Collaboration between SMEs and universities: call for projects until April 14
To stimulate innovation and encourage collaboration between industrial SMEs and Geneva's universities (UNIGE, HES-SO Genève), OPI is launching its call for projects 2022.
At the end of the selection process, each successful application will receive a grant of up to CHF 15,000 to finance all or part of a feasibility study aimed at testing a product or service with strong innovative potential.
Companies, researchers andteachers can submit their applications by April 14, 2022. A panel of judges will select the most promising projects, and feasibility studies may be launched as early as May. To find out about the eligibility criteria, obtain the application form and present your project in complete confidentiality, please contact contact@opi.ch.
One of the OPI's missions is to build bridges between universities and industry, with the aim of developing innovative projects that will benefit the local economic fabric. In this context, eight feasibility studies were supported in 2021, in fields as diverse as engineering, biology, microtechnology, artificial intelligence and consumer behavior studies. Depending on their objectives, the studies have been entrusted to teams from UNIGE (Advanced Technology Laboratory), HEPIA and HEG.
Who is the call for projects aimed at?
The project must involve technological or usage innovation (product or service). Similarly, the grant must be for a PoC (Proof of Concept) study, and is intended solely to finance all or part of the mandate entrusted to a Haute Ecole. Generally speaking, the feasibility study should enable the project to move on to a larger scale.
Companies with fewer than 250 employees can apply - note that a company can only obtain a subsidy every two years.
Procedure
Once the application has been submitted (deadline April 14), an interview will be organized with the jury, who will assess the innovative dimension of the project (end of April). Studies of selected projects can begin in May.
Source : OPI
