Switzerland Innovation Park East
Data protection
With this data protection declaration we inform you which personal data we process in connection with our website innovationspark-ost.ch and our other offers. In particular, we provide information about which personal data we process for what purpose, how and where. With this data protection declaration, we also inform you about the rights of persons whose data we process.
Further data protection declarations and other legal documents such as General Terms and Conditions (GTC), Terms of Use or Conditions of Participation may apply to individual or additional offers and services.
Our offer is subject to Swiss data protection law and any applicable foreign data protection law, in particular that of the European Union (EU) with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The European Commission recognizes that Swiss data protection law ensures adequate data protection.
1. Contact addresses
Responsibility for the processing of personal data:
Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG
Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, 9014 St. Gallen
We would like to point out if there are other persons responsible for the processing of personal data in individual cases.
2. Processing of personal data
2.1 Terms
Personal data is all information that relates to a specific or identifiable person. A data subject is a person about whom personal data is processed. Processing includes any handling of personal data, regardless of the means and procedures used, in particular the storage, disclosure, procurement, collection, deletion, storage, modification, destruction and use of personal data.
The European Economic Area (EEA) comprises the European Union (EU) as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) describes the processing of personal data as processing of personal data.
2.2 Legal Bases
We process personal data in accordance with Swiss data protection law, in particular the Federal Data Protection Act (DSG) and the Ordinance on the Federal Data Protection Act (VDSG).
If and to the extent that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is applicable, we process personal data in accordance with at least one of the following legal bases:
- 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data to fulfill a contract with the data subject and to carry out pre-contractual measures.
- 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO for the necessary processing of personal data in order to safeguard our legitimate interests or those of third parties, provided that the fundamental freedoms and fundamental rights and interests of the data subject do not prevail. Legitimate interests are in particular our interest in being able to provide our offer in a permanent, user-friendly, secure and reliable manner and to be able to advertise it if necessary, information security and protection against misuse and unauthorized use, the enforcement of our own legal claims and compliance with Swiss law.
- 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data to fulfill a legal obligation to which we are subject under any applicable law of member states in the European Economic Area (EEA).
- 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data to perform a task that is in the public interest.
- 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR for the processing of personal data with the consent of the person concerned.
Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person.
2.3 Nature, Scope and Purpose
We process the personal data that is necessary to be able to provide our offer permanently, user-friendly, securely and reliably. Such personal data can fall into the categories of inventory and contact data, browser and device data, content data, meta or marginal data and usage data, location data, sales, contract and payment data.
We process personal data for the period that is required for the respective purpose or purposes or by law. Personal data that no longer needs to be processed will be made anonymous or deleted. Persons whose data we process have the right to have their data deleted.
In principle, we only process personal data with the consent of the person concerned, unless the processing is permissible for other legal reasons, for example to fulfill a contract with the person concerned and for corresponding pre-contractual measures to protect our overriding legitimate interests, because the processing is apparent from the circumstances or after prior information.
In this context, we process in particular information that a person concerned voluntarily and himself transmits to us when contacting us – for example by post, e-mail, contact form, social media or telephone – or when registering for a user account. For example, we may store such information in an address book, in a customer relationship management system (CRM system) or with comparable tools. If you transmit data about other people to us, you are obliged to ensure data protection for such people and to ensure the accuracy of such personal data.
We also process personal data that we receive from third parties, procure from publicly accessible sources or collect when providing our offer, if and to the extent that such processing is permitted for legal reasons.
2.4 Processing of personal data by third parties, also abroad
We can have personal data processed by commissioned third parties or process it together with third parties and with the help of third parties or transmit it to third parties. Such third parties are in particular providers whose services we use. We also guarantee appropriate data protection for such third parties.
Such third parties are generally located in Switzerland and in the European Economic Area (EEA). Such third parties may also be located in other countries and territories in accordance with their data protection laws Assessment of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) and – if and to the extent that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is applicable – according to Assessment of the European Commission adequate data protection is guaranteed, or if adequate data protection is guaranteed for other reasons, such as by a corresponding contractual agreement, in particular on the basis of standard contractual clauses, or by a corresponding certification. In exceptional cases, such a third party may be located in a country without adequate data protection, provided that the data protection requirements, such as the express consent of the person concerned, are met.
3. Rights of data subjects
Affected persons whose personal data we process have the rights under Swiss data protection law. This includes the right to information as well as the right to correction, deletion or blocking of the processed personal data.
Affected persons whose personal data we process can – if and to the extent that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is applicable – receive confirmation free of charge as to whether we are processing their personal data and, if so, request information about the processing of their personal data, restrict the processing of their personal data exercise their right to data transferability and have their personal data corrected, deleted (“right to be forgotten”), blocked or completed.
