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Regional impact

The University of St.Gallen (HSG) has presented the latest report on its regional effects. In 2021, it generated a five times higher value added contribution of 284.2 million Swiss francs for the canton compared to the amount of the state contribution used. Beyond the purely monetary effect, the study underlines the positive effects of HSG for the region's economic and living space.

Every two years, the study "Regional Effects of HSG" surveys the diverse effects that the University of St.Gallen has on the city and canton of St.Gallen. HSG increased its value-added contribution to the national income of the canton of St.Gallen in 2021 to about 284.2 million Swiss francs (compared to 246 million Swiss francs in 2020 and 276.5 million in 2019). This means that compared to the state contribution from the Canton of St.Gallen (currently 62.2 million Swiss francs) there has been an approximate fivefold increase in additional national income has been generated.

Positive purchasing power effects for SMEs, trade and tourism

Students who live, eat and shop in the canton trigger a considerable financial transfer to the canton of St.Gallen by approximately 132.5 million Swiss francs. The direct inflow of purchasing power from the University itself amounts to 60.7 million Swiss francs and around 7 million Swiss francs from participants in continuing education. Local businesses, SMEs and the tourism industry benefit from these monetary effects. "The University of St.Gallen brings life and financial resources to our region," says Samuel Holenstein of Herold Taxi. HSG executive and continuing education programmes contribute to hotel industry -13 percent of all overnight stays in the city of St.Gallen - Michael Vogt, President HotellerieSuisse Region Ostschweiz, St.Gallen-Bodensee, emphasizes: "This increases value creation and secures jobs in the hotel and gastronomy industry."

 

 

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New training paths for regional needs

By means of its education and training programs, HSG helps to provide the regional labour market with qualified professionals and strengthen the regional economy. "Attracting university graduates from HSG will ensure that important key positions are filled for the Raiffeisen Group in the long term," says Tamara Krizanovic, Head of Trainees/Higher Education Graduates at Raiffeisen Switzerland. With the two new training programs for future specialists in human medicine (Joint Medical Master) and computer science, HSG is moving into new scientific areas and is thus clearly responding to a regional need for specialists.

Innovation and dynamics of the regional economy

"The University of St.Gallen is an important source of ideas for promising start-ups in Eastern Switzerland. Thanks to the start-ups, new jobs are created in the region," Cornelia Gut-Villa, Managing Director of the Startfeld Foundation, summarizes a major effect of HSG in business development. Of particular importance are programmes promoting entrepreneurship and spin-offs. An indication of the positive effects of HSG start-ups on the regional and national labor market is provided by the more than 160 spin-offs of HSG: in 2021, 96 percent had a larger team than at the time of their founding and thus make important contributions to economic development.

Effects on the knowledge landscape and the attractiveness of the region

With clear effects on the knowledge system as well as on the cantonal ecosystem, HSG gives important impulses back to society. These include research projects with regional players, the transfer of knowledge in a broad range from the Alexandria research database and student projects to public programs and the Children's University, as well as networking in the scientific association Vierländerregion Bodensee and cooperation with various initiatives to increase the attractiveness of the location. In addition, HSG radiates far beyond the cantonal borders through teaching, research and media presence. "The University of St.Gallen shapes the perception of St.Gallen as an innovative and open-minded location throughout the world," says Samuel Zuberbühler of the location promotion department.

 

 

Samuel Holenstein, Herold Taxi
“The HSG and its guests have become valued returning customers for companies in Eastern Switzerland. Events such as the HSG ball or the Symposium have become indispensable. The University of St.Gallen brings life and financial resources to our region.”
Samuel Holenstein, Herold Taxi
Michael Vogt, Präsident HotellerieSuisse Region Ostschweiz, St.Gallen-Bodensee
“The University of St.Gallen makes a significant contribution to hotel nights in the city of St.Gallen and the agglomeration. This increases the added value and secures jobs in the hospitality industry and gastronomy.”
Michael Vogt, President HotellerieSuisse Region Eastern Switzerland, St.Gallen-Lake Constance
Tamara Krizanovic, Leiterin Trainees/Hochschulabsolventen, Raiffeisen Schweiz
“The recruitment of university graduates from the HSG ensures that the Raiffeisen Group will be able to fill important key positions in the long term. We grow through their innovation and thus shape the future of the company.”
Tamara Krizanovic, Head of Trainees/Higher Education Graduates, Raiffeisen Switzerland
“The cooperation with HSG makes an important contribution to the qualification of employees in the region. We have access to high-quality education and innovative research.”
Markus Egger, Managing Director EGGER Group
Cornelia Gut-Villa, Geschäftsführerin Stiftung Startfeld
“The University of St.Gallen is an important source of ideas for new promising start-ups in Eastern Switzerland. Thanks to the start-ups, new jobs are created in the region.”
Cornelia Gut-Villa, Managing Director Startfeld Foundation
Samuel Zuberbühler, Standortförderung St.Gallen
“The high quality of research and education, the international students and the events testify to competence and cosmopolitanism. The HSG shapes the perception of St.Gallen as an innovative and open-minded location around the world.”
Samuel Zuberbühler, St.Gallen Location Promotion
Christine Bolt, CEO OLMA Messen St.Gallen
“Whether it's a job fair, graduation days, SME Day, START Summit or other formats - the HSG has an aura of charisma. We appreciate the cooperation with one of the world's leading business universities on existing and jointly developed formats.”
Christine Bolt, CEO OLMA Messen St.Gallen
Thomas Kirchhofer, Tourismusdirektor St.Gallen-Bodensee Tourismus
“For 125 years, the University of St.Gallen has not only been an impulse generator for purchasing power and value creation effects, but also a stimulating point of attraction within the tourism destination.”
Thomas Kirchhofer, Tourism Director St.Gallen-Lake Constance Tourism

Study background

The University of St.Gallen's regional effects survey was conducted for the eighth time. The 2019 report adheres to the methodology from the Business School Impact Survey (BSIS) provided by the international university accreditation organization EFMD. In addition, the spatial frame of reference was expanded to include the canton of St.Gallen in order to take into account the ownership structure of HSG. The 2021 report represents an update of the data and calculations from 2019.

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