Diabetes Center Berne

What Diabetes Center Berne does

Diabetes Center Berne (DCB) is a private, independent Swiss foundation established in 2017 by entrepreneur Willy Michel and headquartered at Freiburgstrasse 3, Bern. As a non-profit foundation, DCB functions as a translational research institute and innovation accelerator for diabetes technology rather than a commercial product company. Its service portfolio spans end-to-end support for diabetes-technology innovators: clinical research services (protocol design, regulatory submission, monitoring, data management), laboratory and Bio Safety 2 facilities with specialized cold storage and GLP/GCLP compliance, regulatory affairs guidance (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, ISO 14155, FDA/MDR market access), data and algorithm services, and business and marketing support. DCB anchors four endowed professorships at the University of Bern (Sensing & Monitoring Lab, PrecisionLab, TrimLab, INSPIRE, Machine Learning in Medicine) totaling 61 researchers, and runs structured programs including the annual Open Innovation Challenge (up to USD 100,000 per winner), the Innovation Bootcamp in the Swiss Alps, and the Lived Experience Panel of people with diabetes. The organization also conducts original clinical research such as the multinational TIMES Study on menstrual-cycle effects in Type 1 diabetes, and publishes the DT-Report survey on DACH-region diabetes-technology usage. Revenue is generated through foundation funding and donations, competitive research grants, industry-supported research collaborations, service fees, and prize pass-throughs, with no commercial product sales.

Name

Diabetes Center Berne

Legal name

Diabetes Center Berne (DCB Foundation)

Website

https://dcberne.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diabetes Center Berne is a Swiss non-profit foundation, established in 2017, that accelerates diabetes-technology innovation by providing clinical, laboratory, regulatory, data, and business services to start-ups, researchers, and medical-device companies worldwide, anchored by four university professorships and a global patient community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Technology Research & Innovation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diabetes Digital Therapeutics & Dose Decision Support (Bolus Calculators) (HLAHAHAJ), Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) / Closed-Loop Systems (HLAHAHAF), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Diabetes technology innovation
• Clinical research services
• Medical device regulation
• Translational medicine support
• Non-profit research foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation funding and donations: DCB is a non-profit foundation established by Willy Michel in 2017. Revenue comes from donations and foundation funding directed toward diabetes technology research and innovation support.
2. Innovation Challenge prize funding: Provides funding and in-kind support (up to USD 100,000 per winner) to selected innovators through the Open Innovation Challenge, sourced from foundation resources and partnerships.
3. Clinical and research services: Provides clinical research services, lab facilities, regulatory services, data services, and business services to researchers, start-ups, and corporates. Projects are evaluated within two weeks and professionally supported.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Diabetes Center Berne is a non-profit foundation that operates as a translational research institute and innovation accelerator for diabetes technology. It provides fee-based clinical research services, laboratory facilities and bioanalytics, regulatory affairs support, data services, and business development services to startups, researchers, and medical device companies. It runs structured programs including the annual Open Innovation Challenge (up to USD 100,000 prize), the Innovation Bootcamp accelerator, and the Lived Experience Panel, and conducts its own clinical research such as the multinational TIMES Study.

