Mission Statement
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| "The first-choice incubator for innovative high tech companies linked to universities
> 300 companies supported" |
Science Park Foundation
Your partner to launch your high-tech start-up
Acting as a hands-on incubator, the Science Park supports innovative technology companies and projects in their early years, taking science to market. To date, over 300 projects have been supported, CHF 1 billion funding raised and over 2’000 jobs created. To qualify to join PSE, tenants must have active collaboration with a Swiss academic institution.
PSE hosts approximately 100 companies within its 13’000 sqm site and admits 15 to 20 new projects each year. Tenants have access to flexible office space, extensive coaching services and a network of service providers. The Science Park’s proximity to the EPFL, CHUV and UNIL also gives start-ups access to cutting edge technologies (such as MEMS manufacturing; confocal and electron microscopy; high energy MRI) and to faculties of biology, medicine, IT, human and social sciences, economics and management.
PSE provides a professional team for hands-on coaching in business planning, business development, and fund raising. Coaching services are provided free of charge to the start-ups through collaboration with CTI Start-up, the EPFL Innovation and Valorization department, and the Platinn network. Over 70 projects, on-site or in the area, benefit from this service annually.
To help start-ups raise funding, PSE has strong links with several foundations, such as Fondation pour l’Innovation Technologique (FIT) and the Liechti Foundation that provide capital for innovative projects, as well as with several seed and venture capital firms including Defi Gestion, Polytech Ventures, VI Partners and Vinci Capital.
To help companies expand internationally , the Science Park launched the Prix Vittoz in 2010; an annual prize of CHF 100’000 divided amongst 3 start-ups which are ready to enter the US market. This prize may be used to evaluate their market strategy, find strategic partnerships, and build the team and infrastructure in the USA.
In June 2010, the EPFL inaugurated its Innovation Square with 7 new buildings right next to PSE buildings, where large corporations such as Alcan, Cisco, Debiopharm, Logitech and Nokia have set up ‘Innovation cells’. These corporate teams lead research projects in collaboration with the EPFL and other regional institutes. This rich and diverse eco-system provides fertile ground for start-ups to have their technology assessed, find partnerships for new markets or create joint projects.
In the midst of this wealth of academic institutions, cutting edge technologies and multinational companies, the EPFL Science Park is the smart choice for innovative business projects in western Switzerland.