live in the town of Schaffhausen, with the remainder spread across 26 local districts.

GeographySchaffhausen is a lively and independent region, situated between Zürich and the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, which has long since learned to use its small size to its advantage. Here, you can keep things in perspective. That’s what is attracting more and more businesses and people to the area.

Schaffhausen is the most

northerly canton in Switzer-

land – and almost com-

pletely surrounded by

Germany. Canton Schaff-

hausen plays a pivotal

role in connecting the

European Union and

Switzerland.

They enjoy the benefits Schaffhausen has always offered and are also profiting from a series of more recent and exciting developments in the area. Quality of life, excellent access to road, rail and air travel, an attractive tax regime, stylish and affordable housing, beautiful countryside at your front-door and an enviable range of cultural and sporting facilities and events. Schaffhausen is home to so much more than the Rhine Falls and Munot fortress!

Germany

Switzerland

Schaffhausen

Stein am Rhein

Thayngen

Bargen

Schleitheim

Hallau Beringen

Wilchingen

RüdlingenBuchberg

River Rhein

River Rhein

Neuhausen

france

Germany

ItalySpain

unitedKingdom

austria

4 | 5 SCHAFFHAUSENInnovation. Attraction. Location.

In touch with the world

Excellent road, rail and bus

links – to the surrounding

region and far beyond.Our public transport is world-class. Travel between the town and outlying districts is quick and easy, with regular and reliable rail or bus links. Buses run between the town centre and the suburbs and adjoining districts every 10 minutes. If you decide to take your car, the excellent road infrastructure means you won’t be stuck in traffic.

TravelThe Schaffhausen region is an ideal base for journeys of any kind.Zürich international airport is 30 minutes away, by car. Or 45 minutes by train (direct connection). Zürich city centre is only 40 minutes away – by train or car. Access to the German motorway network is just 10 minutes by car and it takes only 90 minutes to drive to Stuttgart.

Schaffhausen

River Rhein

River Rhein

Singen

Winterthur

Frauenfeld

St. Gallen

Zürich

Airport

Konstanz

RailwayMain roadMotorway

to Stuttgart

to Freiburg

to Basel

PA S S I O N A T E LY D I F F E R E N T S W I S S W A T C H E S

from industrial heritage to high-tech future

The economic basis of the

canton has undergone

fundamental change in the

past 10 to 20 years in the

face of global competition.

Local industry, both small

and large, has adapted

to meet the challenges.

Coupled with the pionee-

ring spirit of a new

generation of entrepreneurs

and the pro-active and

enlightened approach of

the Economic Promotion

Team, the canton has

mastered the challenge

of structural change.

The economyGone are the days when battalions of workers earned their living in heavy engineering – of which Schaffhausen had a proud tradition. Nowadays the local economy is more diverse, better balanced and more able to deal with potential threats. The canton has a healthy base of small and medium size enterprises – and is better prepared than ever before.

Employment in the service sector has grown, whilst manufacturing has seen a decline in the number of staff employed. Nonetheless Schaffhausen remains a significant base for manu-facturing and has developed a flourishing high-tech sector. These complex and highly specialised products are exported around the world. The presence of well-known companies such as Georg Fischer, SIG, IWC, Alcon Grieshaber, Cilag, Johnson & Johnson, Knorr/Unilever also illustrates how successfully the region can compete in the global marketplace.


The economyThe attractions of Schaffhausen as a place to do business have been recognised by a growing number of international companies, including familiar names such as Varian, Tyco, Accenture, Tektronix, Timberland, Citrix, John Deere, OBI, DSM or Hercules.

All of these businesses realised the advantages of Schaffhausen – outstanding quality of life, multicultural and multilingual workforce, excellent transport links, proximity to the airport, local expertise in doing business with the EU, easy access to local authorities and cost of living gains over larger

Canton Schaffhausen is

a first-choice location for

international headquarters,

employing highly-qualified

staff. The list of household

names which have moved

here speaks for itself.

neighbours such as Zürich.Added to these benefits are our attractive tax regime and innovative international tax-splitting models – resulting in a unique set of arguments for business relocation.

