Enter the BIC of CERN Technologies

Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare is in partnership with CERN as part of its network of nine Business Incubation Centres (BICs) throughout its Member States (for more information, please consult the CERN web page dedicated to its Business Incubation Network here).

The Swiss Business Incubation Centre (BIC) of CERN Technologies at Park Innovaare is a program designed to support entrepreneurs in their business endeavor by offering them access to CERN's unique technologies, know-how and IP, as well as tailor-made business and management coaching, and, last but not least, seed money of CHF 50,000.

The Swiss BIC of CERN Technologies program is a two-phase competition. For Phase I : Initial Application, you are required to fill out a two-page proposal form providing information about the application, the market value and – if possible – the social impact of your project, as well as the technical problem that you are working on to solve.

A selection of the most interesting business concepts will be invited to participate in Phase II : Business Plan. At this stage, you will present a ten-page business plan and pitch it to the selection committee.

Between the two phases, all the invited candidates will participate in business development and technology coaching with our experts – an integral part of the program.

An independent committee of highly qualified experts in accelerator technologies, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, IP management, innovation, finance and media is constituted each year. 

The committee reviews the projects based on the business plan and a personal presentation (pitch).

Park Innovaare is proud to announce the 2021 Selection Committee:

• Dr. Giovanni Anelli, Head of Knowledge Transfer Group, CERN

• Dr. Benno Rechsteiner, CEO, Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare

• John Millard, Head of Technology Transfer, PSI

• Prof. Dr. Arie Hans Verkuil, Head of Institute of Management, FHNW

• Dr. Roland Moser, Head of Technology Office, SBB

• Dr. Thomas Dübendorfer, President, Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)

• external representative (tbc)

•  

Participation in Phase II is by invitation. All those who are invited to the business plan competition after the evaluation of their two-pager Expression of Interest compile and submit a more comprehensive ten-page business plan.

During this time, they had the opportunity to liaise with technology experts from CERN and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and had their project assessed from a technological point of view. This means, for instance, that you will receive information as to whether patents from the various fields of technology are available and suitable for you. In addition, you will participate in a series of business development workshops.

After the winner is announced, the real work will begin! 

The business of the incubatee will move into and join Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare's growing ecosystem, where it will benefit from comprehensive business development and marketing support.

Aargau Services, the regional business promotion agency, will support the incubatee with the relocation process to our innovation campus. Thus, the incubatee will be fully integrated into the vibrant campus of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), with its 2,000 scientists and engineers available as scientific partners.

The incubatee will also receive focused, tailor-made technology coaching from experts from CERN and PSI and will have the opportunity to work with the unique Intellectual Property of these institutions at advantageous conditions.

Finally, if desired, the incubatee is entitled to take part in the Entrepreneurship Program of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), where his/her business will learn the basic concepts of operative management.