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Venture

Venture is an initiative of the ETH Zurich, the innovation promotion agency CTI and McKinsey & Company, Switzerland. The Swiss-wide business plan competition supports young entrepreneurs in founding a company. A number of renowned companies from Swiss industry and commerce sponsor the competition.

Experienced coaches support competition participants in the development of their business idea and the preparation of their business plans and in the search for suitable partners and the necessary capital. Participants also receive feedback from the team of highly qualified jurors. The jurors (approximately 80 people) belong to one of two groups: entrepreneurs, who evaluate the formal and business aspects of an idea, and investors, who evaluate its financial attractiveness.

Venture offers total prize money of over CHF 150,000 for the winning business ideas and business plans.

Participants receive additional support in the form of various events, e.g., a series of "Founder Knowledge" seminars as well as special workshops. Comprehensive information material is also on offer, such as the business plan handbook "The New Venture Adventure – Succeed with Professional Business Planning."

Venture is addressed to budding entrepreneurs in Switzerland who have innovative business ideas. Participants may enter the competition as individuals or as a team.

Website: www.venture.ch

WA de Vigier Foundation

Since 1987, the WA de Vigier Foundation has awarded future-oriented business ideas in Switzerland with a prize of CHF 100,000.

In addition to this seed money, the winners also receive support in the form of valuable contacts and media training.

The WA de Vigier Foundation sees its commitment as a contribution to a competitive and healthy Swiss economy.

Website: www.devigier.ch/

EUREKA's Eurostars Programme

EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Eurostars hopes to stimulate SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding.

The Eurostars Programme addresses a niche market of research and innovation-performing businesses that fulfill the EU-adopted definition of an SME, are based in a Eurostars participating country and that, in addition, invest 10% or more of full-time equivalent or annual turnover in research activities.

European SMEs act as a source of renewal and a driving force for the development of new business areas. The Eurostars Programme is aimed at stimulating these SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding.

Thirty-two countries currently participate in the Eurostars Programme through the EUREKA network of national offices. In each participating country, different national funding rules apply.

Website: www.eurostars-eureka.eu

Innovation Promotion Agency CTI

CTI is the Swiss Government's Innovation Promotion Agency. For the past 60 years, it has fostered knowledge and technology transfer between companies and universities by bringing them together as partners on applied research and development projects. CTI also provides assistance to start-up companies.

CTI has a budget of around CHF 100 million. "Science to Market" is the CTI credo. Companies work with universities to generate new knowledge that can be used to develop products and services and bring them to market.

CTI provides funding to: Market-oriented R&D projects, which companies and universities work together on to develop products and services; The creation and expansion of scientifically-based companies; Knowledge and technology transfer through platforms and networks

R&D project grants are available in all disciplines where scientific innovation is possible. Project applications are submitted on the basis of the bottom-up principle. Grants are awarded to innovative projects that have considerable market potential.

CTI helps entrepreneurs get started by putting them through Venturelab training modules. These modules provide entrepreneurs with the tools and methods they need to successfully implement their business ideas in a company; Newly formed companies and new entrepreneurs can also request professional coaching. Support is given to knowledge-intensive and technology-based companies with great market potential.

Website: CTI start up promotion

Venture Kick

Since the initiative was launched in the autumn of 2007, Venture Kick has invested start capital in over 125 start-up projects – adding up to an overall investment of around CHF 45 million with more than 500 jobs created.

Venture Kick aims for the early detection and promotion of promising business ideas at Swiss universities and schools of higher education. The goal of this privately-funded support initiative is to double the number of spin-offs by accelerating the founding process and by making start ups attractive for professional investors.

Venture kick helps potential entrepreneurs by giving them the opportunity to obtain up to CHF 130,000 in funds without security. Moreover, start ups can also take advantage of know-how from experienced experts and entrepreneurs and be granted access to a national network of investors and start-up experts.

The projects are evaluated by a panel of experts and investors based on the business potential demonstrated and the achievements made in business development.

Venture kick is a private initiative supported by Gebert Rüf, Ernst Göhner, OPS and Avina.

Website: www.venturekick.ch/

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Page 1 of 3

Global Environmental Society

Venture

WA de Vigier Foundation

EUREKA's Eurostars Programme

Innovation Promotion Agency CTI

Venture Kick

B & I Overview