Labour market flexibility is assured. Our position on the border to Germany enables companies to tap into a wider pool of trained staff if required. Local companies have long used German personnel.

attractive location for international headquarters

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Whether you are looking

for private property for

sale or rent, or commercial

premises – Schaffhausen

will meet your needs –

and surround you with

a landscape of open

countryside.Real estatefind your dream location on the internet.Schaffhausen is the only canton in Switzerland to offer an online database of plots of land available for building. Go to www.lookat.sh and you can find information on the size of a plot, its location, classification and availability.

Room with a view

Living spaceIn Schaffhausen you will enjoy a fantastic choice of accommodation.The green belt between the River Rhine and Randen hills will tempt you with its openness. Urban sprawl has been banished. There is something for every taste in the Schaffhausen area – here, you can still live your dream.


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Investment growth prospects for luxury properties

Purchasers in Schaffhausen

can still benefit from price

levels below those in Zürich

and its environs.

Furthermore, recent

changes to tax laws have

improved the growth

prospects particularly in the

luxury property market. Private propertyRealising the gainsProperty purchasers in Schaffhausen can achieve considerable savings over properties in the greater Zürich area. Research has shown a difference of up to 50% on comparable luxury residences.

a stone’s throw from ZürichThe train journey to Zürich takes just 40 minutes. Zürich international airport is only 30 minutes away by car. Major road and rail infrastructure projects are underway to reduce journey times to key destinations in Switzerland and the rest of Europe even further.

attractive properties in the luxury homes marketIn Schaffhausen, there is no need to compromise on luxury – you will find enough room for a swimming pool, stables or to create a Japanese garden. The price of land is reasonable enough to let you create your dream house in its own grounds. If your preference is for an appartment, developers have also recognised the need to provide generously proportioned living space and the highest standards of fittings and finishing.

Property price comparison with other cantonse.g. a property worth CHF 1.8 m in Schaffhausen, with 1400 m2 of land, in a good location. Source: Wüest & Partner.

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Capital of Cantons (Selection)

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Capital of Cantons (Selection)

Schaffhausen AargauThurgau Zürich

Looking after your financesTaxation of private

individuals are always key

factors when deciding

where to move. With

both attractive tax rates

and a customer-oriented

taxation department,

Schaffhausen is ready to

welcome you.

Tax reduction for private individuals On January 2009 the taxes in the Canton Schaffhausen are again lowered. The middle class as well as families and persons with fortunes profit noticeably from thetariff reduction.

attractive for the retired and property ownersHowever you choose to use your pension fund savings – as a pension or to purchase property – Schaffhausen offers low rates of tax – in some cases, the lowest in Switzerland.

no inheritance or gift-taxSchaffhausen has abolished inheritance and gift-tax for direct descendants. This ensures that family-owned businesses and property owners are not exposed to potential liquidity problems as the result of a legacy.

Assumptions: CHF 2 m. taxable income, of which CHF 1.6 m. from dividends; Residency in the principal town, cantonal and communal taxes at married person’s rate, protestant (excl. federal tax of CHF 230’000.–).

Assumptions: CHF 1 m. paid out; Residency in the principal town, cantonal and local authority tax-rate for married couples, no church tax (excl. federal tax of CHF 23’000.–).

Income tax Comparison of the tax burden in greater Schaffhausen area for 2008

Lump-sum payments from pension provision Comparison of the tax burden in greater Schaffhausen area for 2008


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Capitals of Cantons (Selection)

Cutting profits tax by half

since 2008 has made

Canton Schaffhausen

one of the most attractive

business locations in

Switzerland. This develop-

ment came as part of a

succession of moves to

cut the burden of taxation

for businesses. Year-on-

year tax cuts have been

increasing the benefits

of doing business here

and the government’s

plan is to continue with

this strategy.

Low corporation tax

Tax regimeLow corporation tax Schaffhausen has made significant improvements toits tax regime in recent years. With total profits tax reduced to just 16%, Canton Schaff-hausen is among the most attractive locations in Switzer-land. Another recent inno-vation was the halving of income tax on dividends received where an individual has a significant shareholding in the respective business. Additionally, the top rate of tax has been cut by 30% – all measures designed to benefit the owners of small and medium sized businesses. holding and trading companies – leading the fieldCanton Schaffhausen offers extremely attractive tax arrangements for companies which primarily pursue trading activity outside Switzerland – the total tax liability is less than 10%. Holding companies can also benefit from condi-tions which rank as among the most attractive in the world.