Affected persons whose personal data we process can – if and to the extent that the GDPR is applicable – revoke a given consent at any time with effect for the future and object to the processing of their personal data at any time.
Affected persons whose personal data we process have a right of appeal to a competent supervisory authority. The supervisory authority for data protection in Switzerland is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).
4. Data Security
We take appropriate and suitable technical and organizational measures to ensure data protection and, in particular, data security. However, despite such measures, the processing of personal data on the Internet can always have security gaps. We can therefore not guarantee absolute data security.
Our online offer is accessed using transport encryption (SSL / TLS, in particular with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, abbreviated to HTTPS). Most browsers mark transport encryption with a padlock in the address bar.
Access to our online offering is subject – like basically any internet use – to mass surveillance without cause or suspicion, as well as other surveillance by security authorities in Switzerland, the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA) and others states. We cannot have any direct influence on the corresponding processing of personal data by secret services, police stations and other security authorities.
5. Use of the Website
5.1 Cookies
We may use cookies for our website. Cookies – our own cookies (first-party cookies) as well as cookies from third parties whose services we use (third-party cookies or third-party cookies) – are data that are stored in your browser. Such stored data need not be limited to traditional text-form cookies. Cookies cannot run programs or transmit malware such as Trojans and viruses.
When you visit our website, cookies can be stored in your browser temporarily as “session cookies” or for a certain period of time as so-called permanent cookies. “Session cookies” are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Permanent cookies have a certain storage period. In particular, they make it possible to recognize your browser the next time you visit our website and thus, for example, to measure the range of our website. However, permanent cookies can also be used for online marketing, for example.
You can completely or partially deactivate or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time. Without cookies, our website may no longer be fully available. If and to the extent necessary, we actively ask for your express consent to the use of cookies.
In the case of cookies used to measure success and reach or for advertising, a general objection (“opt-out”) via AdChoices (Digital Advertising Alliance Of Canada), Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), YourAdChoices ( Digital Advertising Alliance) or Your Online Choices (European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance, EDAA).
5.2 Server Log Files
We can record the following information for each access to our website, provided that this is transmitted from your browser to our server infrastructure or can be determined by our web server: Date and time including time zone, Internet Protocol (IP) address, access status (HTTP status code), operating system including user interface and version, browser including language and version, individual sub-pages of our website accessed including amount of data transferred, website last accessed in the same browser window (referrer).
We store such information, which may also represent personal data, in server log files. The information is required in order to provide our online offer in a permanent, user-friendly and reliable manner and to be able to ensure data security and thus in particular the protection of personal data – also by third parties or with the help of third parties.
5.3 Tracking Pixels
We may use web beacons on our website. Tracking pixels are also referred to as web beacons. Tracking pixels – also from third parties whose services we use – are small, usually invisible images that are automatically retrieved when you visit our website. The same information can be recorded with tracking pixels as in server log files.
6. Success and range measurement
We send notifications and communications such as newsletters via email and other communication channels such as instant messaging.
6.1 Success and Reach Measurement
Notifications and communications may contain web links or web beacons that record whether an individual communication was opened and which web links were clicked on. Such web links and tracking pixels can also record the use of notifications and communications on a personal basis. We need this statistical recording of usage to measure success and reach in order to be able to offer notifications and notifications based on the needs and reading habits of the recipients in an effective and user-friendly, permanent, secure and reliable manner.
6.2 Consent and Objection
In principle, you must expressly consent to the use of your e-mail address and your other contact addresses, unless the use is permitted for other legal reasons. If possible, we use the , which means you will receive an e-mail with a web link that you must click to confirm, so that no misuse by unauthorized third parties can take place. We may log such consents, including Internet Protocol (IP) address and date and time, for evidentiary and security reasons.
You can always unsubscribe from notifications and communications such as newsletters. By unsubscribing, you can, in particular, object to the statistical recording of use for measuring success and reach. We reserve the right to notifications and communications that are absolutely necessary for our offer.
6.3 Notification and Communication Service Providers
We send notifications and communications through third party services or with the help of service providers. Cookies can also be used for this.
In particular, we use:
- CleverReach : email marketing platform («We ♥ Email Marketing and You»); Provider: CleverReach GmbH & KG (Germany); Information on data protection: General data protection declaration.
7. Social Media
We are present on social media platforms and other online platforms in order to be able to communicate with interested persons and to be able to provide information about our offer. Personal data can also be processed outside of Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA).
The general terms and conditions (GTC) and terms of use as well as data protection declarations and other provisions of the individual operators of such online platforms also apply. These provisions provide information in particular about the rights of data subjects, including, for example, the right to information.
