AIT India 2020: Entrepreneurs build a bridge between Switzerland and India

30.09.2020 07:00, Julia Bory

The Academia-Industry Training (AIT) Camp India has selected 10 researchers from Swiss universities who will discover the innovation’s potential in the Indian market. The training usually takes place in Lausanne, Zurich, Mumbai, and Bangalore, but this year’s edition will be held online, allowing the participants in Switzerland and India to exchange best practices safely.

Together with 10 Indian entrepreneurs, who are currently being selected, the 10 Swiss founders will gather online for several days to participate in business workshops, exchange best practices, and attend one-on-one meetings with experts from both countries. Through introductions to top institutions, both in Switzerland and in India, the program helps create an international network and provides access to one of the most promising markets and intellectual capital in applied research. The camp will end on a competitive note, with each country rewarding two of their best participants with a grant to help further develop their projects. 
 
This year’s team is composed of master’s, PhD, and postdoc students from the main Swiss science universities: Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), University of Geneva (UNIGE), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich), University of Bern (UNIBE), University of Zurich (UZH). They are active in the fields of biotech, cleantech, hightech, insurtech, and materials. 

“Venturelab‘s AIT program allowed me to explore the possibility of doing business at an international level. The feedback obtained in the camp was invaluable and allowed me to improve my business case,” said Erick Garcia-Cordero, founder of Rea, EPFL alumnus, and winner of last year’s AIT grant. 



Congratulations to the 10 Swiss-based entrepreneurs who will participate in this year’s AIT Camp! 
 
Daniel Spring, aventura.aero, UZH, hightech 
aventura.aero’s unique heavy-duty gyrocopter serves a new market, where traditional aircraft and drones do not and cannot operate. The startup’s multirole aerial platform closes the gap between conventional drones and aircraft, for surveillance, disaster relief, and transport air services everywhere. www.aventura.aero 
 
Shreyasvi Natraj, Lyfe, UNIGE, medtech 
Lyfe develops a 3D scanner for the oral cavity, as an effective way to carry out medical procedures such as identifying the placement of braces or conducting surgeries to repair abnormalities. The device would then send this sensor data to a high-performance server system, where an AI system would carry out the 3D reconstruction. 

Gaspard Ky, Bloom Biorenewables, EPFL, cleantech 
Bloom reveals the hidden value of biomass to provide renewable energy and materials in markets such as fragrances, materials, plastics, or textiles. By introducing a new route for the production of biorenewable products and fuels, the startup offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based industries and contributes to mitigating climate change. www.bloombiorenewables.com  

Gayatri Muthukrishnan, Miyara Health, UZH, medtech 
Miyara Health develops a low-cost, integrated digital health solution in the form of a smartphone app. The medtech startup puts patients in the driving seat by providing them accurate information about health management and disease prevention, incentivized pill reminders, and the ability to save and manage their health records. www.miyarahealth.com  
 
Giacomo Valle, MYLEG, ETH, medtech 
MYLEG addresses the lack of sensory feedback devices for prostheses. MYLEG improves walking mobility and prostheses’ cognitive integration by restoring sensory feedback in people with leg amputation. The medtech-startup will enable users to avoid falls, to increase confidence in the device and fatigue.
 
Manjula Pasala, Riskwolf, insurtech 
Riskwolf is the platform that insures the digital economy and enables insurers to better serve emerging market customers. Riskwolf accelerates product innovation by using real-time data-driven insights to help insurers in India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to close the protection gap for the digital economy. www.riskwolf.com
 
Stavros Skouras, Senopi, hightech 
Senopi is leading the wellness and therapeutic virtual reality (VR) for seniors in Europe. The startup commercialized a subscription-based service with a system that enables nurses to use headsets to easily administer VR experiences and excursions to groups of seniors (e.g., in senior care homes). www.senopi.com
 
Fredrick Johnson Joseph, SurgeonsLab, UNIBE, medtech 
Surgeon’s Lab develops and produces patient-specific training models for training surgical procedures and validating new medical devices. The medtech startup aims to facilitate test, train, plan interventions, and improve patient safety using high-end technology as an alternative to human and animal models. www.surgeonslab.com 
 
Thomas Gurry, Vesta Biosciences, UNIGE, biotech 
Vesta Biosciences develops a framework for rational modulation of the fermentation capabilities of an individual’s gut microbiota. The biotech startup aims to leverage the individual-specific differences in these capabilities by using a proprietary diagnostic technology that provides customers with personalized dietary fiber supplements. 
 
Elena Nedelkoska, WoDens, BFH, materials 
WoDens Technology offers a solution to modify sustainable domestic wood to create a new material that has similar appearance and properties as tropical wood. The startup’s USP is the customization of the color according to the needs of the customers.  

And on the Indian side, the 10 selected entrepreneurs are:

Anirban Palit, Pragmatech, Pragmatech develops the CERVICHECK™ Self-Sampling Kit : For Self Collection of cervical cells for Cervical Cancer Screening.

Gunjan Patel, GaitSense, GaitSense develops diagnostics and rehabilitation med-tech solutions accessible for people with locomotion disabilities and neurological disorders of physical disability.

Varinder Singh, from Chitkara University, Varinder has developed a technique to convert agricultural waste to energy, solving the issue of rice-stubble burning and pollution.

Chandan Kumar Jha, from IIT Gandhinagar, Chandan Kumar Jha has developed a virtual hand rehabilitation and assessment system for stroke patients.

Nisha Ramraj Yadav, Edhaa Innovations, On Point is a Point of care, multi-nutrient digital kit for detection of nutritional imbalance.

Khushboo Shrivastava, Coulomb AI Private Limited, Khushboo Shrivastava has developed a battery intelligence platform for electric vehicles and energy storage system.

Neeleshkumar L. Pandit, Technoceutics India Private Limited, One-stop solution for the precise tinnitus matching and IoT-based platform for providing multimodal treatment.

Akshay Hiren Patil, MCLabs Private Limited, MCLabs develops public safety-LTE based broadband communication system.

Dinoj Joseph, N/A, Dinoj has developed affordable isolation room for burns (AIR-B).

Preethi A, from IIT Guwahati, Preethi A has developed a pelvic floor mesh for menopausal and post-menopausal women.