The Technology Transfer Office at PSI also support the creation of new companies, started by our Scientists with the goal of commercializing technologies and know-how developed at PSI.
This is a goal at PSI that finds broad support as it has several important results:
Return on Investment for Switzerland – Much of the research carried out at PSI is supported by grants and funding from the federal government or one of its supporting bodies. By bringing the results of this research to market in valuable products and services helps strengthen Switzerland economically, maintaining its position as the worlds most innovative country.
Attracts Investment - The Spin-Offs of PSI are attractive investments for Angel and VC investors from within Switzerland and beyond. This increases the visibility of PSI, the Canton of Aargau and Switzerland as a center of Innovation.
Jobs Creation - The entrepreneurship activities at PSI have helped to create 19 Spin-Off companies and approximately 180 jobs, the majority of which are located within the Canton of Aargau.
PSI Founder Fellowship
However, turning a promising research result into a market-ready, innovative product is usually a long journey that requires a lot of initiative, responsibility, and willingness to take risks. Potential entrepreneurs face business challenges such as analyzing target markets, developing the technology into a product, and refining the business idea and creating a business plan.
The PSI Founder Fellowship Program (PSIFF) supports potential founders in developing their business ideas based on PSI know-how or technologies and turning them into commercial products or services.The PSIFF bridges the gap between a scientific career and starting a spin-off company.
The PSIFF is awarded annually as a competitive scholarship. It aims to further develop the entrepreneurial thinking of the fellows and gives the awardee the chance to build a solid business plan ready for company launch and investment. The applicants for the PSIFF are given coaching in the run up to the fellowship application deadline and the eventual winners are given continued support by the TTO during their 12 – 18 month fellowship. Several successful spin-offs have already emerged from the PSIFF program, including the successful biotech startup "Araris Biotech AG", and XRnanotech. Additional Spin-Offs are in the pipeline.
Support our Entrepreneurs!
Our Spin-Offs and their technologies have the potential to bring highly successful products or services to the market. But turning these ideas into reality takes more than just brilliance – it needs dedicated and visionary entrepreneurs ready to take these technologies to market.
Our entrepreneurs are pioneers who are willing to take risks and put their passion into turning their commercialization dreams into reality creating value and impact for our region and for Switzerland. They bring technical knowledge and scientific expertise, along with a strong drive to create something significant. Yet, even the most committed innovators need support to make their visions come true.
Help us in supporting these pioneers! Your support – whether financial, through mentoring, or simply through making valuable connections within your personal network can make the difference to help these new companies thrive and succeed.
Financial Support
Your donation to the PSI Founder Fellowship program can make the world of difference, and enable us to widen our reach for entrepreneurs within PSI. With sufficient funding we might even be able to expand the number of fellows that we are able to support.
Mentoring Support
Giving your time to help our entrepreneurs gain the benefit of your knowledge and experience could be the difference between success and disaster. Our entrepreneurs start their journey as scientists and have a steep learning curve ahead of them. If you would like to help as a business mentor please contact us.
Network Partners
Simply offering to help make introductions to others that can help or open doors can be highly valuable for a start-up company. Our scientists are well networked in the scientific community, but have few contacts in the commercial word. If you would like to help by making connections – do not hesitate to contact us.
Spin-offs
A PSI spin-off is a new start-up company that has been launched by or together with a PSI employee or alumni with the express goal of commercializing technologies or expertise developed at PSI. To date PSI has created 19 spin-offs and over 180 jobs.
Below is a list of our spin-offs:
The most recent spin-off companies of PSI
Tandem Therapeutics
Founding year: 2023
Website: https://www.tandem-tx.com/
Contact: info@tandem-tx.com
Astra Therapeutics
Founding year: 2023
Website: https://www.astratherapeutics.com/
Contact: contact@astratherapeutics.com
Focal Biosciences AG
Founding year: 2022
Website: https://focalbiosciences.com/
Contact: contact@focalbiosciences.com
XRnanotech GmbH
Founding year: 2020
Website: www.xrnanotech.com
Contact: Florian Döring, florian.doering@xrnanotech.ch
Araris Biotech AG
Founding year: 2019
Website: www.ararisbiotech.com
Contact: Philipp Spycher, pspycher@ararisbiotech.com
RADEC GmbH
GratXray AG
novatlantis gmbh
novoMOF AG
InterAx Biotech AG
leadXpro AG
Treatech
Founding year: 2015
Website: https://trea-tech.com/
Contact: info@trea-tech.com
Excelsus Structural Solutions
Expose GmbH
DECTRIS AG
SwissNeutronics AG
Common Licensing Principles for Spin-offs within the ETH Domain
To enhance transparency and support the establishment and growth of spin-offs in Switzerland, the institutions of the ETH Domain, including PSI, have introduced new common licensing principles. These principles aim to maximize the dissemination of knowledge derived from publicly funded technologies while ensuring a fair return on investment for the institutions. By harmonizing licensing practices, they address key aspects such as the management of intellectual property rights and applicable licensing conditions for spin-offs, thereby facilitating broad access to innovation while strengthening the research and development objectives of the ETH Domain.
More information on the common licensing principles for spin-offs