Use the Swiss networks in autonomous mobility for ground and air vehicles and stay up to date with the latest developments. Benefit from the opportunity to use it in a real-life environment.
The Swiss Transit Lab is a unique platform for research and development of new mobility technologies in a real-world environment.
The Schaffhausen Swiss Transit Lab (STL) is an initiative and association of private companies and the Schaffhausen public transportation authorities. Since 2017, it has served as a platform for research and development under real-world conditions. The STL has garnered national and international attention twice (in 2018/19 and 2023/24) with the deployment of a self-driving minibus, establishing Schaffhausen as a center of excellence for the mobility of the future. The Swiss Transit Lab invites interested parties from business, science, and society to collaborate in shaping solutions for the future of mobility.
The STL is an initiative of private companies from the mobility, information technology, and smart city sectors, and the Schaffhausen public transportation authorities (VBSH). The initiative has been supported by the regional and location development agency of the Canton of Schaffhausen and the federal New Regional Policy (NRP).
The Greater Zurich Area is internationally known as the "Drone Valley." This reputation stems from a unique global collaboration between pioneering companies, leading drone research institutions, and the innovation-friendly Federal Office of Civil Aviation, creating ideal conditions for the seamless development of drone technologies.
Schaffhausen recognized the potential of this industry early on. Since 2019, the region has offered infrastructure and support, allowing drones to be developed from applied research to market readiness through real-world application. This enables them to be demonstrated to partners, investors, and other interested parties.
The heart of the infrastructure is the "Schmerlat" airfield. Located in the idyllic Klettgau region, which was awarded "Landscape of the Year 2023," the airfield offers extensive flight opportunities, autonomous operations, attractive conditions, and good accessibility (10 minutes from the city of Schaffhausen, 45 minutes from the city of Zurich). Additional use cases, such as drone deployment over water or in forests, are collaboratively evaluated and developed based on needs.
In Schaffhausen, the distances to business, research and decision-makers are short. This is where entrepreneurs and international companies meet concentrated industrial expertise and collaboration. A region worth living in - A region for makers!
From drones and field robots to new management systems, the digital transformation of agriculture is in full swing. In collaboration with the agricultural advisory center AGRIDEA, the federal competence center for agricultural research Agroscope, and the Canton of Thurgau, the "Smart Technologies in Agriculture Experimental Station" was launched in 2021 at the initiative of the Canton of Schaffhausen.
The goal is to better understand the complex processes of agricultural production through intelligent technologies and to optimize the tools under practical conditions. The insights gained are intended to enable more efficient and, therefore, resource- and climate-friendly food production. At the same time, farm management should be made easier for the enterprises. The focus is on resource- and climate-friendly production systems in plant cultivation (including viticulture/special crops) and animal husbandry.
A platform was established to facilitate the exchange and joint development of new solutions among research, advisory services, practice, and industry. This platform is available to Schaffhausen agricultural enterprises: if interested, an evaluation is conducted to determine if a farm is suitable for a test series within ongoing projects. In any case, farms can benefit from the experience exchange among the involved stakeholders.
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