CleantechAlps celebrates 15 years and introduces KIWI sustainability self-assessment tool

16.04.2026 14:30, Rita Longobardi

This year, CleantechAlps marks 15 years of activity in support of sustainable innovation, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland. Since its inception, the Swiss cleantech startup ecosystem has grown to include more than 600 startups. Companies in this field have collectively raised over CHF 3 billion since 2010. This trajectory reflects the steady development of a sector that plays an important role in the Swiss economy.

Over the years, CleantechAlps has acted as an interface between economic, academic, industrial, and institutional stakeholders in the fields of cleantech and sustainability. This approach has contributed to developments in areas such as energy efficiency, upcycling, mobility, hydrogen, and CCS/CCUS. “Our mission for 2026 continues under the slogan: connect, promote, and support,” the team states. The anniversary marks both a milestone and a continuation of its activities in a context shaped by climate and economic challenges.

More details on the 15th anniversary are available on the CleantechAlps website.

KIWI: a tool to address sustainability

As part of this context, CleantechAlps introduces KIWI, a self-assessment tool designed for startups aiming to integrate sustainability into their strategy. Developed in collaboration with The Ark Foundation and supported by Venturelab, KIWI is an online tool that enables an initial assessment of a company’s sustainability practices.

The tool is intended to support startups at an early stage, providing a structured framework and a set of indicators to guide their approach. It also contributes to a broader 2027 roadmap focused on strengthening the resilience of SMEs by integrating sustainability considerations, including aspects related to risk management.

KIWI is presented in the SDG/ESG workshop of the Venturelab Entrepreneurship Training program powered by Innosuisse, where feedback from initial cohorts is also discussed. The tool is also accessible to Venture Kick candidates.
 

Decarbonization and sustainability survey: key findings

CleantechAlps has also published the results of its 2025-2026 survey examining the practices, ambitions, and challenges of Swiss SMEs in relation to sustainability.

Conducted among 680 business leaders, the study provides a detailed overview of the current landscape, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory requirements. The findings indicate that while awareness of sustainability topics is well established, the structuring of related strategies remains limited across many organizations.

The initiative aims to support the development of industry roadmaps, to facilitate implementation for SMEs and startups and advance their transition toward more sustainable practices.

The full summary of the results is available online.