Call for Proposals [seal] Innovation: Cybersecurity & Aerospace
The [seal] program, launched by HEIG-VD in collaboration with EPFL and UNIL, is issuing its fourth call for projects focused on aerospace cybersecurity, in partnership with Swiss Aeropole. With the goal of strengthening security and trust in critical aerospace systems, this new edition supports the development of innovative solutions that combine academic research with practical applications. Selected projects will be eligible for funding of up to CHF 200,000 for a duration of 6 to 12 months. Applications are now open and are intended for researchers, companies, and public or private organizations seeking to develop collaborative innovations.
Details & Application – Deadline:❗️January 15, 2027❗️
An additional program, the Setup Booster, also provides CHF 5,000 to develop a preliminary project plan, identify partners, and prepare a complete application based on a summary presentation and a short video.
Ensuring Trust in Critical Aerospace Systems
As aerospace systems become more connected and reliant on digital technologies, ensuring their security is a strategic issue for the reliability of infrastructure and operations.
This fourth call for projects [seal] aims to address these challenges by supporting applied innovations—whether technological prototypes, business tools, methodologies, or new professional practices—that strengthen the cybersecurity of critical systems. Projects must include at least two academic partners from the EPFL–UNIL–HEIG-VD consortium and one implementation partner based in the canton of Vaud, with the goal of developing concrete, testable solutions that are likely to generate benefits for the regional economic ecosystem.
The program provides funding for up to 90% of eligible costs, with funding for personnel and equipment expenses covering up to 100% of academic costs and 70% of those incurred by implementation partners.
For technology-based SMEs in French-speaking Switzerland—particularly those active in cybersecurity, embedded systems, digital infrastructure, or aerospace technologies—this call represents an opportunity to tap into complementary scientific expertise, test solutions under real-world conditions, and accelerate their transfer to industrial applications. It is a way to bridge the gap between research and the market, while contributing to the resilience of a sector where digital trust is becoming an essential prerequisite for innovation.
