Faculty of Science Faculty of Science

What the SIH offers to collaborators

Funding opportunities

Here we present some funds, grants or tools from our stakeholders in order to help you develop your innovation projects.

  • Innosuisse

Innosuisse funds innovation projects of researchers who have come across an innovative idea with great market potential in the course of their research work, but have not yet found a partner for the implementation on the market. Innosuisse particularly supports high-risk projects with strong innovation potential.

All info here.

  • Innogap (Unitec)

Unitec created the INNOGAP proof-of-principle fund to help researchers at UNIGE and HUG to move their research discoveries toward practical implementation. The INNOGAP fund increases the value of their inventions, improves the chances of realizing societal benefits of research and enhance UNIGE's and HUG's ability to license them to existing or newly created companies.

Every year, Unitec distributes up to 5 INNOGAP grants of  up to 30'000CHF each to UNIGE and HUG innovators to help them finance proof-of-principle or prototyping projects.

The INNOGAP fund stems on the one side from UNIGE licensing revenues and on the other side by a yearly input from HUG. Thus, INNOGAP grants are a solidarity contribution to boost creativity and innovation within our institutions. 

All info.

  • Bridge

BRIDGE: Proof of Concept & Discovery. Joint programme conducted by the SNSF and Innosuisse – Swiss Innovation Agency. It offers new funding opportunities at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation, thereby supplementing the funding activities of the two organisations. 

More info here.

  • Fongit

The new financial support for innovation in Geneva has been launched! (March 2021)

The "Fonds d'Innovation de la Fongit (FIF)” aims to accelerate innovation in Geneva-based research institutions and universities, as well as within startups and scale-ups. This new financial tool supports technological innovation serving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 

Fongit supports innovative startups at different stages of their journey with 3 types of financing options:

  • Fongit Grants
  • Fongit Seed Loan
  • Fongit Growth Loan

You can find more details about the FIF and apply for support for your project here:  www.fongit.ch/financing

  • Venture Kick

Venture Kick vertical Life Science: en 2020, Venture Kick lance une verticale sciences de la vie ! L'étape 1 restera inchangée mais dès l'étape 2 et pour l'étape 3 également, nous aurons des sessions dédiées aux projets life science (Medtech, Biotech et software dans le domaine de la santé). 

More: https://www.venturekick.ch/register

  • Other VentureLab programs

  • Venture Leaders aux États-Unis et en Chine. Ces programmes sont des roadshow pour des start-up plus avancées orientés vers la découverte des écosystèmes locaux, la rencontre d’investisseurs ainsi que de partenaires/clients potentiels. https://www.venturelab.ch/ventureleaders
  • Start-up training modules 3 (Business creation) et 4 (Business growth) d'Innosuisse. Avec plus de 50 formations par an dans toute la Suisse sur 4 verticales (ICT, Advanced Engineering, Biotech et Medtech), un must have pour les entrepreneurs en phase de démarrage. https://www.venturelab.ch/innosuisse

  • OPI

Dans le cadre de sa mission de soutien aux entreprises genevoises, l’Office de Promotion des Industries et des Technologies (OPI) lance un appel à projets : un subside d’un montant maximum de 15’000 CHF peut être obtenu afin de financer votre projet d’innovation en collaboration avec une haute école (Université de Genève, HES-SO Genève).

Lear more.

  • European instruments

The Research and Grants Office (RGO) of the University of Geneva advises on innovation funding within the scope of European funding sources.

Learn more.

  • Gebert Rüf Stiftung

Gebert Rüf Stiftung promotes innovation for the benefit of Switzerland’s economy and society. It makes science effective by initiating impact-oriented innovation, research and education projects. Its funding strategy is presently based on nine areas of activity.

Learn more.

  • Kickstart

Kickstart is an ecosystem innovation platform that bridges the gap between startups, corporations, cities, foundations and universities to accelerate partnerships and deep tech innovation. This requires unprecedented collaboration between established organisations and the most audacious entrepreneurs to solve humanity’s biggest challenges through innovation in science and technology. 

All info here.

  • Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)

The Investor community of the Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC) helped to fund to more than 160 Swiss tech startups to date. While doing so, they learned a lot about what to watch out for and how to foster success.

Learn more.

  • W.A. de Vigier Foundation (Award)

The W.A. de Vigier Award is the oldest prize for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland and, with annual prize money of up to CHF 600,000 (six times CHF 100,000), is one of the most highly endowed startup prizes in Switzerland. Over the past 32 years, the foundation has distributed over CHF 11 million of seed money. The results are about 100 flourishing startups, successful IPOs, multiple company exits and above all, many newly created jobs.

Learn more.