Product overview

Diabetes Center Berne (DCB) is a private, independent Swiss foundation established in 2017 that functions as a translational research institute and innovation accelerator for diabetes technology rather than a product manufacturer. DCB's portfolio centers on supporting the development of new diabetes innovations and products worldwide through a comprehensive service ecosystem. The core offerings include clinical research services (covering study design, monitoring, regulatory submission, and data management), laboratory services and facilities (Bio Safety 2 Lab, specialized storage, bioanalytics), regulatory affairs guidance (MDR/FDA market access, ISO standards), data services (secure storage, algorithm validation, statistical analysis), and business development support (business model validation, marketing, incorporation). DCB accelerates innovation through structured programs including the annual DCB Open Innovation Challenge (offering up to USD 100,000 in funding), the DCB Innovation Bootcamp (intensive accelerator in the Swiss Alps), and the DCB Lived Experience Panel (patient-centric community). Educational outreach includes the loop&life podcast covering diabetes technology news. DCB also conducts its own clinical research, exemplified by the TIMES Study on menstrual cycle effects on insulin sensitivity. The seven focus areas—Artificial Pancreas, Sensing & Monitoring, Digital Diabetes, Non-invasive Methods, Nutrition & Metabolism, Menstrual Cycle, and Insulin Activity—frame DCB's translational research priorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DCB Open Innovation Challenge Annual competition that invites startups, researchers, healthcare professionals, and individuals to submit innovative solutions in diabetes technology. Finalists receive up to USD 100,000 in funding and in-kind support from the foundation.
• DCB Innovation Bootcamp Immersive accelerator program held in the Swiss Alps (Emmetten) for diabetes technology founders, providing intensive mentoring and preparation for the Open Innovation Challenge.
• Clinical Services Comprehensive clinical research support covering pre-study activities (protocol development, study design, regulatory submission), during-study monitoring and safety reporting, and post-study data management, statistical analysis, and publication support for diabetes technology innovators.
• Laboratory Services and Facility Access to clinical facility space, overnight clinical space, Bio Safety Level 2 Lab, office and meeting space, specialized storage (including -150°C, -80°C, -20°C, 2-8°C), bioanalytics capabilities, and GLP/GCLP-compliant laboratory management.
• Regulatory Services Expert regulatory guidance including Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015, deviation management, CAPA management, risk management, ISO 14155 and ISO 13485 regulations, and FDA/MDR market access support for diabetes technology innovators.
• Data Services Secure data storage, algorithm validation and development, statistical analysis, CRF design and implementation, and access to clinical data infrastructure for diabetes technology research projects.
• Business Services Business model creation and validation, lean startup support, project management, incorporation guidance, business case validation, marketing strategy, and customer/patient journey mapping for diabetes technology startups.
• Marketing and Communication Services Pitch training, communication strategy development, corporate and internal communications, media relations, visual content production, copywriting in German and English, and graphic design for diabetes technology innovators.
• TIMES Study Multinational decentralized clinical study investigating how insulin sensitivity changes throughout the menstrual cycle in women with Type 1 Diabetes, involving 350 participants across Switzerland, Denmark, UK, US, and Germany collecting real-world data from AID systems over six menstrual cycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32 scientific publications and 37 conference contributions in 2025 from four professorships
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UDEM (Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017UDEM is the primary scientific partner of DCB. It is a research centre for diabetes technology with an international reputation, having publications in the highest-ranking scientific journals. Offers a highly dynamic academic environment with international network and passionate approach to research.
• sitem-insel (Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine established to assist transition from research to marketable products. Organized as a non-profit public-private partnership. Hosts DCB innovation events including the Day of Innovation.
• University of BerncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Founding member of sitem-insel and key partner in diabetes technology research. Faculty of Medicine works closely with Inselspital in teaching and research activities. Home to four DCB professorships.
• Institute for Diabetes Technology (IfDT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute specialized on clinical research around diabetes mellitus. Aim is to support and promote research and development of technologies in diabetes.
• digital health center bülachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhere start-ups collaborate with established companies from ICT and healthcare industry to research and develop innovative solutions.
• diateammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizes activities related to diabetes technology and digitization including annual conference diatec, community day t1day, weekly newsletter diatec weekly, and the dt-report providing insights into diabetes technologies usage in DACH region.
• JDRFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor nonprofit organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Partner in DCB Innovation Challenge supporting diabetes technology innovation.
• Diabetes Technology Society (DTS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based organization dedicated to diabetes technology. Collaborated with DCB for the 2024 Innovation Challenge.
• EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean diabetes research organization supporting the TIMES Study and diabetes technology research.
• venturelabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss startup support organization and partner in the Innovation Challenge ecosystem.
• Swiss Diabetes KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss organization supporting children with diabetes and families. Partner in Innovation Challenge ecosystem.
• Economic Development Agency of the Canton of BernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment agency supporting economic development in Bern region. Supporter of DCB Start-Up Night event.
• Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual PropertyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss government institute supporting IP protection. Event supporter for innovation activities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Beta Bionics: Developer of the iLet bionic pancreas, an automated insulin delivery system. Operates in one of DCB's seven priority focus areas (artificial pancreas/AID) and represents the type of innovation DCB supports and funds.

Direct peers

• Joslin Diabetes Center: Harvard-affiliated diabetes research and clinical care center that combines research, clinical services, and industry collaboration. Comparable to DCB's translational research institute model with university partnerships.
• JDRF T1D Fund: The venture arm of JDRF, investing venture-stage capital in T1D therapeutic and device companies. Directly comparable to DCB's Open Innovation Challenge and innovation support model, with deeper financial firepower.
• Diabetes Research Institute (DRI): University of Miami-based institute dedicated exclusively to diabetes cure-focused research. Comparable translational research mission to DCB's university-affiliated professorships and clinical infrastructure.
• JDRF / Breakthrough T1D: The largest non-profit funder of type 1 diabetes research globally. Both organizations fund translational research, operate innovation programs (JDRF T1D Fund), and engage the patient community to accelerate diabetes technology — making it the closest structural parallel to DCB.
• Diabetes UK: The UK's leading diabetes research charity, funding science and innovation for all types of diabetes. Comparable to DCB in combining research grantmaking, community engagement, and translational support for new therapies and technologies.
• Helmsley Charitable Trust: A major private foundation with one of the largest T1D grant portfolios worldwide. Comparable to DCB in that it is a non-profit foundation directing philanthropic capital into diabetes research, infrastructure, and technology development.
• Institute for Diabetes Technology (IfDT), Ulm: German research institute specialized in clinical research around diabetes mellitus and diabetes technologies. Already a partner of DCB; offers a directly comparable mission of supporting R&D in diabetes devices and software.
• sitem-insel (Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine): Public-private partnership co-located with Bern University Hospital that hosts DCB's Day of Innovation. Operates a translational medicine model overlapping with DCB's clinical services and innovation programs.

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: The largest US-based diabetes research and advocacy organization. Overlaps with DCB in research funding and standards-setting but operates at a much broader scale across all diabetes types and policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@diabetescenterberne8730
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dcberne
• Instagraminstagram.com/diabetescenterberne
• Xx.com/dc_berne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Diabetes Center Berne