The innovation support program with integrated award competition for entrepreneurs.
The Swiss Innovation Challenge is an innovation support program with integrated award competition, in which 25 finalists and one award winner are selected from over 100 innovation projects in three rounds (‘pitches’). The participants in the competition are SMEs and start-ups from all over Switzerland. In addition to the award, participants can win a special prize in the field of ‘Construction’.
The competition lasts eight months. During this time, participants can attend free, user-oriented seminars. In addition, participants have access to mentoring and coaching programs in which they are supported and encouraged with practical knowledge.
In addition to these benefits, the participants and their innovation projects profit from networking events and various publicity measures. The award ceremony will take place in front of more than 3,000 spectators on the occasion of the ‘Tag der Wirtschaft’ in the St. Jakobshalle Basel.
Contact within the FHNW
Application
The Swiss Innovation Challenge promotes individuals and teams or start-ups, companies and other institutions (e.g. public bodies and associations) in Switzerland and abroad. If your idea or project is feasible and demonstrates innovative value and potential, you will be invited in for an interview. We will decide whether or not to put you forward for the competition based on your completed application form and interview.
Programme
At the heart of the Swiss Innovation Challenge is a comprehensive mentoring programme that provides participants with active support and backing.
The Swiss Innovation Challenge is structured around the three stages of implementing an innovation project:
Stage 1 – Description of the innovation and the business model: formulating your innovative idea
In order to be entered for the first selection presentation, participants must formulate their own innovative idea on two sides of A4. It could be any sort of innovative idea at all, e.g. an innovative business model, product or service or an innovative organisational or management idea.
In the subsequent first selection presentation, participants have three minutes to win the jury over with their innovation project.
Fifty of them will be chosen from this selection round to qualify for the second round.
Stage 2 – Turning the innovative idea into a business plan: devising a business plan
This stage focuses on the feasibility of participants’ ideas. In order to be entered for the second selection presentation, they must devise a professional business plan based on their innovative concept.
In the selection presentation, they have five minutes to outline the key points in their business plan to the jury.
The final 25 participants will be chosen from this selection round to qualify for the third stage.
Stage 3 – Implementation plan and final presentation
Participants must supplement their business plan with a detailed implementation concept in order to be entered for the final presentation. They must also prepare a concise management summary of the business plan. In order to be entered for the final presentation, the business plan, implementation concept and management summary must meet the following criteria.
In the final presentation, participants have seven minutes to present their innovative concept to an extended jury, with the focus being on feasibility.
The final presentation is open to the public. The jury for the final presentation is made up of members of the FHNW, the Chamber of Commerce Baselland and the Basellandschaft Cantonal Bank as well as external experts from business and public life.
Our Added Value
Seminars / network
Participants have the option to attend numerous seminars (for a whole day, half-day or evening) dealing with various innovation-related topics and how to found a company.
List of SeminarsTools
Participants have access to online tools for developing business plans or personality tests.
getLaunchedEntrepreneur checkCoaching
Coaching is a key element of the tailored support provided as part of the Swiss Innovation Challenge. Each team is given one coaching session in stage 1, two in stage 2 and three in stage 3. The sessions can focus on your business plan, on functional aspects (e.g. marketing, financing, production), on processes of innovation and internationalisation or on considerations of motivation and behaviour.
Our coachesMentoring
In the second round of the competition, participants will receive support from mentors. These mentors are recruited from the environment of the Baselland Chamber of Commerce and are experienced entrepreneurs who can support our participants in the implementation of their innovation and, above all, bring in their practical experience.
Our mentoringPrize money
The best innovation project will be awarded CHF 20,000 in prize money, while second and third place will receive CHF 5,000 each. The prize money is intended to be put towards further developing the innovation project but may be used at the winner’s own discretion.
Special prize
The special prize in the category construction offers yet more opportunities to push ahead with your innovative ideas.
The Swiss Innovation Challenge awards a special prize for the construction and construction-related industries. The prize is awarded for the most innovative project from any sector of the construction industry.
The jury awards the Special Construction Prize based on the following criteria:
- Level of innovation
- Outstanding technical presentation of the innovation
- Quality of the planning and implementation
- Professional business plan
Participation in the special prize requires regular participation in the Swiss Innovation Challenge. This gives you the chance to win both the main round and the special prize.
The special prize is donated by the non-profit Ulrich Stamm Charitable Foundation, which was founded in 2001 by Ulrich Stamm, the former head of today's Stamm Bau AG.
Partners and Sponsors