We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Ireland) for our social media presence on Facebook, including the so-called page insights, if and to the extent that the GDPR is applicable. Meta Platforms Ireland Limited is part of the Meta companies (including in the USA). The page insights provide information about how visitors interact with our Facebook presence. We use page insights to be able to provide our social media presence on Facebook in an effective and user-friendly manner.
Further information on the type, scope and purpose of data processing, information on the rights of data subjects and the contact details of Facebook and Facebook’s data protection officer can be found in Facebook’s data protection declaration. We have concluded the so-called ” Addition for persons responsible ” with Facebook and, in particular, have agreed that Facebook is responsible for guaranteeing the rights of data subjects. For the so-called page insights, the corresponding information can be found on the page ” Information on page insights ” including ” Information on page insights data “.
8. Third Party Services
We use third-party services in order to be able to provide our offer permanently, user-friendly, securely and reliably. Such services can also be used to embed content on our website. Such services – for example hosting and storage services, video services and payment services – require your Internet Protocol (IP) address, otherwise such services cannot transmit the corresponding content.
For their own security-relevant, statistical and technical purposes, third parties whose services we use can also process data in connection with our offer and from other sources – including cookies, log files and tracking pixels – in an aggregated, anonymous or pseudonymised form.
In particular, we use:
- Google services: Providers: Google LLC (USA) / Google Ireland Limited (Ireland) for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland; General information on data protection: “Principles of data protection and security”, “Privacy policy”, “Google is committed to complying with applicable data protection laws”, “Guide to data protection in Google products”, “How we use data from websites or apps on or in which our services are used” (information from Google), “How Google uses cookies”, “Personalized advertising” (activation / deactivation / settings).
8.1 Digital Infrastructure
We use third-party services in order to be able to use the digital infrastructure required for our offer. These include, for example, hosting and storage services from specialized providers.
We use a customer relationship management and project management tool to handle customer relationships and projects.
We use a software program to connect and automate various actions from different web apps (Zapier).
In particular, we use:
- METAhost : hosting; Provider: METANET AG (Switzerland); Information on data protection: data protection declaration
- Brainformatics : CRM & project management tool; Provider: Brainformatik GmbH (Germany); Information on data protection: data protection declaration
- Zapier : Software program for using and connecting various web apps; Provider: Zapier inc. (UNITED STATES); Information on data protection: data protection declaration.
8.2 Consent and Objection
We use third party services to better communicate with you and others such as customers.
8.3 Audio and Video Conferencing
We use audio and video conferencing services to communicate online. We can use it to hold virtual meetings or webinars, for example. In addition to this data protection declaration, any applicable conditions of the services used, such as terms of use or data protection declarations, also apply.
Depending on the life situation in which you are taking part in an audio or video conference, we recommend that you mute the microphone by default and blur the background or display a virtual background.
In particular, we use:
- Zoom : video conferencing; Provider: Zoom Video Communications Inc. (UNITED STATES); Information on data protection: Data protection declaration, “Data protection at Zoom”, “Legal Compliance Center”.
8.4 Social Media Features and Content
We use third-party services and plugins to embed features and content from social media platforms and to enable sharing of content on social media platforms and other means.
In particular, we use:
- Facebook (social plugins) : Embedding of Facebook functions and Facebook content, for example “Like” or “Share”; Providers: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Ireland) and other meta companies (including in the USA); Information on data protection: data protection declaration.
- Instagram platform : embedding Instagram content; Providers: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Ireland) and other meta companies (including in the USA); Information on data protection: data protection declaration (Instagram), data protection declaration (Facebook).
- LinkedIn Consumer Solutions Platform: Embedding functions and content from LinkedIn, for example with plugins such as the “Share Plugin”; Providers: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company (Ireland) for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) and in Switzerland / LinkedIn Corporation USA) for users in the rest of the world; Information on data protection: “Privacy”, data protection declaration, cookie policy, cookie management / objection to e-mail and SMS communication from LinkedIn, objection to interest-based advertising.
8.5 Map Material
We use third party services to embed maps on our website.
In particular, we use:
- Google Maps including Google Maps Platform : map service; Google Maps-specific data protection information: “How Google uses location information”.
8.6 Audio Visual Media
We use third party services to enable the direct playback of audiovisual media such as music or videos on our website.
In particular, we use:
- Wistia : videos; Provider: Wistia (USA); Information on data protection: «Privacy and Data Protection», data protection declaration.
- YouTube : Videos; Provider: Google (including in the USA); YouTube-specific data protection information: “Privacy and Security Center”, “My data on YouTube”.
8.7 Documents
We use third party services to embed documents on our website. Such documents can include, for example, forms, PDF files, presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents.
