Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, known by its German acronym ETHZ, has published an impressive review: Switzerland’s leading university is home to a thriving spin-off ecosystem, launching 26 new spin-offs in 2022.
The range of ETH spin-offs is still broad (Image credits from left to right: Bottleplus, Scandit AG, Synhelion, Daniel Rihs).
Mental and physical health
These newly founded spin-offs cover a wide variety of fields and reflect the entire range of topics at ETH Zurich. The largest group of these young companies is again focused on the IT and communications technology sector – a trend that has continued for several years. Since 1973, this university created a total of 540 new companies.
However, the problems they addressed were very different last year: while Calvin Risk AG offers a kind of artificial intelligence insurance, Cerrion AG uses AI and sensors to monitor and improve entire production processes. Transcality AG creates complex models, or digital twins, of traffic systems to analyze a city’s traffic flows and simulate future scenarios.
Pharmacy and healthcare
A striking number of the new ETH spin-offs develop solutions for the healthcare sector. Three young companies are working on novel cancer drugs or on improving existing therapeutics, while two others offer apps that help to reduce stress and increase mental and physical well-being.
Another one is Kairos Medical AG, which develops biodegradable bone implants. These can stabilize bones during healing, but – unlike conventional metal screws – they then dissolve in the body over time.
In 2022, 26 spin-offs were founded at ETH Zürich – and 540 since 1973. (Graphic: ETH Zurich).
A workshop for ideas
No fewer than four of the new spin-offs came to life in the Student Project House – ETH’s ideas workshop for its students. One such spin-off is Bottleplus, which produces a sustainable water bottle that can be used to make carbonated water on the go. Another is AtlasVR AG, which provides virtual reality technology for professional training programs.
“We want society to benefit from our research findings and innovations as quickly as possible. I’m enormously pleased that the Student Project House is succeeding in encouraging students to pursue their ideas and bring them to market,” says Vanessa Wood, Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations at ETH Zurich.
To further promote entrepreneurship among students and get schoolchildren excited about STEM subjects, ETH also entered into a strategic partnership with UBS in the summer of 2022.
More Swiss unicorns
Investment in ETH spin-offs also saw positive development last year. The companies raised around 1.2 billion Swiss francs – more than ever before. Three ETH spin-offs also attained unicorn status in 2022: the term refers to start-ups that are so promising that their market value exceeds one billion dollars even before they go public.
These three companies are Scandit, which enables fast scanning even under difficult conditions, as well as South Pole and Climeworks, both of which are dedicated to the fight against climate change.
Text: ETHZ (editing by SCCIJ)