Assumptions: CHF 600’000 profit and CHF 2 m capital.

Corporation tax Capitals of Cantons 2008

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25

30

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Sar

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Altd

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Zug

Sch

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App

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Chu

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Sta

ns

Frau

enfe

ld

St.

Gal

len

Luze

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Sch

wyz

Gla

rus

Ber

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Aar

au

Züric

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Sitt

en

Bel

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Sol

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Neu

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Frei

burg

Del

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Laus

anne

Gen

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Bas

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Lies

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tax burden in %

International tax planningSchaffhausen applies international tax-splitting arrangements – a key criterion in the choice of a global business location – which make it one of the leading cantons in Switzerland.

from crèche to teachertraining college

From pre-school to uni-

versity-level colleges, a

range of schools, a specia-

list business college,

vocational training centre,

access to university

research facilities –

Schaffhausen offers a

wide variety of learning

opportunities.

Four universities – Zurich, St. Gallen, Basel and Konstanz – not forgetting the world-renowned Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich – are within an hour’s drive. The area also offers many opportunities for advanced vocational study on completion of an apprenticeship. Continuing professional development programmes are available locally in e.g. information and communications technology and business administration. The recently established IPI International Packaging Institute, in nearby Neuhausen, serves the needs of the packaging industry in the wider region and offers degree and also masters level programmes in packaging technology as well as seminars and workshops.

educationRich in variety, the education system is, however, easy to access.Many inhabitants live close to one or other of the area’s many educational institutions. That strengthens the relationship with learning and helps create strong bonds between different pupils and students. This is especially the case in Berufsschulen and Mittelschulen, which serve pupils and students from all over the canton. Almost every local district has its own primary school and all ages and levels of education are provided locally, up to entry to university. There is also an IBO certified international school, which teaches in English.

Schaffhausen has introduced timetabling in day blocks in all kindergarten and primary schools.

The education and training system also meet the needs of industry and international commerce.


Quality time for quality of life

Whether your taste is for

culture, nature, fine-dining,

sport or other pursuits,

in Schaffhausen you can

choose à la carte.

or romantic rendez-vous. Inline skaters and cyclists take to the extensive network of cycle paths and walkers take to the nearby Randen hills.

Riding in the Reiat area, scaling the walls in the climbing centre, golfing (there are 10 courses within half an hour’s drive), polo – whatever your sport, you’ll find it in Schaffhausen.

Prefer to watch? Schaffhausen can offer you top-drawer teams in football, volleyball, handball, water-polo and table tennis.

As night falls, the scene changes and bars and clubs welcome pleasure-seekers, whilst film fans can take in a movie, from blockbusters to of-ferings for the connoisseur. Try your luck at the casino or treat yourself in one of our gourmet restaurants.

In summer, people head for the River Rhine – for boating, canoeing, swimming or snorkeling, for a family outing

culture and leisureBig names in a small place. The Modern Art Exhibition in Schaffhausen contains the works of some of the greats

of contemporary art – from Joseph Beuys to Robert Mangold and Bruce Nauman. The former Benedictine Monastery zu Allerheiligen houses paintings and sculptures from the late Middle Ages to the present day. The international Bach music festival attracts artists and audiences from far and wide, as does the Kammgarn Centre for Culture, with its annual event for the avant garde of Swiss jazz.

The pinot noir countryThree quarters of the vines

in the canton produce pinot

noir grapes. That’s why

local producers refer to the

region as pinot noir country

– Blauburgunderland.

variety is Riesling-Silvaner. Other white wines found in the region include Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Räuschling, Pinot gris, Kerner, Gewürztraminer.