In particular, we use:
- Microsoft 365 (also Microsoft Office 365) : text documents as well as forms, presentations and spreadsheets; Provider: Microsoft Corporation (USA); Information on data protection: Data protection declaration, “Data protection at Microsoft”, “Data protection” (“Microsoft Trust Center”), “Data protection and security with Microsoft 365”.
8.8 Fonts
We use third party services to embed selected fonts, icons, logos and symbols on our website.
In particular, we use:
- Google Fonts : Fonts; Google Fonts-specific data protection information: “What does using the Google Fonts API mean for the privacy of my users?” (“What does using the Google Fonts API mean for the privacy of my users?”).
8.9 Payments
We use payment service providers to be able to process payments from our customers securely and reliably. The terms and conditions of the relevant payment service provider, such as General Terms and Conditions (GTC) or data protection declarations, apply to processing.
In particular, we use:
- Payrexx : Processing of payments; Provider: Payrexx AG (Switzerland); Information on data protection: “Guidelines” including data protection declaration.
8.10 Advertising
We use the opportunity to display targeted advertising for our offer on third parties such as social media platforms and search engines.
With such advertising, we particularly want to reach people who are interested in our offer or who are already using our offer ( remarketing and targeting ). For this purpose, we can transmit corresponding – possibly also personal – information to third parties who make such advertising possible. We can also determine whether our advertising is successful, i.e. in particular whether it leads to visits to our website ( conversion tracking ).
Third parties with whom we advertise and where you are registered as a user can, if necessary, assign the use of our offer to your profile there.
In particular, we use:
- Facebook advertising (Facebook Ads) : social media advertising; Providers: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Ireland) and other meta companies (including in the USA); Information on data protection: Remarketing and targeting, in particular with the Facebook pixel and custom audiences including lookalike audiences , data protection declaration, “advertising preferences” (user registration required).
- Google Ads : search engine advertising; Google Ads-specific information on data protection: Advertising, among other things, based on search queries, whereby different domain names – in particular doubleclick.net, googleadservices.com and googlesyndication.com – are used for Google Ads, “Advertising” (Google), “Why do I see a certain advertising?».
- Instagram ads: social media advertising; Providers: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Ireland) and other meta companies (including in the USA); Information on data protection: Remarketing and targeting in particular with Facebook pixel as well as Custom Audiences including Lookalike Audiences, data protection declaration (Instagram), data protection declaration (Facebook), “Advertising preferences” (Instagram) (login as user required), “Advertising preferences” (Facebook) (login as user required).
- LinkedIn Ads : social media advertising; Providers: LinkedIn Corporation (USA) / LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company (Ireland); Information on data protection: remarketing and targeting, in particular with the LinkedIn Insight Tag , “Privacy Policy”, data protection declaration, cookie policy, objection to personalized advertising.
9. Enhancements to the Website
We use extensions for our website to be able to use additional functions.
In particular, we use:
- Google reCAPTCHA : spam protection (distinguishing between desired comments from humans and unwanted comments from bots and spam); Google reCAPTCHA-specific information on data protection: “What is reCAPTCHA?” (“What is reCAPTCHA?”).
10. Success and range measurement
We use services and programs to determine how our online offering is used. In this context, we can, for example, measure the success and reach of our online offer as well as the effect of third-party links on our website. However, we can also try out and compare how different versions of our online offering or parts of our online offering are used (“A/B test” method). Based on the results of the success and range measurement, we can in particular correct errors, strengthen content that is particularly popular or make improvements to our online offering.
When using services and programs to measure success and reach, the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of individual users must be saved. IP addresses are generally shortened in order to follow the principle of data economy through the corresponding pseudonymization and to improve the data protection of visitors to our website (“IP masking”).
When using services and programs for success and range measurement, cookies can be used and user profiles can be created. User profiles include, for example, the pages visited or content viewed on our website, information on the size of the screen or browser window and the – at least approximate – location. In principle, user profiles are only created pseudonymised. We do not use user profiles to identify individual visitors to our website. Individual services for which you are registered as a user can, if necessary, assign the use of our online offer to your profile in the respective service, whereby you usually have to give your consent to this assignment in advance.
In particular, we use:
- Google Analytics : success and range measurement; Google Analytics-specific information on data protection: measurement also across different browsers and devices ( cross-device tracking ) as well as with pseudonymised Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, which are only transmitted in full to Google in the USA in exceptional cases, “Privacy Policy”, ” Browser add-on to deactivate Google Analytics».
- Google Tag Manager : integration and management of services for success and range measurement as well as other services from Google and third parties; Further information on data protection can be found in the individual integrated and managed
11. Final Provisions
We can adapt and supplement this data protection declaration at any time. We will inform you about such adjustments and additions in a suitable form, in particular by publishing the current data protection declaration on our website.
