Program

Be part of the 10 Swiss "Sciencepreneurs" who will challenge their startup project on the Indian market. Join a 2-week entrepreneurship program with a camp in India and another in Switzerland. Learn more on how to do business in India, and how to expand your business in Switzerland.

The program is aimed at young researchers and founding members of science-based Swiss startups who are looking to discover the market potential of their applied research project in India and to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

Each edition accepts ten young researchers and awards CHF 10,000 to each of the two most promising projects to enable them to grow and internationalize their ventures.The program is open to Master’s students, PhD students, postdocs and young researchers from Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, and universities of teacher education, as well as from research institutes and centers of technological excellence.

Admission process and program

Registration deadline: August 5th, 2024

Register your project and apply for one of 10 seats in the one-week intensive Academia-Industry Training program in India and in Switzerland.

Jury presentation: August 29th, 2024 (Online)

Personal presentation by the best 15-20 applicants in front of the jury.

Kick-off and preparation camp: September 26th - 27th 2024, Lausanne

Get to know the other Sciencepreneurs and prepare for the camp.

Trip to India: November 18th - 22nd, 2024

Explore the business side of India, learning about market access, IP strategy, visiting startups in the field, all combined with a unique experience of the culture.

AIT Camp in Switzerland: February 04th-07th, 2025

Deep dive in the the Swiss Startup Ecosystem, having multiple business development workshops, pitching and networking events and visiting exciting companies.

Program partners

The Academia-Industry Training (AIT) India program is an innovation-based instrument of the Leading House South Asia at ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, executed together with Swissnex in India and Venturelab as key program partners.

Mandated by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the ZHAW is the Leading House for research collaboration with partner institutions in South Asia.

Voices of former AIT India participants

Learn more about the program in previous years, and discover most promising Swiss and Indian startups here. You can also find below some participants' testimonies of 2023's edition:

“AIT India's program was extremely helpful for advancing our startup. Gaining insight into the Indian market opened up new opportunities for growth, and making new connections was invaluable. The feedback, networking, and learning we got in Switzerland on our business case was very constructive. I encourage every early-stage startup with an international business case to apply!” Alexander Kübler, co-founder of RoBoa

“The AIT program is more than just building strong business strategies; it connects you with an incredible network of entrepreneurs and Swiss innovation experts, invaluable for life. Plus, it offers an unmatched, immersive experience in India, giving you insights into local entrepreneurship that you simply couldn't get on your own in such a short time. It's basically an all-encompassing adventure that prepares you to make a mark in not only India but in the global business world!” Laura Stocco, co-founder of Openversum

“AIT India is a transformative journey. Outwards and Inwards.” Donato Rubinetti, founder of Ionic wind technologies

“AIT's name would suggest that it is to train about India's industries - this is highly misleading as it offers so much more. It can be its own incubation program stretched over a year! Even for advanced startups the learning in business, communication, sales, pitching, and market exploration is excellent.” Nikunj Dudani, co-founder of Aerospec

“There is no better way to discover the Indian market. You also emerge with a comprehensive toolkit for business development, encompassing intellectual property, market analysis, risk management, and negotiation skills. Beyond the knowledge, you'll gain a network of fellow entrepreneurs, forging friendships and connections that last a lifetime. It's not just a program; it's a transformative journey that equips you for success in the competitive world of business.” Karim Zahra, co-founder of Neosens