The people of Schaffhausen‘s Blauburgunderland love to celebrate their wine – especially during the village festivals and processions which take place in the autumn, when wine cellars are transformed into charming taverns, houses are garlanded with flowers and the artisans who make the wooden barrels are proud to show off their handywork.

the Cote d’Or in Burgundy, however. Thanks to the relatively light rainfall in this part of Switzerland, the local pinot has developed its own distinct characteristics – a delicate scent of fruit, a fine bouquet, well-structured and balanced.

In addition to the excellent pinot noir, other specialised varieties are grown, including Regent, Dornfelder, Lemberger, Garanoir, Leon Millot, Diolinor, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Gamay x Reichensteiner. The second most cultivated grape

Wine growingWine growing is hugely important in Schaffhausen – it covers around 250 acres, across 20 local districts in the canton. Around 55 professional wine-growers and 170 keen amateurs devote their time and energies to tending the vines – principally the pinot noir, known as Blauburgunder or Spätbur-gunder. Our pinot noir is not in competition with its heavier French counterpart from


Sightseeing

The Rhine falls are the largest waterfalls in europe and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Switzer-land.

a boat cruise along the River Rhine from Schaffhausen to Stein am Rhein will take you through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.

Stein am Rhein is a jewel on the banks of the River Rhine and famous for its location and stunning collection of town houses, many of which have intricately painted facades.

The Munot fortress is the trademark of Schaffhausen. It is still inhabited by a guard who rings the Munot bell – «Munotglöggli» – every evening at 9.00 p.m.

The romanesque monastery, Kloster allerheiligen, also houses a substantial collection of exhibits which chronicle the cultural history of the area.

SightseeingThe historic, pedestrianised, old town quarter, is best explored on foot. The many retailers there will tempt you to do some shopping, and the 171 oriel windows on the old buildings of the town will line your route.

for walking, jogging or cycling, the Reiat and Randen hills are on your doorstep and offer some unique flora and fauna.

The two local districts of Rüdlingen and Buchberg have both taken steps to conserve their old village centres and the half-timbered houses which characterise them.

Small size – speedy decisions

PoliticsDemocracy means rule by the people, who choose representatives to act on their behalf. In the Canton of Schaffhausen, the legislative authority is the «Kantonsrat», or Cantonal Council. In the town of Schaffhausen itself, this role is performed by the «Grosser Stadtrat». Both parliaments conduct their business in the same chamber.

In the Canton of Schaffhausen, executive power rests in the hands of the «Regierungsrat», which has 5 members, elected for a period of four years. In the town of Schaffhausen, the executive body is the Stadtrat. At district level, there are local councils, generally made up of part-time or volunteer members.

In addition to the canton and municipal bodies, five of the 27 local districts in the region have their own parliament. In the other districts, representatives are selected via meetings of local residents.

The people of Schaff-

hausen take their politics

seriously – turn out at

referenda and elections

is regularly higher than in

other cantons. Another

advantage for the town –

our small size means more

direct access to politicians

and local government

departments which

ensures faster decision

taking.

The members of the cantonal government

From right to left: Ursula Hafner-Wipf, Christian Amsler, Erhard Meister, Rosmarie Widmer Gysel, Reto Dubach, Stefan Bilger (state secretary)


Facts and figures

employment

Sector I Agriculture & Horticulture 1’923 Sector II Manufacturing 13’021

Sector III Services 22’251

Total 35’272

Income per capita

Canton of Schaffhausen: CHF 53’916 (Switzerland: CHF 52’627)

Summary statistics

Population 75’252(31.12.2008) of whom: Resident in Schaffhausen town 34’587 Resident in outlying districts 40’752 Swiss nationals 58’291 Foreign nationals 16’961

Key dates

1045 First documentary record of Scafhusun

1049 Count Eberhard von Nellenburg establishes the monastery, Kloster Allerheiligen

1104 Inauguration of the monastery

1218 Schaffhausen granted status of a «freie Reichsstadt»

1330 The Kaiser mortgages Schaffhausen to the Habsburgs/Austria

1501 Schaffhausen joins the Swiss Confederation

1589 Completion of the Munot fortress

1857 Opening of railway line between Winterthur and Schaffhausen

1866 Completion of the Moser Damm across the River Rhine. Establishment of several factories along the banks of the Rhine

1944 American planes bomb Schaffhausen by mistake.

2001 Schaffhausen celebrates 500 years in the Swiss Confederation

Tax: No inheritance or gift-tax for direct descendants. A highly competitive corporation tax rate of just 16%. Low taxation for holding and trading companies. Incentives for newly relocated businesses. Attractive tax rates for business-owners and top-earners.

