Explore the market potential
► Apply by 15 September 2025
The UZH Innovation Grants program is an early stage support for research-based innovations at the University of Zurich.
| For | Doctoral candidates, Postdocs and established researchers |
| Content | This program provides a guided market validation process and CHF 10’000 in funding. Learn together with peers and business coaches to effectively explore the value creation of your innovation. Define value hypotheses and test these in interviews with experts and customers. You will gain a deep understanding of the problem your innovation can solve and how to win partners for your next steps. |
| Output | A quantified value proposition. This provides the basis for attracting partners, investors or innovation funding for the implementation of the research-based idea. |
| Input | Candidates for this program bring a research-based innovation in any field and a strong motivation to translate the innovation into new products, services or processes. |
| Funding | Receive CHF 10’000 to support the market validation process. |
| Dates | Program is run twice a year starting in November and April. The next workshops will take place in person at the University of Zurich on the following dates: November 18th 2025 (full day), January 13th 2025 9-12 and February 19th 2026 9-12. |
| Apply | Application possible twice a year. Deadlines: 1 March and 15 September Information on preparing the application Submit your application on the grants platform Download blank application form (for reference only). (PDF, 336 KB) |
| More |
Questions & Answers
When is the right time for market validation?
Are you a researcher with an idea for an innovation but unsure about the next steps? Then the Innovation Grants is the support you need. As an early-stage innovator, you will save a lot of time by gaining a thorough understanding of the problem your innovation can solve, who the customers are and what are their needs. And not only that, your concrete chances of attracting funding will increase with a strong value proposition.
Watch this 3 min video Think like an Entrepreneur from Venture Well.
What comes after the Innovation Grant?
Possible next steps after the end of the support period are
- Bring the innovation to market by founding a UZH Startup
- Develop the solution and business concept further with UZH Entrepreneur Fellowships
- Continue the development of the solution with an implementation partner
- Close the project or pivot towards another solution if the validation of the initial idea did not show promising results. Note that this outcome is not a failure but a natural event in innovation and the exploration of market opportunities.
How can the funding be used?
The funding can be used to pay salaries (e.g. co-worker for project), materials (e.g. for a prototype, platforms), travel (e.g. to meet with important stakeholders) or for outsourcing (e.g. set up a website).
The funds cannot be used to purchase personal computers or related equipment.
When are the next workshops?
Selected applicants and their teams will join the guided market validation program. Before applying, make sure that you are available on the workshop dates. The next workshops will take place at the University of Zurich, in person on the following dates: November 18th 2025 (full day), January 13th 2025 9-12 and February 19th 2026 9-12.
Who is eligible to apply?
The main applicant must be a researcher with an employment at the University of Zurich. This includes doctoral candidates, Postdocs and established researchers. This criteria has administrative reasons.
Do you need a team?
We encourage researchers applying for an Innovation Grant to participate with a team or at least accompanied by another person. However, that person does not have to be a potential co-founder – a colleague or Master student interested in getting a hands-on experience of market validation would be a good fit. You can use one part of the funding to hire this person.
How can Master students be involved?
Master students with a research-based idea can build a team with a researcher at UZH in order to apply for the Innovation Grant together.
How to hire a student without an employment at the UZH?
If you use parts of your fund to hire a student without employment at the University of Zurich complete and sign this Declaration regarding Results and Confidentiality. The payment will be conducted over a Pauschalzahlung. Please contact your institute for more information.