News
Zurich/Schlieren – Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) and rqmicro are working on faster detection of bacteria. With more targeted diagnosis, antibiotics can be used more accurately and bacteria can be combated before they develop resistance.
(CONNECT) Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) are working on faster detection of clinical bacteria. At the heart of the investigations is the bacterium Escheria coli (E.coli), according to a statement from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), which supported the UZH research group. Also involved in the research is the rqmicro AG from Schlieren, a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) founded in 2013.
E. coli is a common and diverse type of bacteria that occurs naturally in the intestines of humans and animals, but also in the environment. The bacteria are one of the main causes of bloodstream and urinary tract infections as well as serious intestinal diseases. Observations in Switzerland show that resistance in bacteria developed strongly between 2004 and 2024. In order to be able to fight them safely in the event of an infection, a rapid diagnosis is required. However, current methods only allow E. coli to be detected after eleven hours.
"We want to detect certain bacteria earlier, even if they are only present in small quantities, by staining them. We also want to capture them directly in the blood so that we can analyze a larger number more quickly," Markus Seeger, Head of Research at the Institute of Medical Microbiology at UZH, is quoted as saying in the press release. In order to mark the E. coli, the envelope of the bacterium must be penetrated. This is largely covered by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with a large number of antigens. The variability of these antigens makes it difficult to use antibodies.
The researchers are therefore concentrating on outer membrane proteins (OMP), in particular OmpA, which is present in 95 percent of all E. coli. So-called nanobodies can be produced here. These nanobodies can be provided with fly codes, genetically encoded peptide barcodes that are optimised for detection by mass spectrometry. With a detector from rqmicro, E. coli can be identified more quickly. The researchers hope that diagnostics could be shortened to two hours and targeted antibiotic treatment could be started.
The study was recently published in Nature Communications Biology. ce/ww
Thanks to a method developed by researchers at the University of Zurich and the start-up rqmicro, the bacterium Escherichia coli is to be recognised more quickly. Symbolic image: Janice Haney Carr/Wikimedia Commons
News
Zurich/Biberist SO – Grensol has successfully completed its seed capital round. The start-up for recycling car waste was able to secure 1.8 million Swiss francs. The money will be used to expand the Biberist site.
(CONNECT) Grensol, based in Zurich, has successfully completed its seed capital round. The start-up for recycling waste streams from cars was able to secure a total of 1.8 million Swiss francs, according to a press release. The money will be used to expand the Biberist site in the canton of Solothurn. The plant for recovering metals, minerals and polymers from automotive shredder residues is scheduled to go into operation in 2026 Further research and technology developments for resource recovery from the automotive sector are also to be funded.
Investors include Buildify Earth, Kickfund, Venture Kick, the W. A. de Vigier Foundation and other private angel investors. The management team of Grensol - Rajiv Singhal (CEO), Dr. Marco Ziegler (CTO) and Marc Ocskay (CFO) - also participated in the financing round. The company also receives support from the Berner Kantonalbank(BEKB).
"We are very pleased to welcome our new investors," CEO Singhal is quoted as saying in the press release. "This seed capital round is a significant step for us. We look forward to working with partners who not only share our mission, but also have extensive experience in supporting green tech start-ups and promoting sustainable innovation on a large scale." ce/ww
Grensol also won the Solothurn Award for Sustainability & Climate Protection 2025 in February 2025 (from left to right): Thomas Vellacott (CEO of WWF Switzerland) Marc Ocskay (CFO of Grensol), Rajiv Singhal (CEO of Grensol), Marco Ziegler (CTO of Grensol), Daniel Probst (Co-President of the Sustainability Network Canton Solothurn). Image: zVg/Grensol AG
News
Zurich – The next ZKB Technopark Pioneer Award will be presented on May 12, 2026. The submission deadline is September 22, 2025. The award goes to an innovative, technology-driven start-up from Switzerland and is endowed with CHF 100,000.
(CONNECT) DeepTech start-ups can submit their application for the Submit your application now for the ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark. The prerequisite is that they were founded after 30 June 2020 and have their registered office in Switzerland. Students, academic staff and doctoral students at a university in Switzerland or Liechtenstein are also eligible to participate. The submission deadline for this innovation award, which is one of the most important in the country, is 22 September 2025.
