29th Prix Strategis crowns CompPair

Winning the Prix Strategis means that it has succeeded in convincing a jury of renowned experts in various fields and influential figures in French-speaking business. CompPair had to meet demanding criteria in terms of innovation, product realization, ability to expand and impact, but also present a favorable potential for the Swiss economy.

CompPair, an EPFL spin-off, produces a composite material that can repair itself. Composite materials are widely used in sports, marine, wind and transport industries such as aerospace and automotive industries. However, a major limitation with these materials is their sensitivity to damage. Current repair solutions are costly and time consuming; and recycling is still lacking efficiency. CompPair tackles these limitations by bringing innovative preimpregnated textiles. They developed a unique resin with a semi-autonomous healing system, triggered by moderate heat. This resin also allowed the addition of key features like crack resistance, healing while leaving conventional properties and manufacturing unchanged.

Artiria Medical rounds out the podium in second place. The company, which also emerged from EPFL, is active in the neurovascular field. The startup has developed a system that allows neurosurgeons to safely navigate brain arteries. This technology can be used to improve the treatment of strokes.

On the third step of the podium, we find the start-up ExerGo, which operates in the field of low-temperature heat networks. By using CO2 as a heat and cold transfer fluid instead of water, this technology reduces CO2 emissions by 90% compared to traditional solutions. This solution allows the exchange of heat waste between buildings and provides an efficient district heating and cooling network.

Not on the winner’s podium, but no less deserving, are Agrinorm, which uses advanced machine learning techniques to optimize fruit and vegetable supply chains, and Perovksia Solar, which produces customizable and digitally printed photovoltaic cells.

Finally, the guests present at the ceremony, as well as everyone who took an interest in these start-ups on social networks, were able to crown their favorite start-up with the Audience Award, supported by La Mobilière. With more than 350 votes and very close results, Perovskia Solar wins the Prix du Public La Mobilière and the 5,000 Swiss francs.

For this 29th edition, the organizers welcomed Michael Ploog, member of the Board of Directors at Swissquote, as guest speaker. His speech was an opportunity to learn more about this Swiss banking group and the forthcoming Fintech Campus in Rolle.

(Press release)