SI Tech4Impact awards CHF 510’000 to six startup projects

Switzerland Innovation, together with its innovation partners from the Swiss economy and in collaboration with E4S Tech4Impact and collaboratio Helvetica, launched the SI Tech4Impact program to support innovative solutions within the Swiss ecosystem that can help meet the Sustainable Development Goals introduced as part of the UN Agenda 2030.

Now in its third edition, the program received more than 50 applications, out of which an external and independent jury selected the six most outstanding solutions. The teams will each receive financial support to develop their solutions at one of the six Switzerland Innovation Parks. They will kick off the program this month and present their solutions and current status to the audience at the annual Demo day in May 2023.

The selected projects are:

Aseptuva – builds a phototherapy device for localized deep UVC topical treatment against major infection vector in hospitals: contaminated skin. The startup will conduct a pre-clinical study to use a functional prototype of an in situ disinfection adaptor intended for catheters inserted into the human body.

Gaia Technologies – Upscale22 is a project by Gaia Technologies to develop novel technology to upcycle agro waste into bio-compounds and added-value resources. It tackles the ever-increasing trend to substitute synthetic compounds by natural alternatives in the cosmetics, food and feed sector.

Graphene-Based Gas Separation – Mojtaba Rezaei, together with the Laboratory of Advanced Separations at EPFL, develops a high-performance single-layer nanoporous graphene-based membranes for efficient separation of CO2 from gases in post-combustion flue gas streams. This project will accelerate an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process for post-combustion carbon capture.

Openversum – enables entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries to locally produce and sell drinking water filters through micro-franchising. Openversum provides them with tools, material and know-how necessary to successfully run a business while bringing safe drinking water to their community.

ReMatter – ReMatter aims to adapt and optimize their low carbon hybrid earth-timber floor slab product towards application in multi-residential construction projects. The redesign will focus on typology, performance, and buildability to become 100% recyclable and feature 80% less embodied carbon than reinforced concrete alternatives.

TOSA swisstech – is building a fuel cell device that converts Hydrogen into electricity. TOSA swisstech provides a solution to make fuel cells five times lighter, non-corrosive and more efficient through the use of conductive composite materials.

(Press release)