The award has been presented annually for two decades by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) and the Technopark Zurich Foundation. It honors projects on the threshold of market launch. The winning company will receive 100,000 francs, the other two finalists 10,000 francs each. The shortlist of around ten nominees will be presented to the media before the award ceremony. They can present themselves at the winners' gala in the foyer.
The prize is awarded for a project that presents a new technology - in the form of a product, process or concept - at the interface between science and industry. The focus is on applications that combine several ideas into an innovative and competitive project. User-friendliness and marketability are further factors taken into account by the jury.
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 will be presented on May 12. The competition gala will take place at Technopark Zurich. ce/mm
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 invites DeepTech start-ups, students and researchers from Switzerland and Liechtenstein to apply by 22 September 2025. Image: zVg/Technopark Zurich
Corporates
Aequitec is developing a legal operating system that helps in-house counsel, CFOs and compensation specialists avoid costly errors through a legal workflow engine.
Aequitec’s software supports the management of share registers, the administration of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), the holding of general meetings and board meetings as well as the processing of legal transactions such as capital increases, share transfers, share splits and share class changes.
In addition, the Aequitec team provides support for national and international IPOs.
Herostrasse 9
8048 Zurich
Financial Support
Corporate venturing by Helsana, investments in startups and funds
Zürichstrasse 130
8600 Dübendorf
Swiss healthcare system and market; business development; ecosystems, partnerships, and networking
Initiatives
The Green Digital Finance Alliance (GDFA) is a think-and-do tank convening world-leading experts and industry leaders in technology and finance to co-create transformative, data-driven solutions that shape a net-positive, resilient future, where economy and nature reinforce each other.
Geissbergweg 6
8006 Zurich
Green Finance, Sustainable Finance, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Fintech, Digital, Ecommerce
Sustainable Finance, Design Thinking, Data Science, Analytics, Biodiversity, Business Innovation, Circle economy, Digital processes and transformation, Distributed Ledger Technology / Blockchain, Environmental sensors, Internet-of-Things (IoT), Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Energy Sources
This video comes from YouTube
With play, YouTube can track your surfing behavior.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationVoices
We asked Jens Plath, Chief Marketing Officer at TWINT, what innovation means to him.
TWINT was founded in September 2016 as Switzerland's payment app and has steadily grown in popularity over the past few years. Its openness to all Swiss banks, its ever-increasing acceptance in stores and online stores and a whole range of useful functions have made the TWINT app a loyal everyday companion for many people.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
This video comes from YouTube
With play, YouTube can track your surfing behavior.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationVoices
We asked Adrian Reto Plattner, Chief Sales Officer at TWINT, what innovation means to him. With TWINT, you can pay conveniently and securely with your smartphone: at the supermarket checkout, in the online store, when shopping in the farm store, among friends, on public transport or when parking. With more than 5 million active users, TWINT is the leading payment app in Switzerland.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
This video comes from YouTube
With play, YouTube can track your surfing behavior.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationVoices
We asked Michelle Plüss, Co-CEO & Founder of MPAssist, what innovation means to her. MPAssist gives healthcare professionals more time for patients - through AI-supported documentation solutions.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationNews
PwC Switzerland spoke with Raphael von Thiessen about the Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence and its role in supporting startups within Zurich’s AI ecosystem. The project helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and evolving regulatory frameworks.
The AI Sandbox provides a space to address challenges such as data access and regulation while enabling real-world applications. Zurich and Switzerland play a key role in advancing AI, and the Sandbox contributes to this progress. Tune in to learn how startups are using the platform to innovate responsibly and how collaboration is shaping the future of AI.
This video comes from YouTube
With play, YouTube can track your surfing behavior.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationVoices
ANYbotics presents its innovation-sandbox project on EU regulations for industrial robots. Co-Founder Christian Gehring and Senior Product Manager Kateryna Portmann explore key regulatory challenges like the EU AI Act with Raphael von Thiessen, Programme Manager AI Sandbox, Canton of Zurich. By leading in compliance, ANYbotics ensures its robots operate seamlessly in critical infrastructure.
