Spin-off resources
If you are looking to spin-off your research into a company, there are a wealth of resources available in Switzerland. Some of the highlights are included below.
Our KTT Officer Lauren Gamp is available at and +41 44 633 34 21, if you have questions or would like support in navigating any of the below programs.
Training for entrepreneurs
- Innosuisse Start-up Training: Innosuisse’s four modules include Business Ideas, and Business Concept, which are aimed at members of universities interested in start-ups. The last two modules, Business Creation and Business Growth are aimed at start-ups. The courses are held in multiple locations across the country.
- Innosuisse Start-up Coaching: Innosuisse’s coaching programs are aimed at different parts of a start-up’s development. The first offer, Initial Coaching, aims to challenge and optimize the business model. The second offer, Core Coaching, aims to create and develop business traction. The third offer, Scale-up Coaching, aims to refine and implement the growth strategy.
- Talent Kick: Talent Kick’s program is aimed at students who aspire to become entrepreneurs. The first semester of the program focuses on what makes a good entrepreneur, team, and pitch. Participants receive 1-on-1 coaching, and the program aims to help you find a suitable co-founder. Further semesters focus on personal development as well as project growth, where teams may receive a Spark Kick of CHF 5’000 to pursue their project.
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- Applications for the TK-S25 batch will open in February 2025.
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- STARTUP CAMPUS: They support start-ups through a range of programs. This includes Innosuisse Start-up Training, individual coaching, coworking space, incubators, events and conferences. Initiative is put on by a consortium of academic and innovation partners, co-led by ZHAW School of Management and Law, and ImpactHub Zurich.
- Venturelab: Venturelab offers a wide range of training opportunities, from keynote talks in Venture Briefings, workshops in Venture Challenges at ETH and EPFL, and workshops in their Ask the Expert series. VentureLab offers Innosuisse start-up training modules as well.
- IFJ Start-up Support: IFJ, the Institut für Jungunternehmen, provides courses for prospective founders, relating to the legal and official processes required to create a start-up. Their focus is on preparing you for incorporation. Further topics covered include business plans, accounting, insurance, management, marketing, and trademark protection. IFJ also offers services for those looking to incorporate their company.
Funding competitions
- VentureKick: VentureKick offers aspiring start-ups up to CHF 150’000 during the three phases of their 9-month competition over. The program is aimed at early-stage projects from Swiss academic institutions, which are not yet launched as startups. First round is pitching the business idea, second round is presenting the business case, and the third round is kick-starting the start-up. Between rounds, two-day kicker camps are put on for participants.
- First Ventures: This support program from the Gebert Rüf Stiftung is aimed at bachelor and master students of Universities of Applied Sciences, who are developing an innovative business idea as their thesis topic. It includes up to CHF 150’000 to develop their idea into a start-up in 1-2 years.
- Quarterly application deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December
- InnoBooster: This support program from the Gebert Rüf Stiftung is aimed at projects arising from Swiss universities or research institutions, that have reached at least Stage 1 of the Venture Kick program. The program covers up to CHF 150’000 for up to 18 months of project development.
- Quarterly application deadlines: 1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December
- venture: The >>venture>> competition targets those looking to launch a start-up in topics of health care & nutrition, industrials & engineering, retail & consumer services, ICT, or finance & insurance. Participants receive mentorship, pitch training sessions, and can win up to CHF 150’000.
- Applications for the 2024 edition opened on 1 October 2023 and closed on 28 February 2024. The 2025 edition will open for submissions in October 2024.
- W.A. de Vigier Foundation: The oldest Swiss prize for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland, the foundation awards five CHF 100’000 prizes each year.
- The 2025 edition will open for applications on 1 October 2024.
- Pioneerpreis: The Zürcher Kantonalbank and Technopark Zurich Foundation offer this CHF 100'000 prize yearly, for start-ups within 6 years of founding.
- Applications are open until 23 September 2024.
Support grants
- BRIDGE programs: Jointly put on by SNSF and Innosuisse, two BRIDGE programs are offered.
- BRIDGE Proof of Concept is aimed at young researchers who have completed their doctorate less than 4 years ago, and supports them with up to CHF 130’000 for one year, to develop a proof of concept.
