Nasri Nahas, CEO of Biopôle, expressed delight that ‘Biopôle is making the right connection at the right time to further support entrepreneurship’. He continued: ‘It’s a fantastic partnership, because SHS’s mission aligns so closely with ours, yet it also allows us to expand into new territory in the form of German-speaking Switzerland, where there’s a huge pool of talent and potential collaboration opportunities.’

Meanwhile, SHS CEO Diana Hardie stated: ‘Swiss Healthcare Startups is thrilled to co-host the Vanguard Accelerator programme. This exceptional initiative offers digital health start-ups the chance to test their business hypotheses and receive networking support from a wide range of experts.’

SHS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering innovation within the Swiss healthcare sector. It seeks to empower start-ups by increasing their exposure and facilitating access to key stakeholders. Serving as a neutral platform, it actively encourages dialogue, networking and the exchange of ideas across the healthcare landscape, with the aim of catalysingcollaboration and transformation within the industry.

The Vanguard Accelerator programme welcomes applications all year round from early-stage companies or projects that have reached proof of concept. Candidates should simply fill out the application form online. The strongest applicants will then be invited to present to the programme’s panel of experts, who will select companies for the Vanguard Accelerator based on the quality of their application, the project’s potential impact, its clinical relevance and how well it fits with the committee’s expertise.

Any start-ups selected for the Vanguard Accelerator will benefit from exclusive networking opportunities and business hypothesis testing support, as well as six months of desk space at Biopôle. They will also enjoy the support of two dedicated programme managers, who will make sure they have the resources they need to build momentum and achieve their goals.