Labour market: Total payroll costs average 5-10% less than in Germany. Total annual hours are 1856, by contrast with 1683 in Germany. Potential pool of staff via cross-border workers. Unbureaucratic approach to residence and work permits.

Key benefitsLocation on the border: Service providers (accountants, consultants, banks, insurance, transport companies) used to trading with Germany/EU and cross-border transactions.

Transport infrastructure: Access to German motorway network in just 10 minutes, proximity to Zürich international airport (30 minutes by car or 45 minutes by direct train connection). Zürich main railway station is only 40 minutes away, trains run every hour.

Good for business, good for living

cluster of high-tech exporters: Established base of high-tech manufacturing companies with significant export activity including Georg Fischer, SIG, Cilag (Johnson & Johnson), Unilever, Abbott Laboratories, Alcon Grieshaber, etc.

Track record of international hQ relocations: Many leading international businesses have chosen to locate their HQ in Schaffhausen. These include familiar names such as Accenture, John Deere, DSM, Citrix, Tektronix, Tyco Electronics, Varian Semiconductor Equipment, Kennametal, etc.


Rheinfall

ZürichFlughafen / Airport

Schaffhausen

Real estate: Wide variety of property locations, including urban living and idyllic country areas. Property and land prices considerably lower than in other parts of Switzerland. Changes in legislation have increased growth prospects in the luxury property market, upgrading investment potential. Unbureaucratic approach to planning consents. Online database of available real estate.

Small is beautiful: Easy access to local government offices, business-friendly mentality, comprehensive support for relocating businesses, sovereignty on tax issues, unbureaucratic approach to approvals and licences.

exceptional quality of life: Beautiful residential and recreational areas on your doorstep. Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein – two medieval towns of national importance. The landscape of the River Rhine, the Rhine Falls and Lake Constance. The rolling hills of the Randen, Reiat and Hegau areas, not forgetting the Black Forest or the Klettgau wine-growing region. Sensational cultural and culinary delights. Sport and leisure facilities including 10 golf courses within 30 minutes‘ drive, a polo club – the list goes on..

12 Gault-Millau-Restaurants: Schaffhausen has deservedly acquired a national reputation for its culinary sensations and has a dozen restaurants in the top echelon of 13-19 points. These excellent addresses offer you a wide choice of culinary delights.

Mentality: A region with a clear identity, pride in its achievements and traditions, combined with values of openness, integrity, pragmatism, a strong commitment to business and the environment.

economic development: The Economic Promotion Team is a single source of information and assistance for inward in-vestors and relocating busines-ses and is ready to assist you with comprehensive, responsive and professional support.

Left Picture: View from Stein am Rhein to the east (Lake Constance)

Right picture: View from Schaffhausen to the South (Zurich/Airport).

Schaffhauserland TourismHerrenacker 158200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 632 40 20Fax +41 52 632 40 [email protected]

association of Schaffhausen Wine ProducersHerrenacker 158200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 620 40 82Fax +41 52 620 40 [email protected]

Important addresses – government departments

cantonal Government RegierungsgebäudeBeckenstube 78200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 632 73 62Fax +41 52 632 72 [email protected]

Municipal GovernmentStadthaus8200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 632 52 21Fax +41 52 632 52 [email protected]

Situated in the middle of

the old town quarter, the

«Haus der Wirtschaft» is

equipped with state-of-

the-art technology to

enable «SchaffhausenTotal»

to meet all your information

needs.

Important addresses in «haus der Wirtschaft»

canton Schaffhausen economic PromotionHerrenacker 158200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 674 03 03Fax +41 52 674 06 [email protected]/wf

Real estate Services SchaffhausenHerrenacker 158200 SchaffhausenTel. +41 52 674 03 03Fax +41 52 674 06 [email protected]

One-stop-shop for all your information needs

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