Institute for Digital Technology Management launches Deep-Tech Support Navigator for Switzerland

Switzerland regularly ranks among the top performers in global innovation rankings and boasts an exceptional density of deep-tech spin-offs from universities and research institutions. Deep-tech innovations are those based on new scientific findings, typically hardware-based, and capable of unlocking a wide range of markets and applications through their platform character or dual-use potential. Yet the path from invention to market-ready product is demanding. Especially in the period immediately following a spin-off, support offerings are critical in helping deep-tech founders turn scientific findings into viable products and business models. However, a recent research study from Bern University of Applied Sciences shows that the real needs of deep-tech startups and Switzerland's existing funding landscape are still far apart.

As part of a master's thesis at the Institute for Digital Technology Management (IDTM), Donat Rüttimann, supervised by Stefan Raff-Heinen, systematically analyzed 169 Swiss venture support programs and conducted interviews with founders and ecosystem stakeholders. The findings show that although 63% of Swiss venture capital flows into deep tech, according to the recently published Swiss Deep Tech Report 2026, only a small number of support offerings (24) are currently tailored to the specific characteristics of complex deep-tech projects, with their long development cycles and high capital intensity. The gap is particularly pronounced in the critical market-entry phase (Technology & Market Readiness Level 7–9), where the available support drops off markedly. Overall, respondents perceive the support landscape as highly fragmented and difficult to navigate. It is often unclear to founders whom to approach for specific support in different areas on the path "from lab to market," or suitable support offerings are simply not visible enough.

The Deep-Tech Support Navigator

To give deep-tech founders clear orientation after spinning off, IDTM is now launching the interactive Deep-Tech Support Navigator. The tool enables startups to search Switzerland's support landscape in a targeted way, matched precisely to their needs. Founders can filter existing offerings by technology area, company stage, funding type, and 20 specific commercialization competencies, allowing them to find exactly the support their team needs at any given moment.

The Navigator is launched as a living database and will be continuously updated. The project team is relying on input from the Swiss startup community: founders, coaches, funding organizations, and other ecosystem stakeholders are warmly invited to test the tool, provide feedback, and submit new programs directly via the integrated feedback form.