As a university institute, we are not only eager to contribute to real-world applications in companies but also to advance the scientific frontier (you find some of our recent publications below). Our research focus is on global production networks. Hence, we collaborate with companies that have a production network to use their network and its structure as a research object. We first published our approach in 2014 (Read More about our book) and have been enhancing it with every project since then. Collaborating companies profit from in-depth network assessments and innovative approaches to network management. However, these research projects often only pay in the long run in contrast to our consulting projects.
We conduct most of our research projects with additional public funding, for example, by the Swiss innovation agency Innosuisse, the Basic Research Fund (GFF) or European organizations. Some research projects like dissertation projects or the annual Swiss Manufacturing Survey are self-funded through our Institute because we want to keep them independent. Concerning production networks, the Swiss Manufacturing Survey explores the changing role of Swiss production facilities within global production networks.