Start-Up Research Group

The Start-up Research Group (SRG) within the Chair of Technology and Innovation Management has the following focus topics. The sectoral focus is on the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices and energy industries, and technical focus on biotechnology, nanotechnology and energy technologies.

1) Strategic, operational and financial aspects of start-ups/spin offs: Start-ups/spin-offs are important for the development of new technologies. As a catalyst for the commercial success of new innovative technologies, they are of more and more importance for high-tech areas. To support the foundation of start-ups/spin-offs, strategic, operational and financial aspects have to be better understood by governmental institutions, investors and industry.

2) Technology transfer from universities and research institutions by start-ups/spin-offs: As a rule, a technology transfer gap exists between academic research and the commercialisation of the research results, which, in innovation processes, represents a serious barrier. Start-ups/spin offs can bridge this gap as they can enable the fast transfer of research results into products due to their flexibility and efficiency. Examples from different industries show that established companies can increase their innovation by spinning off selected businesses.

3) The Founding angels' concept to foster the foundation of start-ups/spin offs: Business angels and venture capital companies are normally focused on already founded companies, so they are unable to fill the gap between academic research and market success should insufficient start-ups/spin-offs be founded. Founding angels stand for an innovative business model which could help as a driving force for the foundation of new start up/spin-off companies. Scientists are supported financially and operationally from the generation of business ideas to the building up of start-ups/spin-off.

Contact:
Dr. Gunter Festel
Email: gfestel@ethz.ch
Tel.: +41 79 6527 112

IMPORTANT

The Start-up Research Group conducts scientific research in that area and does not provide support to founding start-ups of ETH Zurich. That is the responsibility of the Spin-off Group within ETH Transfer (please visit http://www.vpf.ethz.ch/transfer/firmgruend for details). Nevertheless, there is a close co-operation between ETH Transfer and the Start-up Research Group.