PMF and Softcar awarded in Fribourg

The canton of Fribourg Innovation Award is now in its 25th year. As well as crowning the canton’s most innovative firms, the official ceremony also saw the presentation of the inaugural Swiss Startup Summit Award. More than 500 guests attended the official award ceremony at Forum Fribourg. Speaking at the ceremony, the cantonal Minister of Economic Affairs, Beat Vonlanthen, declared: “My time as president of the jury over the last 10 years has afforded me a real working insight into the state of the Fribourg economy. The determination and commitment of the Fribourg business community to seeing through their research projects and innovative ideas never ceases to amaze me, and strengthens my belief that innovation is the engine that drives our society.”

Jury and public vote for PMFch in the Start-up Category
Over the last four weeks, the general public has been busy voting for one of three finalists in the Start-up Category. In a first for the awards, the public was able to vote, by SMS, during this evening’s ceremony. With 44% of votes cast, the Start-up Award went to PMFch from Marly.

PMFch SA, based in Marly, has developed a fast, simple and effective assembly system (“PMF system”), which anyone can use to build a tubular structure of their own choosing. The square tubes can be inox, aluminum or steel, and all come with standard cross-sections. With the aid of a simple Allen key, the 40 components in the PMF product portfolio can be turned into work stations, exhibition standards and even furniture for the home or office. For the time being, PMF has set its sight firmly on the industrial market, providing solutions that can optimize the production process and improve workplace ergonomics.

Jean-Luc Mossier, Director of the Fribourg Development Agency and vice-president of the jury, presented the winner with the award, which this year stood at CHF 30,000. Second and third places went to ViDi Systems from Villaz-St-Pierre and Setza from Fribourg, respectively

Inaugural Swiss Startup Summit Award goes to Softcar
In the weeks leading up to this evening’s ceremony, three new companies were put forward for the inaugural Swiss Startup Summit Award. Throughout this evening’s ceremony, the public voted for their favorite by SMS. The results are now in: the winner of the 2016 Swiss Startup Summit Award is Softcar.

Softcar Ltd in Fribourg has developed an electric automobile using an entirely new kind of vehicle architecture. With much fewer parts than a standard motorized vehicle and a bodywork made from biodegradable biopolymers, Softcar is the lightest and cleanest four-seater city automobile ever manufactured.

(Press release)