What EPFL Innovation Park does

EPFL Innovation Park, legally Fondation EPFL Innovation Park, is a not-for-profit foundation established in the early 1990s and operating as the principal deep-tech incubation and hosting platform on the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. It serves a two-sided customer base — deep-tech startups, SMEs, and scale-ups on one side, and large global corporations (including Logitech, Swisscom, Nestlé, Siemens Healthineers, Novartis, Schindler, UBS, and Firmenich) on the other — by providing physical workspace, thematic acceleration programs (Tech4Eva for femtech, Tech4Trust for cybersecurity, Tech4Regen for cleantech/regeneration, Future of Health Grant for digital health), structured coaching, and facilitated access to investors including Venture Kick, SICTIC, Verve Ventures, and Swisscom Ventures. The organization is one of six sites in the government-funded Switzerland Innovation network and operates thematic sub-brands across four physical locations: the main Lausanne campus, St-Sulpice (~7,000 sqm of new buildings), Ecublens workshop facilities, and the 25,000 sqm unlimitrust campus in Prilly developed jointly with SICPA.

The platform-plus-services architecture is anchored by physical products — La Forge (co-working with 6–12 months free access), Le Garage (early-stage workspace in Ecublens), Trust Village (cybersecurity incubator at the unlimitrust campus), and modular lab/office rentals — and overlaid with equity-free acceleration programs (the Future of Health Grant offers up to CHF 90,000 in non-dilutive funding) and structured open-innovation platforms such as KNOVA. Coaching is delivered free of charge to resident entrepreneurs through financial support from Innosuisse, platinn network, FIT, and EPFL. There is no proprietary software or AI product built in-house; the underlying technology is the curated ecosystem itself, comprising 500+ EPFL laboratories, 300+ corporate collaborators, 35 on-site corporate innovation cells, and a network spanning 1,000+ startups globally.

The revenue model is foundation-driven rather than equity-based: corporate hosting operates on minimum 5-year rental contracts with key account management, acceleration programs are funded through corporate sponsorship (CSS, Fortinet, PwC, Groupe Mutuel, Novartis, and others) plus public grants from Innosuisse and Innovaud, and tenant companies participate in application-based cohorts. Over its 30+ year history, the Park has hosted approximately 500 startups and scale-ups (including 350 EPFL spin-offs) and assisted 250+ portfolio companies in raising more than CHF 1 billion in external investment. The 2025 cohort broke records with 39 launched startups, CHF 701 million raised, and four new unicorns (Distalmotion, Ecorobotix, Neural Concept, Cyberhaven). The foundation employs approximately 23 staff and operates with no parent company.

Name

EPFL Innovation Park

Legal name

Fondation EPFL Innovation Park

Website

https://epfl-innovationpark.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EPFL Innovation Park is a not-for-profit foundation operating the principal deep-tech incubation and hosting platform on the EPFL campus in Lausanne, serving startups, SMEs, and global corporate R&D teams through physical workspace, thematic acceleration programs, coaching, and investor access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deep-tech Innovation Hub and Incubator Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Deep-tech incubation
• Startup acceleration programs
• Technology transfer services
• Corporate innovation hosting
• Venture funding facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Incubation and Hosting Services: EPFL Innovation Park is a not-for-profit foundation (Fondation EPFL Innovation Park) that generates revenue through rental of office and laboratory space to startups, SMEs, and corporate R&D teams. The foundation has assisted over 250 companies in raising more than 1 billion CHF in investment funding over its 20+ year history.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EPFL Innovation Park operates a deep-tech innovation hub on the EPFL campus in Lausanne, providing physical workspace, sector-specific acceleration programs, expert coaching, funding facilitation, and corporate R&D hosting services to startups, SMEs, and large corporations. Its core products are incubation spaces (La Forge, Le Garage, Trust Village, Modular Workspaces), themed acceleration programs (Tech4Trust, Tech4Regen, Tech4Eva, Future of Health Grant), and partnership platforms (KNOVA, Trust4SMEs) that connect resident companies with EPFL's 500+ laboratories and a network of 300+ corporate partners and venture capital investors.

