Event agenda
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
09:15 - 10:00
Registration & Coffee
- Auditorium
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
10:00 - 10:10
10:10 - 11:00
Plenary Session: Collaboration for Impact
This panel explores how responsible, purpose-driven collaboration between academia, industry, startups, and research institutions can strengthen Swiss innovation in the long term - especially in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
5 speakers
11:00 - 11:45
Structured Networking Session
11:45 - 12:45
Breakout Session: 20 Years of University Startup Funding Programs in Switzerland - Learnings and Design Considerations
Exploring how universities can design and align internal startup funding programs.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Accelerating Commercialization Through Ecosystem Building: Best Practices from Switzerland Innovation Parks
Exploring how ecosystem models at Switzerland Innovation Parks support the successful commercialization of research-based innovations.
4 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Entrepreneurship in Social & Healthcare Sector
In this session, the hosts provide insights into a study on motivation and challenges in start-ups in the social and healthcare sectors and into the very different support programmes.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Explorer Grants – Empowering Student Innovation
A collaborative discussion on how to design a nationwide funding program that fosters curiosity, experimentation and interdisciplinary teamwork.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Turning Researchers into Entrepreneurs: The Importance of “Leaving the Nest” and Achieving Problem–Solution Fit
This session discusses why it's important for upcoming founders to “leave the nest” sooner rather than later, how enabling stakeholders within academia can prepare students and researchers for this important step.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Why Do Innovations Fail and How Can We Overcome The Challenges?
In this session, we are going to take a hard look at why so many promising innovations do not become the anticipated success.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
13:00 - 13:45
Standing Lunch & Networking
- Auditorium
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
13:45 - 14:45
Breakout Session: Encouraging Women’s Entrepreneurship: Insights from Research and Sharing What Works in Academia
Exploring the range of tools and resources available to support female entrepreneurs and examines how these can be effectively applied within the academic context.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Entrepreneurs-in-Residence - Building and Sustaining Impactful Mentor Communities
How can innovation programs effectively engage experienced entrepreneurs who want to give back, co-found, or advise new teams? The BioEntrepreneurship & Innovation (BEI) program and ETH Entrepreneurship group jointly share insights.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Evaluating the Impact of Innovation Support
How do universities and their entrepreneurship offices measure the real outcomes of innovation support activities? What and how do they measure the impact they are supposed to create?
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: How Incubators Bridge the Gap Between Research & Market
Together, we’ll explore how thematic and interdisciplinary approaches can coexist and inspire new paths for collaboration and impact.
2 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: International Perspectives on University-Based Entrepreneurship Programs
Through expert insights and group discussions, participants will uncover cultural and institutional differences, share challenges, and generate ideas for collaboration.
3 speakers
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
Breakout Session: Social Innovation - Why It Matters for Higher Education
This session offers an introduction to key concepts, insights from the field, and the role of systems thinking in driving meaningful change.
1 speaker
Sign-ups available from 27 Oct 2025, 08:00 to 18 Jan 2026, 22:00
14:45 - 15:00
1-1 / Coffee
- Auditorium
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
15:00 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 17:00
Apéro & Networking
- Auditorium
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots