Our vision

Since 2004, The Ark Foundation has been the economic development tool of the Canton of Valais, dedicated to innovation and new technologies. We provide support at cantonal, regional and municipal level, embracing the entire economic fabric (new businesses, existing SMEs and industry).

The innovation system that operates in Valais, created from scratch in 2004, comprises three inseparable and complementary elements:

foundation cimark team technology sites

A foundation

this acts as a catalyst for the entire system and provides entrepreneurs with financial resources. The Ark forms the institutional basis in which the entire system is rooted and is what enables it to operate on a day-to-day basis. The Ark encompasses the different political levels (including cantonal and municipal level) and we involve the various partners in our funding allocation decisions.

detailed organisation

An operational team

this assists and advises entrepreneurs as their businesses grow. This multidisciplinary team is made up of the staff of CimArk SA, a company founded in 1991 to specialise in innovation. It is CimArk that provides the expert staff for The Ark Foundation.

More about CimArk

Technology sites

these physical sites present in the majority of Valais’ towns provide a dependable home for the different businesses, industries and research institutes, grouped by sector. Each technology site has grown up over time by focusing on the strengths of each region. Today, the total area given over to technology sites in Valais is more than 20,000 m².

monthey

bioark

martigny

ideark

le châble

blueark

conthey

phytoark

sion

enovark · spark
energypolis

sierre

swiss digital center

viège

bioark

Physically represented by two technology parks dedicated to the life sciences in Monthey and Visp, BioArk brings together an entire ecosystem which contributes to the important role of the life sciences in the Canton of Valais

monthey

ideark

This centre of excellence in multimedia technology is dedicated to multimodal interaction and multimedia information management.

martigny

blueark

A one-of-a-kind innovation hub dedicated to innovation in the water industry and in natural resources.

le châble

phytoark

A technology park for enterprises whose core business is the commercial exploitation of natural ingredients.

conthey

energypolis

The Energypolis Campus provides an entire innovation ecosystem to map out the future of Valais. This visionary unifying site combines the expertise of EPFL Valais Wallis and HES-SO Valais-Wallis with the services of The Ark Foundation and numerous other players.

sion

spark

The mission of this business hub is to foster the emergence of innovative projects in the healthcare, sport and performance sectors.

sion

enovark

This virtual innovation hub provides infrastructures and data to encourage the advent and development of solutions and new models enabling businesses to embrace the energy transition.

sion

swiss digital center

The Swiss Digital Center is a research and innovation ecosystem and site active in the field of digital transformation.

sierre

bioark

Physically represented by two technology parks dedicated to the life sciences in Monthey and Visp, BioArk brings together an entire ecosystem which contributes to the important role of the life sciences in the Canton of Valais

viège