Irmos Technologies Wins the Swiss Innovation Challenge

Organised by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) with support from the Baselland Economic Chamber (WIKA) and the sponsor Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB), the Swiss Innovation Challenge  (SIC) awards outstanding projects, giving them a cash prize to boost their development. Since its launch in 2014 and its first realisation in 2015, the SIC has supported over 900 projects and contributed to the creation of more than 1,800 jobs.

SIC was again held this year after a 4-year interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. The three-phase 8-month program supported 100 startups and SMEs in refining their business ideas and developing a business plan. Fifty contestants passed the first stage, and only 20 made it to the final round.

During the award ceremony, held within the framework of the “Tag der Wirtschaft” at the Baselland Chamber of Commerce, Federal Councillor Albert Rösti presented the award prize to Panagiotis Martakis, CEO & Co-Founder of irmos technologies AG, who won the competition winner. Using data, Irmos Technologies aspires to maximise the service life of existing buildings and bridges. Its software solution translates monitoring data to key structural metrics, enabling engineers to monitor the structural integrity of assets continuously and allowing data-driven projections for predictive maintenance planning. The solution will help reduce maintenance costs while improving safety.

The second award prize of CHF 5000 went to Leg&airy, the startup dedicated to mobilising physically impaired children with autonomously adapted and manufactured orthopaedic aids. They developed the Scan-Fit-Print solution to allow 3D patient scans to be customised using software and produced using 3D printing - with a delivery time of less than two weeks. AquAero GmbH scored third, also receiving a CHF 5000 cash prize. The startup developed PURESteamDrying® for continuous, resource-saving material drying, with maximum energy efficiency, independent of fossil fuels and without CO2 emissions.

(Press release RAN)