Four innovative projects from the canton of Vaud have each been awarded a CHF 10,000 grant from the FIT Fondation pour l’Innovation Technologique through its FIT Impact program. Emerging from University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the H4 ecosystem, the selected initiatives—FineTouch Academy, Phonemia, SODA, and TYTOdb—address key challenges in healthcare, education, and environmental monitoring.

FineTouch Academy aims to improve surgical training by offering an integrated solution combining e-learning, ready-to-use suturing kits, and remote personalized feedback. Designed for medical students and hospitals, the platform makes hands-on practice more accessible and helps accelerate skill acquisition in a critical yet often underdeveloped area.

Phonemia tackles the growing shortage of speech therapists by introducing human beatboxing as a therapeutic tool. By leveraging rhythm, sound, and motor coordination, this innovative approach supports children with speech disorders through engaging, science-based exercises that can be practiced at home or alongside traditional therapy.

With a focus on inclusion, SODA works to democratize access to science education. The association organizes interactive workshops in community centers, allowing young people to explore topics such as health, environment, and technology through hands-on experiments, discussions, and participatory learning.

Finally, TYTOdb addresses a key bottleneck in biodiversity research by providing a digital solution for structured and user-friendly data collection in the field. Its platform bridges the gap between flexibility and scientific rigor, enabling researchers to better capture and use critical biodiversity data.

Source: FIT Press Release | ©FIT

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SICTIC Investors Day at Unlimitrust Campus will take place on 28 April 2026, a special event dedicated to female founders building the future of TrustTech, Security, Cyber, AI, and Data.

This exclusive edition brings together investors and innovators who are shaping secure, ethical, and trustworthy digital ecosystems. 

• High-Potential Startup Pitches: A curated lineup of female-founded startups will present solutions advancing trust-based technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data-driven innovation.
• Focused Networking: Engage with investors, founders, and experts driving progress in secure digital infrastructure and trustworthy tech.
• Insights into the Future of Trust: Explore trends and opportunities at the intersection of digital security, resilience, and transparent systems.
• Unique Ecosystem Access: Experience the Unlimitrust Campus – a hub dedicated to innovation in trusted digital processes and security.

28 April 2026 | Unlimitrust Campus | Registration

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The Lonza Workshop, From Candidate to Clinic, How Smart Startups De-Risk Their Molecules and Accelerate Clinical Entry, is taking place on 7 May 2026 at EPFL Innovation Park

The Swiss biotech ecosystem excels at scientific discovery: how to best transition from a promising molecule to a clinical-stage asset? Startups need a fast, smooth and robust path to de-risk their programs before entering the clinic. This panel brings together an early drug development expert, a biotech founder, a life science consultant, and an ecosystem partner to explore the critical steps between lead selection and first-in-human studies.  

The discussion will focus on how early technical and strategic decisions, from development planning and CMC strategy to outsourcing and partner selection, can accelerate timelines, reduce risk, and prevent rework. Attendees will gain practical insights into when it makes sense to build capabilities internally and when relying on experienced partners creates greater long-term value.  

Designed for startup founders and early teams, this session aims to simplify the path to clinic and highlight how the right partnerships can transform strong science into a viable clinical asset.

7 May 2026 – 12 PM to 1.30 PM | EPFL Innovation Park, Building J | Registration

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ONWARD Medical has successfully raised more than €40 million in a capital increase, marking a significant milestone in its mission to restore movement and independence in people with spinal cord injuries.

The financing round includes a €25 million investment from EQT Life Sciences, alongside strong support from leading institutional and sector-specialist investors. This new funding extends the company’s financial runway into early 2028 and will support the continued development and commercialization of its innovative neurostimulation therapies.

At the heart of ONWARD Medical’s technology lies a remarkable scientific journey that began in Lausanne, at CHUV (Vaud University Hospital) and UNIL (University of Lausanne). The company’s proprietary ARC Therapy is built on pioneering research conducted by Grégoire Courtine, Jocelyne Bloch, and Vincent Delattre. Their work demonstrated that targeted electrical stimulation of the spinal cord can help restore voluntary movement in individuals with paralysis—an achievement that has reshaped the field of neurorehabilitation.

Today, ONWARD Medical is translating this research into clinical and commercial solutions. Its ARC-EX® system is already cleared for use in the United States and Europe, while the implantable ARC-IM® platform is currently undergoing clinical evaluation, including applications to address blood pressure instability in spinal cord injury patients.

The newly raised capital will be used to accelerate product development, expand commercial activities across key markets, and further validate the company’s technologies through clinical studies and regulatory pathways.

This milestone underscores not only the rapid progress of ONWARD Medical as a commercial-stage company, but also the global impact of Swiss research and innovation—originating from Lausanne and now transforming lives worldwide.

Source: Press Release | ©ONWARD Medical

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The annual congress of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW is taking place on 21 May 2026 in Lugano

The congress offers insights into current developments in the field of healthy ageing – from research and medicine to technological innovation. Keynotes, a panel discussion and a pitch session will present new perspectives on health and vitality across the entire lifespan.

Participants will benefit from:

• insights into current research and innovation
• interdisciplinary exchange with experts from science, medicine, technology and industry
• inspiration from leading experts
• networking opportunities with experts and decision-makers

Participation is free of charge; registration is required.