Product overview

EPFL Innovation Park is a not-for-profit foundation operating as a deep-tech innovation ecosystem and startup incubator hosted at EPFL Campus. The organization provides a platform-plus-services architecture consisting of physical incubation spaces (La Forge, Le Garage, Trust Village, Modular Workspaces), thematic acceleration programs (Tech4Regen, Tech4Trust, Tech4Eva, Future of Health Grant), business support services (Coaching, Funding assistance), and partnership platforms (KNOVA, Trust4SMEs). The ecosystem connects over 500 startups and scale-ups with academic research, corporate partners, and venture capital to accelerate technology transfer and market deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tech4Trust: Equity-free acceleration program for startups in digital trust and cybersecurity
• Tech4Regen
• Tech4Eva
• Future of Health Grant
• KNOVA
• La Forge
• Trust Village
• Le Garage

Products and services

• La Forge Co-working space and community for entrepreneurs staging events, workshops, and demo days, located at the heart of EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne. Welcomes all types of startups for 6 months to 1 year free access, serving early-stage founders seeking workspace and community engagement.
• Le Garage Workspace for early-stage companies providing first premises at reasonable rent for up to two years, located in Ecublens a 10-minute walk from the EPFL campus, serving early-stage startups needing affordable initial office space.
• Trust Village Thematic incubator helping cybersecurity and digital trust early-stage companies accelerate their growth, located at SICPA's unlimitrust campus in Prilly and Campus Biotech Innovation Park in Geneva, serving early-stage cybersecurity and trust-tech startups.
• Modular Workspaces Flexible-lease private office and laboratory space in the heart of EPFL Innovation Park with locations in St-Sulpice and unlimitrust campus, serving startups, SMEs, and corporate R&D teams needing modular workspace.
• Tech4Regen Acceleration program addressing planetary boundary challenges, supporting disruptive startups in cleantech, greentech, and regeneration with industrialization coaching, pilot projects, and international partnerships, for deep-tech startups in environmental and climate sectors.
• Tech4Trust Equity-free acceleration program for startups in digital trust and cybersecurity, connecting startups with public and private sector to drive breakthrough innovations, for early-stage cybersecurity and trust-tech startups.
• Tech4Eva International accelerator supporting and scaling femtech startups in women's health and well-being, for femtech founders seeking international scaling support.
• Future of Health Grant Digital health innovation programme providing up to CHF 90,000 in non-dilutive funding, personalized coaching, and access to healthcare network, for early-stage digital health startups seeking grant funding and clinical connections.
• Coaching Services Network of sector-specific experienced coaches helping startups develop projects, stress-test business plans, and prepare for market entry, offered free of charge to affiliated entrepreneurs thanks to financial support from Innosuisse, platinn network, FIT, and EPFL.
• Funding Services Assistance in finding tailor-made funding solutions and investment connections, having assisted over 250 companies in raising more than CHF 1 billion since the foundation's inception, for startups needing investor introductions and funding navigation.
• KNOVA Open Innovation Platform connecting companies with EPFL's university research ecosystem to drive innovation, enabling large corporates to access EPFL research talent and startups.
• Trust4SMEs Program helping SMEs strengthen cybersecurity through diagnostics, training, and coaching over 10-12 months with subsidized access to expertise, for SMEs seeking to improve their cybersecurity posture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 companies assisted in raising more than 1 billion CHF in investment funding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, major and strategic.

