University Spin-offs

Navigating IP rights is a major challenge for academic entrepreneurs in Switzerland. In most cases, inventions developed within the scope of university employment belong to the institution. While universities like ETH and EPFL have dedicated technology transfer offices, these often rely on standard contracts that may not reflect the unique needs of each startup. Licensing typically involves royalties or equity, leading to disputes over valuation and ownership. Public funding bodies like Innosuisse and the SNSF can add further constraints.

Access to pre-seed and seed capital remains a major bottleneck for many spin-offs. While public programs such as Innosuisse offer valuable support, funding is often tied to complex application processes and doesn’t cover all early-stage needs. Many teams also lack investor networks or industry connections, making it difficult to attract private capital or validate products through pilot projects—often resulting in failure during the “valley of death.”

Top institutions like ETH Zurich, EPFL, and UZH benefit from mature entrepreneurial ecosystems and extensive support networks. In contrast, universities of applied sciences often lack structured spin-off support, IP protection resources, and access to capital. This is despite their strengths in applied research and innovation with significant market relevance.

Female founders remain significantly underrepresented in Swiss spin-offs. At technical universities like ETH and EPFL, women account for less than 20% of startup founders. Structural barriers, gender stereotypes, and unequal access to mentorship and funding continue to pose challenges. While some targeted programs exist, more comprehensive and scalable efforts are needed to close the gender gap in academic innovation.

There is a shortage of consistent, comprehensive data on spin-off activity in Switzerland—especially from UAS. While top universities report detailed figures on startup creation, success rates, and demographics, many institutions do not. This lack of transparency limits effective policy design, benchmarking, and ecosystem development, particularly when it comes to tracking gender equity or industry-specific trends.