Range of services

Do you require a practice-oriented and scientifically sound solution that is tailored to your needs? Applied research and development at Bern University of Applied Sciences offers high methodological and professional competencies as well as access to key technologies.

Research and development

Research partnerships

We have many years of experience with practice-oriented approaches to development and solving problems, and we have access to a broad national and international network.

We maintain our cooperations and partnerships on a project-related or long-term basis. In research partnerships we work with you to derive a solution. We also support you in the planning of research projects, in the search for partners and sponsorship organisations (national and international), or in project and quality management.

Your contact person

Are you interested in a research partnership with a research unit or an institute of the BFH? We will be glad to help you:

Social innovation for sustainability

With its interdisciplinary research, BFH makes concrete contributions to social transformation and is committed to achieving the sustainability goals.

Project CircuBAT

Extraction of secondary plant substances

The future of the CNHW

Promotion of research and innovation

We support our researchers and partners from industry in accessing national or international funding programmes such as the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Innosuisse, as well as EU funding programmes such as Horizon Europe.

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) promotes scientific research in all disciplines. As well as providing support for projects, the Foundation promotes the careers of individual research scientists

Grant Administration Office SNSF

The Grant Administration Office is responsible for the administration of approved SNSF grants, financial reporting to the SNSF and advising researchers on administrative issues relating to SNSF applications.

Current SNSF projects at the BFH

Innosuisse

As the innovation-promoting agency of the federal government, Innosuisse supports application-oriented research partnerships between companies and universities, thereby promoting innovation potential in Switzerland.

Current Innosuisse Projects at the BFH

be-connected – the new Bernese networking platform for innovation + entrepreneurship

Your company is looking for support, but you can't find it? Those days are over for Bernese entrepreneurs! SMEs, start-ups and founders can now find over 100 support offers from the diverse Bernese innovation ecosystem on be-connected.ch. No matter what stage your company is in, you can find what you are looking for quickly and easily on be-connected.ch.

Euresearch Office BFH

Euresearch is the Swiss information network for European research and innovation programmes (Horizon Europe), and promotes Swiss participation in international research projects and programmes.

Researchers at the BFH as well as companies from the Canton of Bern receive support from Euresearch Office BFH in their search for funding opportunities and research partners, as well as with tendering, application submissions and later with project management.
 

EU projects of the BFH

Spin-offs of the BFH

With the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, which operates a platform for application-oriented research and development in industrial technology in the immediate vicinity of the future Biel/Bienne campus, the BFH has attractive framework conditions for research groups and spin-offs.

Selection of spin-offs of the BFH

Evolaris

The idea of developing a purely electric propulsion system for powered aerobatics had been buzzing around in the minds of the founding members of evolaris for some time. The two students from the Bern University of Applied Sciences then succeeded in presenting their idea in the form of a bachelor's thesis.

NaturLoop

NaturLoop offers a sustainable alternative to wood-based panels. The idea for the 100% bio-based building material arose at the AHB 2014 from a call by the Hilti Foundation for locally produced building materials.

Since then, with the support of Frédéric Pichelin, the team at IWH and AHB-WTT, the founding members have managed to attract over 1 million in third-party funding and private investment to BFH for a continuous series of research projects. As a result, in 2020 NaturLoop AG was founded at Solothurnstrasse in Biel and this year the patent and trade mark for Cocoboard® were registered.

NaturLoop is a finalist at Venture Kick I-III and Stage-up, the Bernese Business Creation Competition, among others, as well as a prize winner at the Tech4Impact, VENTURE for Industrials & Engineering and Seif Driving Impact Innovation Awards.

PRiOT

PRiOT offers complete solutions in the area of the Internet of Things (IoT). These solutions include the provision of sensors, the selection and operation of suitable transmission technology, and the evaluation and visualisation of data.

With filter monitoring, a solution for smart management of air filters, roof monitor, a solution for monitoring the tightness of flat roofs, and energy monitor, a solution for remote reading of energy meters, PRiOT offers a broad IoT portfolio.
 

ReseaTech

In May 2015, Simon Zumbrunnen and Philipp Haslebacher, two graduates of the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, founded ReseaTech as a high-tech start-up. The Burgdorf-based start-up company produces measuring instruments for volumes of liquid in the microlitre range, which are required especially by manufacturers in the biotechnology and medical technology sectors.

Threatray

Researchers at the Bern University of Applied Sciences have developed a tool that significantly improves the analysis of malware and hence the protection against cyber attacks. After successfully setting up the company, they have now brought their innovation to the market.

TLD Photonics

TLD Photonics develops and high-end lasers and optical systems for industry and research. Their modular design enables them to develop customised femto lasers with short lead times. TLD Photonics offers customers state-of-the-art solutions in industrial laser applications.

WoCS Wood Composite Simulations GmbH

With Virtual Hot Press (VHP), WoCS offers the international wood-based materials industry a versatile simulation software as a digital twin of their production plants for efficient process optimisation, product development and training purposes. 

As part of his fundamental research work, Heiko Thoemen created a mathematical-physical model at Oregon State University, the University of Hamburg and the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH. Based on this model, the spin-off is now developing and marketing an intuitive simulation platform.

The beta version will already be used in September 2021, in a continuing education course at BFH. In this way, the newly founded spin-off will continue to fertilise teaching and research at BFH, while BFH serves as a test platform. A win-win situation, to the benefit of all involved: BFH offers its employees favourable framework conditions and benefits from new access to the economy through spin-offs.