The Swiss robotics company is a pioneer in the development of autonomous mobile robots. Their walking robots called ANYmal move beyond conventional, purpose-built environments and solve customer problems in challenging infrastructures that were previously only accessible to humans.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
This video comes from YouTube
With play, YouTube can track your surfing behavior.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationVoices
MPAssist gives medical professionals more time for patients – through AI-supported documentation solutions. In the Innovation Sandbox for AI, the company tests its technology under real-life conditions and works with authorities to clarify key legal issues – from data protection to categorisation as a medical device. Co-CEO & Founder of MPAssist Michelle Plüss, Dr Olaf Büttner and the Sandbox Project Manager from the Canton of Zurich's Division of Business and Economic Development Raphael von Thiessen give an insight into the joint sandbox project in the video.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationNews
Zurich – The Canton of Zurich and the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) are supporting SMEs with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). For risk-free experimentation and the development of prototypes and pilot projects, they are launching a program lasting several months, about which they will provide information online on 17 July.
(CONNECT) The Swiss Data Science Center(SDSC) has developed the free AI Innovation Program especially for SMEs in the canton of Zurich that want to tackle a specific business challenge or opportunity with the help of AI and address it on a large scale. The SDSC is a strategic initiative of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and Lausanne (EPFL) and the Paul Scherrer Institute. It was commissioned by the Department of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich to implement this support program for SMEs.
SMEs interested in taking part can apply by completing a questionnaire by August 25. The prerequisite is that they have their head office or significant business premises in the Canton of Zurich. They should also be able to demonstrate an interest in the introduction of AI technologies and be willing to deploy internal employees for workshops, hackathons and related activities. Last but not least, the openness to engage in a mutual exchange of knowledge and to develop solutions together with other SMEs and researchers is helpful.
The deliberately limited number of selected participants will begin step 1 of the program in October 2025. This is about a general understanding of AI technology and demystifying it. In a further three to five face-to-face workshops until April 2026, step 2 will see the transfer of theory into prototypes. This should make it possible to test AI solutions without upfront investment or risk. And finally, in step 3, the transition to promising AI pilot projects is to be completed.
Markus Müller, Co-Head of Location Promotion in the Canton of Zurich, and the two Principal Data Scientists of the SDSC, Anna Fournier and Alessandro Nesti, will provide further insights into this AI learning and innovation program at an online information event. It will take place on July 17 from 1 to 1:45 pm. ce/mm
Die ETH Zürich und die EPFL bieten gemeinsam mit dem Swiss Data Science Center ein kostenfreies Innovationsprogramm im Bereich Künstliche Intelligenz für KMU im Kanton Zürich an. Bild: ETH Zürich
News
Zurich – The next ZKB Technopark Pioneer Award will be presented on May 12, 2026. The submission deadline is September 22, 2025. The award goes to an innovative, technology-driven start-up from Switzerland and is endowed with CHF 100,000.
(CONNECT) DeepTech start-ups can submit their application for the Submit your application now for the ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark. The prerequisite is that they were founded after 30 June 2020 and have their registered office in Switzerland. Students, academic staff and doctoral students at a university in Switzerland or Liechtenstein are also eligible to participate. The submission deadline for this innovation award, which is one of the most important in the country, is 22 September 2025.
The award has been presented annually for two decades by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) and the Technopark Zurich Foundation. It honors projects on the threshold of market launch. The winning company will receive 100,000 francs, the other two finalists 10,000 francs each. The shortlist of around ten nominees will be presented to the media before the award ceremony. They can present themselves at the winners' gala in the foyer.
The prize is awarded for a project that presents a new technology - in the form of a product, process or concept - at the interface between science and industry. The focus is on applications that combine several ideas into an innovative and competitive project. User-friendliness and marketability are further factors taken into account by the jury.
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 will be presented on May 12. The competition gala will take place at Technopark Zurich. ce/mm
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 invites DeepTech start-ups, students and researchers from Switzerland and Liechtenstein to apply by 22 September 2025. Image: zVg/Technopark Zurich
News
Insights from the AI Talk podcast with Klaus Fuchs
Author: Stephan Lendi
Why fewer open IT positions do not mean the end, but rather a change in the industry – and how experience, domain knowledge and new skills make the difference.
