First the support, then the policy

Dear reader

The ESA Business Incubation Centre Switzerland added six new start-ups to its funding programme this week. Each receives CHF 50,000, plus expert support and access to the ESA (European Space Agency) network. The life sciences incubator BaselLaunch has selected four start-up projects this week for the second phase of its programme; each project receives up to CHF 250,000 non-dilutive funding.

Other start-ups have also benefited from international support programmes. Proton Technologies and dhp technology will receive several million euros as part of the SME instrument of the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. Proton Technologies will thus develop a collaboration suite that will set standards in data protection, and dhp is working on a foldable solar roof. Medtech start-up Dicronis prevailed over 500 competitors from 68 countries, and will now participate for three months in life sciences group Merck’s accelerator programme.

These examples show the high quality of Swiss deep-tech start-ups, and also how much has been done in terms of support programmes in recent years. None of the above start-ups is more than five years old.

Given these developments, it is astonishing how little has happened in recent years to improve the framework conditions. Perhaps this difference is one reason why the start-up manifesto from Le Réseau, digitalswitzerland and the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation has met with such a great response. Our German and French articles outline the manifesto, which is to be presented with as many signatures as possible to Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin. The manifesto is still open for signature.

Finally, reference to two companies that made headlines worldwide this week. The experts from ChainSecurity discovered that a planned upgrade for Etherum – the world’s second largest cryptocurrency – would have given criminals an opportunity to attack. The update was thus postponed and the Swiss start-up was on everyone’s lips. And GIANTS Software, the figurehead of the Swiss game industry, announced that it will build its own pan-European eSports league for its game.

Applications are open again for MassChallenge Switzerland. In addition, this year for the first time a start-up digital health tour to Germany will take place, for which one can also register. The deadlines for the Climate-KIC Accelerator (27 January) and the Swiss Economic Award (31 January) are approaching.

Next Monday, the first kick-off event from >>venture>> competition will be held in Zurich, and an interesting SECA accelerator event will take place in Zurich on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday (Zurich) and Wednesday (Lausanne) mornings, our two brunch events will be held, where we will present the Swiss Venture Capital Report. We will keep you updated on our platform and social media.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch