FUNDING AND INVESTMENT

We offer a total of CHF 500,000 in funding to start-ups each year via the Biopôle Start-up Fund. A flagship initiative, this fund provides no-strings-attached support for rental costs, R&D and key services. Companies are chosen based on scientific excellence, the relevance of their business model and the quality of founding and management teams.

In addition, we also offer investment guidance and networking opportunities via the associated Investment Readiness Programme, which is designed to prepare early-stage companies to pitch to external investors and beyond.

Finally, we are always on hand to offer ad hoc support to start-ups wishing to connect with potential partners and identify investment opportunities.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Biopôle’s Corporate Partnerships programme connects members of our community with bigger collaborators outside our campus. The aim of the programme is to foster mutually beneficial relationships that accelerate innovation: our corporate partners can profit from the innovative ideas of our community and network, while start-ups in our community gain access to the expertise of larger partners who can help them fast-track their projects. Biopôle acts as a bridge between the two, identifying opportunities, creating interest, facilitating interactions and helping to bring potential collaborations to fruition.

We also organise a variety of events on campus with the aim of fostering collaboration between our members and allowing life sciences professionals in our community to share their ideas.

ACCESS TO FIELD EXPERTISE

There are many excellent coaching programmes available across the country, but we like to think our Vanguard Accelerator is a cut above the rest. Notably, it offers tailored mentorship opportunities with hands-on field experts who can help transform participants’ ideas into reality.

The programme’s diverse network of experts are all drawn from the local area, meaning participants can interact with them on a continuous basis. The goal of the programme is to help digital health-oriented projects take root and flower in the region.