About us.

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. Lukas Rohr

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

Roland Schmid

Board member, self-employed interim manager and consultant XING

Jürg Schwarzenbach

Board member, owner MARCARO AG

Management.

Peter Brunner

CEO, head of research Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Information Technology
E-MailLinkedIn

Office.

Katja Jeanbourquin

Secretary at STI and assistant at Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Information Technology
E-Mail

Foundation.

The STI was founded in 2005 by the Berner Kantonalbank and the Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Information Technology 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.

New: Brochure for patrons

Anita Jörg

Anita Jörg is Head of Marketing at SIPBB
LinkedIn

Organisation.

Founders

The STI was founded in 2005 as a result of a joint initiative by the BEKB I BCBE and the Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Information Technology.

The financial engagement of the Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB) for STI Foundation is part of the support program for young companies.

Foundation board

The foundation board is the strategic decision-making body. The Executive Committee of Economic and University representatives determines the eligibility rules, defines the financial framework conditions, and monitors the activities of the other organs..

Committee of Experts

Be-advanced organizes the Committee of Experts and the application process on behalf of the STI. The members of the Committee are experts from business and science with experience in the construction sector, innovation processes and technology development.
The Committee of Experts recommends to the Foundation Board the projects to be promoted and the amount of loans.
Each young entrepreneur is accompanied by a personal coach who coordinates guidance and coaching of the startup projekt.

Management

The Management oversee the operative daily business, which covers all aspects of the organisation, financial management, communication and reporting.

Office

The office is run by the Technology Transfer Office of the Bern University of Applied Sciences – Engineering and Information Technology.