Transfer research to the market
► Call for applications 2025 is now closed! Next call in April 2026.
The UZH Entrepreneur Fellowships track «Digital Innovation» supports early career researchers planning to found a startup based on UZH research with a product in the field of digital innovation.
The UZH Entrepreneur Fellowships provide funding and resources to translate UZH research with commercial potential by demonstrating proof-of-concept and establishing market viability.
The goal of this Entrepreneur Fellowship track is to accelerate solutions for our digital society. The proposed solution may be based on a novel technology, software or business model.
Early career researchers supported by an Entrepreneur Fellowship will gain the skills, knowhow and network needed to become confident digital entrepreneurs.
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Innovations supported
The Entrepreneur Fellowship, Digital Innovation supports entrepreneurial projects with the potential to make a real impact. Proposed solutions may be based on a novel technology, software or business model with its origin in findings of UZH research.
This thematic track of the Entrepreneur fellowships program supports solutions in a vast number of fields including Fintech, InsurTech, LegalTech, Digital health, logistics, publishing, security, language processing, logistics and more.
Funding
The UZH Entrepreneur Fellowship, Digital Innovation amounts to CHF 100’000 and is given for a period of 12 months. The funding may be used for salaries and consumables.
Mentoring & Coaching
Every fellow is supported by a mentor and a dedicated business coach throughout the fellowship period.
The mentor is a professor or senior researcher at UZH suggested by the applicant. We recommend to choose a mentor with previous experience in research translation, entrepreneurship and/or partnerships with industry.
At the beginning of the project, the fellow will choose a coach from our associated coaches.
Training
All fellows should participate in an entrepreneurship training to gain knowledge on how to develop a business plan, the role of IP for startups, leadership and company building. Most trainings also provide valuable access to experienced coaches and investors.
Infrastructure
Entrepreneur fellows are employed at the UZH and hence have access to all the IT and library resources offered by the university. The fellows in this track are encouraged to register as members of the Digital soceity initiative (DSI). As a DSI member you get access to representative meeting rooms.
Jury
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with the expert jury.
Jury members
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Bea Knecht Founder Zattoo, Co-founder Genistat and Levuro |
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Harald Gall Professor for Software Engineering, Jury head |
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Anne Scherer Co-founder of Delta Labs AG |
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Constantin Overlack Founder Omniwatt AG / Co-Founder Aeris Cleantec AG |
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Claudia Witt Professor for Complementary and Integrative Medicine |
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Tobias Zehnder Co-founder Webrepublic AG |
Application
Applications for the Entrepreneur Fellowships, Digital Innovation can be submitted once a year until April 15th.
The application requires the following elements:
- Project description
- Project budget
- Filled application form on the grants platform
- 3 minute pitch video
- Your CV
- Support letter from your mentor
Read the application guidelines
Submit your application on the grants platform
Learn more at the Innovator Mornings!
Curious to learn more about this program?
At the Innovator Mornings event you have the chance to meet previous recipients of the UZH Entrepreneur Fellowships and Innovation Grants as well as entrepreneurship coaches. The event focuses on internal exchange within the UZH innovation community and includes presentations by supported researchers and startup founders.
Learn more and register for the next event!