Our Industries

A start-up entering the UK or DACH region quickly discovers that data protection isn’t governed by a single framework. Germany and Austria operate under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), supplemented by Germany’s Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and Austria’s Data Protection Act (DSG). Switzerland applies its own Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), while the UK operates under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, overseen by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Depending on the company’s activities, additional cybersecurity and sector-specific requirements may also apply.

Analyst Advisory identifies the requirements applicable and helps align the compliance framework across all four markets before launch.

Grid connection is where energy projects either stay on schedule or start slipping. Germany operates under the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), with Bundesnetzagentur overseeing the regulatory framework and network operators managing individual connections. Austria operates under the Electricity Industry and Organisation Act (ElWOG), with E-Control overseeing market rules and a balance-group system governing electricity injections and withdrawals. Switzerland follows its own Electricity Supply Act (StromVG), with ElCom overseeing network access, tariffs, and related disputes. In Great Britain, Ofgem regulates the electricity market and connection framework, while NESO and the relevant network operators play key roles in individual connections. Each market has its own regulatory framework, institutions, and connection procedures, making early coordination critical to project timelines.

Industrial construction brings a different challenge: permitting. In Germany, certain industrial installations require approval under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG), with the 4th BImSchV defining which installations and thresholds are subject to permitting. Austria regulates commercial operating facilities under the Trade Act (Gewerbeordnung – GewO), with permits generally handled by the relevant district authority alongside any additional building or environmental approvals. Switzerland adds a further layer: construction law is primarily cantonal, while federal environmental requirements and, for certain projects, federal approval procedures also apply. In the UK, planning and environmental permitting requirements vary between its constituent nations, with industrial projects potentially requiring planning permission alongside separate environmental permits and sector-specific approvals. The result is four distinct permitting environments that need to be mapped before construction begins.