Seed-financing for technological innovation
The STI supports the establishment of companies in the Bern region. It supports business people in their individual, early development phase. It is on the lookout for people with new ideas and innovative creativity, who are developing marketable products and want to bring them onto the market.
Technology-oriented research results from the universities in Berne represent an important innovation potential. For this reason, the STI cooperates closely with the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bern, and operates a network of innovative companies and funding bodies.
Thanks to the generous commitment of the BEKB I BCBE, the STI is able to make a major contribution to the region, so that technologically-innovative companies with attractive jobs will also settle in the Espace Mittelland region in the future.
Some numbers.
- 90 loan-financed projects (since foundation until January 2023)
- 10 projects are evaluated by the Foundation board every year
- 2011 was the year of first repayments were being made
By far the largest part of the ongoing projects are active in new, innovative markets. Individual projects were not pursued for various reasons
The aim of the Foundation is to support promising young entrepreneurs at startup and furter to help interested people to launch their ideas.
Organisational chart of the STI Foundation as part of the regional Ecosystem
Annual report 2022 of the STI Foundation (in German)
Foundation board.
Dr. Raoul Waldburger
President of the foundation board LinkedIn
Marcel Oertle
Vice-President of foundation board, Member of the executive board at the BEKB | BCBE LinkedIn
Dr. Ina Goller
Board member, programme director at Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Computer Science LinkedIn
Dr. Urs Guggenbühl
Associate member, headcoach ICT at be-advanced, Owner of novoviam gmbh LinkedIn
Felix Kunz
Board member, Board Delegate and Co-Founder Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne LinkedIn
Dr. Lukas Rohr
Board member LinkedIn
Board member, director FERS, Family Office Jürg Schwarzenbach
Board member, owner MARCARO AG
Board member, owner Vengrow AG,Management.
CEO, head of research Bern University of Applied Sciences – School of Engineering and Computer ScienceOffice.
Katja Jeanbourquin
Secretary at STI and assistant at Bern University of Applied Sciences – School of Engineering and Computer Science
E-Mail
Foundation.
The STI was founded in 2005 by the Berner Kantonalbank and the Bern University of Applied Sciences – School of Engineering and Computer Science with foundation capital of CHF 3.5 million.
Developing the STI.
The foundation capital has already been increased twice – to a total of CHF 10 million (Stand as of 2019).
During 2020/2021 the Foundation STI aims to generate CHF 20 million in new foundation capital with successful entrepreneurs, business supporters, philanthropists and supporters of young entrepreneurs. In addition to the designated persons of the Foundation, Anita Jörg participates in the working group formed for this purpose.
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