Up until now all four modules, in which potential entrepreneurs learn everything they need to know to start a business, were run by the “Institut für Jungunternehmen (IfJ)”. In mid-2012, the CTI put modules 3 and 4 - the five-day courses on "Business Creation" and "Business Development" – out to tender, so that regional providers in the higher education and funding environment would also have an opportunity to participate and so further expand the offering. The aim is to further improve the "CTI Entrepreneurship" programme with its three key focus areas - training, guidance and support of ambitious start-ups. Three regional consortia won the contract for modules 3 and 4. The first two modules – introductory events in the form of semester courses - will continue to be run by the “Institut für Jungunternehmen (IfJ)”.

New consortia for CTI Entrepreneurship:

Zurich/Eastern Switzerland

Headed by: Technopark Academy Zurich. Members: ETHZ, University of Zurich, ZHAW, Empa, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences (UAS), Startfeld, Chur UAS, University of Lichtenstein and other organisations.

Mittelland/Bern

Headed by: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland. Members: University of Bern, Bern University of applied Sciences (UAS), Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, BaseCamp4HighTech, InnoBE and other organisations. 

Western Switzerland

Headed by: Parc Scientifique EPFL. Members: EPFL, University of Lausanne, Ecole Hôtelière Lausanne, Genilem and other organisations. Thanks to the new consortia, modules are now also run in Bern, Geneva and Olten, in addition to existing training locations in Zurich and Lausanne. The training opportunities in Ticino and Valais will be continued by the CTI in conjunction with the existing local providers.

By opening up modules for new entrants, the CTI is also making a change in its support philosophy – replacing the top-down with a bottom-up approach: "We were looking for local partners who are deeply rooted in their own ecosystems," explains CTI President Walter Steinlin.  The aim is to optimise the recruitment of appropriate experts from industry and science via consortium members’ contact networks.

The CTI Entrepreneurship programme is coordinated via a newly created portal (www.cti-entrepreneurship.ch): The online platform will serve as a showcase for the regional providers as well as a platform where young entrepreneurs and those wishing to start a business can register their interest.

Address for enquiries:

Publisher:

Commission for Technology and Innovation

Internet: http://www.kti.admin.ch