The paradox of the IT labor market
In an interview with Klaus Fuchs, founder and CTO of Rockstar Recruiting, it becomes clear: despite the AI boom and digitalization, there are fewer advertised IT jobs today than there were just a few years ago. "We had an all-time record for the number of vacancies in 2022, but things have been going backwards since then. It's actually a paradox, because we're reading about AI everywhere and we're seeing fewer vacancies in IT worldwide." The reasons are manifold: after the digitalization surge during the pandemic, the market has cooled down, companies are increasingly focusing on efficiency and automation - and AI is fundamentally changing the demands on talent.
Zurich as a special case: AI hotspot despite global decline
While IT jobs are declining in Germany and internationally, the AI sector is booming in the Greater Zurich Area. "In Zurich, an extremely large number of jobs are being created in the field of AI, while globally and also in Germany, IT jobs are on the decline." International tech companies and start-ups are settling in Zurich - not least because the talent is already here. But here too, the euphoria mainly affects AI and deep tech profiles; traditional software developers have to wait longer for new jobs.
New skills and the comeback of experience
The requirements for applicants are changing rapidly. In addition to technical know-how, industry-specific expertise is coming to the fore: "Industry-specific expertise is much more valuable than it was two or three years ago." Anyone working in the insurance or healthcare sector, for example, benefits from specific specialist knowledge and regulatory understanding. At the same time, new topics such as security in the area of large language models are becoming increasingly important: "Security in the area of LLM is a task that few talents deal with and whose immense importance is still not sufficiently recognized at management level."
Seniority, hybrid teams and cross-generational mentoring
The trend in the Greater Zurich Area is clearly moving towards senior positions and hybrid, locally based teams. " In the area of senior positions, we are primarily looking for highly experienced specialists. These team leaders and divisional managers usually work closely with management - often directly at the Zurich site - and are significantly involved in the development of the IT strategy." Experience is becoming more valuable again - especially in booming domains. At the same time, the importance of cross-generational learning is emphasized: "Cross-generational mentoring is something I really welcome. I can learn at least as much from young talents as they can from me."
Recommendations for applicants and companies
For applicants:
For companies:
The job market for IT and AI is changing - fewer vacancies do not mean fewer opportunities, but new requirements. Those who are willing to develop further, have domain knowledge and think across generations will remain in demand. Experience and curiosity are the keys to the future of work.
About Klaus L. Fuchs
Klaus L. Fuchs is co-founder and managing director of Rockstar Recruiting AG in Zurich. The ETH computer scientist has years of experience in research, AI and deep tech recruiting and has set himself the goal of bringing talent and tech innovations together in a human way.
About the podcast AI Talk
AI Talk is the podcast about artificial intelligence in Switzerland - with real movers and shakers, experts and decision-makers from tech, research, politics and business. Hosted by Stephan Lendi and Dalith Steiger-Gablinger, each episode of the podcast highlights new perspectives on innovation, responsibility and the concrete application of AI technologies. Whether ethics, regulation, talent development or deep tech - AI Talk combines personal insights with strategic foresight.
Listen, network & think along now.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Default. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationNews
The project call enters its fifth round. We are looking for inter- and transdisciplinary projects with practical relevance and social relevance. Funding is provided for projects by members of DIZH universities in cooperation with practice partners.
News
More visibility for digital innovations: With the Outreach Call, we support projects that contribute to greater visibility of DIZH activities within and outside the partner universities and promote networking between research, society and practice. Eligible applicants: Members of the University of Zurich, ZHAW, ZHdK and PHZH.
News
The DIZH Founder Call supports innovative start-up ideas in the field of digital transformation with start-up funding of up to CHF 75,000. Funding is provided for early proof-of-concept projects by students and employees of DIZH universities who have not yet founded a spin-off or start-up.
