Ivo Willimann

Ivo Willimann is a Lecturer at the Institute of Business and Regional Economics (IBR) within the Lucerne School of Business at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. His professional journey includes roles as a project leader at the Zentrum für angewandte Ökologie Schattweid (1996-2002) and as a freelance researcher at IBR (2002-2003) before joining the faculty in 2003. He specializes in regional development, strategic planning, and eco-human interactions.

Education:

• Dipl. Natw. ETH (Natural Sciences Diploma from ETH Zurich)

Research Interests:

• Regional and community development strategies
• Demographic trends and their urban implications
• Zoning policies and housing shortages
• Digitalization impacts on regional economies
• Policy tools for sustainable urban planning

Key Projects:

• Wohnkalkulator: Housing demand prediction tool
• Strategic planning for municipalities like Triengen and Luzern
• Analysis of second-home utilization in tourism regions
• Studies on municipal mergers and administrative efficiency

Grants & Advising:

• Consulted on over 20 municipal strategic plans
• Developed decision-support tools for regional governments
• Active in federal policy research projects

Labs/Teams: Leads the IBR's Regional Economy Competence Center (IBR RO), collaborating with government agencies and NGOs on applied research projects.