CTI Entrepreneurship: new consortia for modules 3 and 4

 In mid 2012, the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI announced its courses for entrepreneurs and new start-up businesses. The outcome represents an openness towards regional providers in the higher education and funding environment.

The CTI has been firm in its adherence to the modular structure of its training programme for the founders of knowledge-based young firms: under the umbrella of the newly created programme, CTI Entrepreneurship will therefore continue its awareness-raising events and semester courses at Swiss universities (modules 1 and 2), as well as offering five-day courses on the topics of Business Creation and Business Development (modules 3 and 4).

From 2013, Modules 1 and 2 will be organized, as previously, by the Institute for Young Entrepreneurs IFJ under the «venturelab» brand name. The management of modules 3 and 4 is, however, to be reassigned to three regional consortia. The following three consortia were considered:

Zurich/eastern Switzerland region: Technopark Academy Zurich. (lead)
Members of the consortium: ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, ZHAW, EMPA, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences, Startfeld, HTW Chur, University of Lichtenstein and other organisations.
Mittelland/Bern region: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (lead)
Members of the consortium: University of Bern, Bern University of Applied Sciences, University of Lucerne, BaseCamp4 High Tech, InnoBE and other organisations.
Western Switzerland region: Parc Scientifique EPFL (lead)
Members of the consortium: EPFL, University of Lausanne, Hospitality Management School Lausanne, Genilem and other organisations.

Operational management of the consortia will be taken over by one of the participating institutions; the one, which will also be responsible for the management and coordination of activities.

With this redesign comes a change in the CTI’s support philosophy – indeed, from a top-down to a bottom-up approach. «We were looking for local partners that are deeply rooted in their own ecosystem», says CTI President Walter Steinlin.

The relationship and contact networks of the consortia members shall optimize primarily the recruitment of appropriate experts from industry and academia. Along with the realignment, the CTI and its partners are strengthening the service: on one hand, with the formation of the Mittelland/Bern region, and on the other hand with an expansion of course offerings. Modules 3 and 4 will be available in Bern, Olten and Geneva, in addition to the existing training locations in Zurich and Lausanne. This ensures that the stated aims of the programme – training, guidance and support of ambitious entrepreneurs – are strengthened further.

The CTI Entrepreneurship programme will be coordinated through a newly created portal: the online platform will serve as a showcase for regional providers, as well as an application and registration platform for interested start-ups and young entrepreneurs. The website will go live in January 2013 and the courses will start in the spring of 2013.