- Application deadlines: 2 December 2024.
- BRIDGE Discovery is aimed at experienced researchers, to realize innovation potential of their research findings. The project will be supported for up to 4 years, covering staff salaries and project costs.
- For the 8th call, a letter of intent was due 28 February 2024, and full proposals were due 13 May 2024, and interviews will be held in November 2024.
- BRIDGE Proof of Concept is aimed at young researchers who have completed their doctorate less than 4 years ago, and supports them with up to CHF 130’000 for one year, to develop a proof of concept.
- ETH Pioneer Fellowship: ETH Zürich puts on this program for teams of 1-2 entrepreneurs who wish to commercialize their Master/PhD/postdoctoral research results that were carried out at ETH. They receive a grant of CHF 150’000, as well as mentoring and training.
- Application deadlines: 1 March, 1 September each year
- EPFL Ignition Grants: EPFL offers Ignition Grants for early-stage projects. It is a first opportunity to validate the project, with a CHF 30’000 grant for salary, consumables, and/or outsourcing needs over 6 months. Grantees must be hosted in an EPFL lab during this time.
- EPFL Innogrant: EPFL offers this program for entrepreneurial individuals with a strong connection to an EPFL lab. The Innogrant is a grant of CHF 100’000 for the 1-year salary of the future entrepreneur, who will develop their spin-off while being hosted in an EPFL lab.
Technology parks, incubators, and accelerators
- ESA BIC: The European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Switzerland is an incubator for startups that are less than 5 years old, are incorporated in Switzerland, and have a space connection. Their definition of “space connection” is quite broad, and can include topics such as materials and processes.
- Selection rounds each year in March and November. Application deadlines: 31 October 2024, 28 February 2025.
- Switzerland Innovation Parks: A network of Innovation Parks that serve as hubs for events, fostering R&D collaborations between industry and academia, and supporting start-ups and innovation in their region. They are located across Switzerland, including Lausanne, Basel, Zurich, Aargau, Ticino, Rotkreuz, and Biel/Bienne.
- TECHNOPARKs: The TECHNOPARK Alliance fosters close cooperations with academic institutions, and provides opportunities for start-ups to grow in Aargau, Graubünden, Luzern, Liechtenstein, Schlieren, Winterthur, Zürich and Ticino. Their offers include workspace for start-ups, events, and coaching.
- ImpactHub: ImpactHub offers coworking spaces, meeting rooms, events, and start-up support programs. They focus on entrepreneurship, sustainable development, innovation and new forms of work. Their locations include Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, and Ticino. They run their Circular Economy Incubator.
- Applications for the Circular Economy Incubator will re-open in November 2024.
- glatec: Supports companies and collaborative research emerging from Empa and Eawag in Dubendorf, Zurich. They run a business incubator for early stage start-ups.
- Gründerorganisation Wädenswil: Known as grow, they support companies with establishing their company, provide consulting and networking opportunities, as well as financing and workspaces.
- EIT Climate-KIC: Together with Amazon, they are offering the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. This program is for early-stage start-ups that focus on specific topics within sustainability.
Events
- Startup days: A yearly conference focused on startups in Switzerland. They bring together entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and other members of the innovation ecosystem. Includes a Pitching Battle, where 40 startups pitch their project.
- Event date: 14 May 2025
Resources
- Startupticker.ch: This is an online platform, curated by Innosuisse, for entrepreneurs, innovators and supporters. They have a news portal and event calendar, as well as directories of investors, grants, prizes, initiatives, and jobs.
Institutional support
- ETH Entrepreneurship
- EPFL Startup Launchpad
- Empa Start-ups
- HES-SO Fribourg Student Venture Program
- ICIQ R&D Valorisation
- PSI Technology Transfer: Spin-off companies
- University of Basel: Innovation
- University of Bern: Entrepreneurship Center
- University of Fribourg: Support for start-ups
- University of Geneva: Science Innovation Hub
- University of Lausanne: Hub Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- University of Zurich: UZH Innovation Hub
- ZHAW: Entrepreneurship@ZHAW
Contact
Lauren Gamp
Knowledge and Technology Transfer Officer
+41 44 633 34 21