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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 how an innovation can solve real problems of potential customers, develop hypotheses around a value proposition and test these in interviews with experts and customers. |
| 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 April 14th 9-12, May 5th 9-12 and June 2nd 13.30-16.30. |
| Apply |
Application possible twice a year. Deadlines: 1 March 2025 (upcoming 15 September 2025) Information on preparing the application Submit your application on the grants platform Download blank application form (for reference only). (PDF, 336 KB) |
| More |
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.
Possible next steps after the end of the support period are
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.
Selected applicants and their teams will join the guided market validation program. Before applying, make sure that you are available for the following workshops taking place at the University of Zurich, in person on April 14th 9-12, May 5th 9-12 and June 2nd 13.30-16.30.
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.
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.
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.