News
Lucerne/Schlieren ZH – Swiss start-ups raised a total of CHF 1.47 billion in venture capital in the first half of 2025, an increase of 36% compared to the previous year. This is the result of the semi-annual update of the Swiss Venture Capital Report.
(CONNECT) The CHF 1.47 billion in venture capital raised by Swiss start-ups in the first half of 2025 represents the third-best figure of its kind ever. Compared to the first half of 2024, an increase of 36% was achieved, according to a press release from startupticker.ch on the half-year update of the Swiss Venture Capital Report, which is published jointly by Lucerne-based startupticker.ch and the startup.ch platform operated by Venturelab.
According to the press release, however, the number of financing rounds fell from 138 to 124. This also indicates that "the realization of venture capital financing remains challenging" for the majority of start-ups. The good overall figures can be attributed to individual large financing rounds.
Young companies from the biotech sector benefited from this, raising 705 million francs. The previous record was CHF 436 million from the first half of 2021. ICT start-ups grew by 86% compared to the same period last year, fintech start-ups by as much as 93%.
Three biotech start-ups raised the most funding. Windward Bio in Basel received a total of CHF 183.1 million, followed by CeQur in Horw LU with CHF 109.3 million and GlycoEra in Wädenswil ZH with CHF 107.5 million.
Based on a survey of Swiss venture capital investors, the publishers of the Swiss Venture Capital Report only have a "cautious outlook" for the coming twelve months. ce/jh
Schweizer Start-ups haben im ersten Halbjahr fast 1,5 Milliarden Franken an Risikokapital eingesammelt. Symbolbild: makabera/Pexels
News
Many young people are looking forward to their apprenticeship and are motivated to learn new things. However, an apprenticeship is also associated with uncertainty and concerns for apprentices: Are the supervisors and colleagues nice? Can I do what is expected of me? The challenges at work and during the transition to adulthood are many and varied and can be overwhelming. What can vocational and practical trainers do in the event of psychological stress among learners? In the webinar, we will show possible courses of action, offers and contact points.
News
Zurich – The next ZKB Technopark Pioneer Award will be presented on May 12, 2026. The submission deadline is September 22, 2025. The award goes to an innovative, technology-driven start-up from Switzerland and is endowed with CHF 100,000.
(CONNECT) DeepTech start-ups can submit their application for the Submit your application now for the ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark. The prerequisite is that they were founded after 30 June 2020 and have their registered office in Switzerland. Students, academic staff and doctoral students at a university in Switzerland or Liechtenstein are also eligible to participate. The submission deadline for this innovation award, which is one of the most important in the country, is 22 September 2025.
The award has been presented annually for two decades by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) and the Technopark Zurich Foundation. It honors projects on the threshold of market launch. The winning company will receive 100,000 francs, the other two finalists 10,000 francs each. The shortlist of around ten nominees will be presented to the media before the award ceremony. They can present themselves at the winners' gala in the foyer.
The prize is awarded for a project that presents a new technology - in the form of a product, process or concept - at the interface between science and industry. The focus is on applications that combine several ideas into an innovative and competitive project. User-friendliness and marketability are further factors taken into account by the jury.
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 will be presented on May 12. The competition gala will take place at Technopark Zurich. ce/mm
The ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark 2026 invites DeepTech start-ups, students and researchers from Switzerland and Liechtenstein to apply by 22 September 2025. Image: zVg/Technopark Zurich
Innovation Hubs
The IPZ creates a new, optimally networked platform for research, development, and innovation for cooperation between science and industry on the site of the Dübendorf airfield.
Stiftung Innovationspark Zürich
Wangenstr. 68
8600 Dübendorf
Innovation Hubs
Where startups take off
Technoparkstrasse 2
8406 Winterthur
Innovation Hubs
We support you and your startup in the pre-seed and seed phase through a targeted coaching and mentoring program.
- We support business ideas from all industries and geographical regions in Switzerland.
- We are located in Technopark Winterthur - 20 minutes away from Zurich.
- We are part of the Zurich startup ecosystem and offer access to services such as workshops, training and events of the
STARTUP CAMPUS
- We are a program of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the ZHAW Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Technopark Winterthur
Technoparkstrasse 2
8406 Winterthur
You need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information