21 May 2026 | Campus Est – USI SUPSI Information and Registration

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The 11th Bioproduction Congress (BIOPC2026) will take place on 22 – 23 September 2026, in Lyon, France. The event is co-organized by MabDesign and A3P.

The Bioproduction Congress is the annual event of the biopharmaceutical production sector where stakeholders from Europe gather together to showcase and exchange the latest innovations in bioprocessing. This dynamic event promotes exchanges on the future of biomanufacturing, addresses the current challenges and showcases the new breakthrough solutions.

This event will bring together experts from companies (big pharmas, SME and Startups) and laboratories developing therapeutic candidates as well as leading bioproduction professionals to accelerate therapeutics drugs such as mAbs, vaccines, cell therapy and novel products into commercial manufacturing.

22 – 23 September 2026 | Lyon – France | More Information

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The Bioproduction Forum is taking place on 2-3 June 2026 in Lausanne. The event is co-organized by MabDesign and A3P.

This event brings together Europe’s biopharmaceutical community to explore the latest advances shaping the future of bioproduction. Designed as a complementary addition to the long-standing Bioproduction Congress in Lyon, this first edition aims to broaden the diversity of participants and expertise mobilized across the sector.

Around central themes such as mAbs, ADCs, and biosimilars, the program will address regulatory evolutions, developability strategies and innovative approaches in formulation. This focused event will gather 130–150 participants, feature 12 expert conferences, 24 exhibitors and 4 partners leading three dedicated 60-minute workshops – offering a dynamic platform to exchange, learn, and accelerate progress in biomanufacturing.

In line with the A3P & MabDesign spirit, the Forum is designed to foster concrete knowledge-sharing and meaningful interactions across industry players, start-ups, technology providers, and service organizations.

2-3 June 2026 | More information

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Apply before 31 May 2026 for the H4 Human Health by Design programme, and get a 6-month support and up to CHF 10,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Human Health by Design supports early‑stage startups developing medical devices or digital health solutions, combining clinical immersion through H4 | La Source with the design expertise of Enabled by Design (EPFL/ECAL). The programme helps you de‑risk, prototype, and validate your product in real clinical environments.

Accelerate the design and real‑world adoption of your health innovation.

Human Health by Design is aimed at early‑stage startups seeking to accelerate the design and market launch of a medical device or digital platform intended for healthcare institutions.

The call for projects supports solutions at various levels of maturity – from needs validation to market validation – including mock‑ups, functional prototypes, MVPs, and pilots in real‑world settings.

By integrating a user‑centered design approach, it helps teams to develop solutions grounded in the needs, constraints, and practices of real clinical environments. The objective is to foster the creation of impactful innovations that enable sustainable adoption and deliver concrete, systemic benefits for healthcare.

At a glance 

• Target audience : pre-incorporated / early-stage startups and projects in medtech and digital health
• Support duration : 6 months (from June until December 2026)
• Funding : up to CHF 10,000 per project (non-dilutive)
• Key resources : access to H4 clinical settings, design coaching from Enabled by Design, associated experts (clinical, UX/UI, industrial design, regulatory)

Expected deliverables : evidence of use (observations, test logs), improved prototype/mock-up/MVP, experimentation plan and pre-development roadmap.

Application Deadline: 31 May 2026 | Application

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The jury of the Prix Strategis selected five companies, to advance to the final round of the competition. Three of them are Swiss Health Valley projects.

Irmos Technologies AG, which develops solutions to extend the lifespan of infrastructure. Neology SA, which offers a clean alternative to diesel. Virtuosis AI, specialized in intelligent vocal biomarkers. Isospec Analytics SA, whose technology aims to improve the reliability of clinical trials. And Cria Technologies, which brings innovation to cold-chain logistics. ProSeed Ingredients SA, Twiliner AG, and Identic AI GmbH reached the semi-finals but were not selected for the final

As every year, the Prix Strategis will reward the best Swiss start-up with a CHF 40,000 prize, strong media visibility, and the opportunity to present its project before a prestigious jury as well as an audience composed of influential figures from the Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2024, HeroSupport won the prize, and in 2025 Heketiss ended

The Prix Strategis award ceremony will take place on 30 April 2026, at the Centre Patronal in Paudex. On this occasion, the jury will announce the winning start-up among the five finalists. As in the previous edition, an Audience Award will also be discerned by Agefi :participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite start-up among the finalists. The winners of both the Prix Strategis and the Audience Award will be announced during the ceremony.

Source: Press Release | Award Ceremony: 30 Avril 2026

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The FONGIT Force Event, The Essentials of Startup Leadership and Governance, with Pierre Strübin is taking place on 12 May 2026 at FONGIT HQ in Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva)

Strong governance is not bureaucracy — it is a competitive advantage for startup success. In this in-person lunchtime workshop, Pierre Strübin will distill the core leadership and governance principles that founders and executives need as their companies grow in complexity and ambition. Drawing on 28 years of board-level experience and firsthand exposure to hundreds of startups, Pierre will highlight the patterns that separate companies that scale successfully from those that stall — or fail — due to governance blind spots and poor decision-making structures.

What you will learn

• The roles, rights, and responsibilities of board members, executives, and shareholders
• How to build an effective, value-adding board of directors
• Best practices for running productive board meetings and professional AGMs
• Common governance mistakes startups make — and how to avoid them before they become costly

12 May 2026 – 12 PM to 2 PM | FONGIT HQ, route de la Galaise 34, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates | Registration

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