• Switzerland InnovationcoreOthersGovernment-funded country-wide organization that fosters links between industry and Swiss academic institutions. EPFL Innovation Park is one of six sites in the Switzerland Innovation network, facilitating exchange between companies and universities.
• InnosuissecoreOthersSwiss Innovation Agency that promotes innovation through funding and support programs. Provides co-funding for innovation projects and business creation courses.
• InnovaudcoreOthersAgency of the Canton of Vaud promoting investment and innovation throughout the canton, supporting the EPFL Innovation Park ecosystem.
• Trust ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with SICPA and Canton de Vaud for digital trust and cybersecurity ecosystem. Hosts Trust Village incubator and runs Tech4Trust acceleration program.
• SICPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating the unlimitrust campus in Prilly, a 25,000 m2 facility for trust technologies. Hosts the Trust Village incubator.
• CSScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss health insurance company co-founding the Future of Health Grant digital health innovation program with EPFL Innovation Park.
• EPFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - the university campus where EPFL Innovation Park is located. Over 500 EPFL laboratories and research centers provide research access.
• Fondation pour l'Innovation Technologique (FIT)supportingOthersFoundation providing financial support to innovative technological projects at different development stages. Co-funds coaching services at EPFL Innovation Park.
• LogitechmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner with R&D and innovation cell located at EPFL Innovation Park. Head of Technology Innovation part of the Technology Office & Site Leader is based on campus.
• SwisscommajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecommunications provider with Swisscom Digital Lab innovation hub at EPFL Innovation Park, focusing on digital innovation and AI.
• NestlémajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal food and beverage company with R&D presence at EPFL Innovation Park campus.
• Siemens HealthineersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedical technology company with corporate presence at the Park for research collaboration.
• AC ImmunemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLife sciences company developing precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, success story from the ecosystem.
• FirmenichmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest privately-owned perfume and taste company collaborating with EPFL labs and startups on campus.
• NovartismajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal pharmaceutical company participating in KNOVA program for innovation collaboration.
• SchindlermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultinational company manufacturing escalators and elevators, leveraging EPFL knowledge for mobility innovation.
• UBSmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal financial services firm with presence at EPFL Innovation Park campus.
• Groupe MutuelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner supporting acceleration programs at EPFL Innovation Park.
• PwC SwitzerlandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing support and expertise for acceleration programs.
• FortinetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity company supporting Tech4Trust acceleration program.
• Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AIstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership signed at World Economic Forum in Davos between Stanford HAI and Swiss National AI Institute (jointly led by ETH Zurich and EPFL) for long-term collaboration in AI research and education.
• Ensemble Hospitalier de la CôtesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare institution partnering with Future of Health Grant program to support startups in accessing European markets.
• Future4caresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Paris/Berlin providing international expansion support for Future of Health Grant startups.
• Barcelona & Madrid Health HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth innovation hub in Spain providing market access support for Future of Health Grant startups.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Station F: Paris-based world's largest startup campus hosting 1,000+ startups with on-site acceleration programs, corporate innovation cells, and a similar hub-and-program operating model. Directly comparable as a European deep-tech incubator combining workspace, programs, and corporate partnerships under one roof.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub anchored by University of Toronto, providing incubation, acceleration, and corporate R&D hosting for healthtech, cleantech, and AI startups. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated deep-tech hub with mixed academic-corporate-startup tenancy.
• UnternehmerTUM: TUM (Technical University of Munich)'s entrepreneurship and innovation center, operating incubation, acceleration, and corporate R&D programs directly tied to a leading European technical university. The closest direct structural peer to EPFL Innovation Park in Germany.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): US-based operator of multi-location innovation campuses providing co-working, lab space, and venture programs. Comparable in its multi-site real-estate-plus-programs model and its focus on deep-tech and life-sciences tenants alongside corporate clients.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform operating 50+ industry-specific accelerator programs and corporate innovation partnerships. Comparable in its vertical-specific program model (similar to Tech4Trust, Tech4Regen, Tech4Eva) and corporate-startup intermediation model.
• MassChallenge: Global non-equity startup accelerator with programs in multiple countries and verticals. Comparable in its non-dilutive, equity-free acceleration model and large-scale startup cohort delivery, particularly relevant for future international expansion.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the world's largest global accelerator networks, operating programs across 50+ verticals with corporate sponsorship. Comparable as a global deep-tech and vertical-specific accelerator, though typically equity-based versus the Park's non-dilutive model.
• Y Combinator: The world's most established startup accelerator, providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo-day exposure. While primarily a software-focused batch accelerator, it represents the benchmark ecosystem player and a key competitive reference for global startup deal flow.

Others

• ETH Zurich: Switzerland's other top federal technical university, with its own deep-tech spin-off ecosystem. Relevant as the closest academic peer and a source of both competitive startups and potential collaboration in the Swiss deep-tech landscape.

Regional players

• Talent Garden: Italy-focused network of innovation campuses and co-working spaces with a strong education and training component. Comparable as a European regional deep-tech campus operator with multi-city presence, but with less direct university anchoring than the Park.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parc-scientifique-epfl
• Xx.com/epfl_park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EPFL Innovation Park