Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences

What Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences does

Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) is an independent, member-based non-profit association founded in 1981 and headquartered at St. Annagasse 18, Zurich, with a satellite office at the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne. Its mission is to maintain Switzerland's leading position in engineering sciences by functioning as the country's primary expert network, linking 408 individual members, 53 member organisations such as biotechnet switzerland, Electrosuisse, Swiss Engineering STV and Swiss Biotech Association, and 19 named experts across disciplines including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, digital self-determination, energy and environment, food, artificial intelligence, security of supply and foresight.

SATW does not develop proprietary commercial technology products. Its offering is a portfolio of complementary platforms and programmes: the educamint STEM opportunities platform, the Swiss TecLadies mentoring programme for women in technology, the SAIROP platform for Swiss AI ecosystem orientation, the Technology Outlook knowledge platform, and serial publications such as Panorama and Technoscope. These sit alongside grant instruments - including Grants for Member Organisations (~100,000 CHF annually), the Germaine de Staël Funding Programme (run on behalf of the federal government for Franco-Swiss research stays), and the For Women in Science programme - and an Outstanding Achievement Award.

The academy's business model is non-commercial: funding flows from member-organisation fees, federal government mandates, and specialised grants; no pricing for products or services is publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led, executing through direct member distribution, online platforms, events such as the annual congress and topical expert forums, and media relations. Governance is exercised through a secretariat, an Executive Committee, Scientific and Industrial Advisory Boards, and a Nomination Committee, anchored in a double-blind peer review process for publications.

Name

Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences

Legal name

Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW

Website

https://satw.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) is a Swiss non-profit academy that functions as the country's primary expert network for engineering sciences, connecting 408 individual members and 53 member organisations through knowledge platforms, publications, grants, expert forums, and youth STEM programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Sciences Network and Advisory Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Engineering sciences network
• Technology transfer advisory
• Expert member organization
• Scientific publications platform
• Innovation grants program

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees and Grants: SATW receives funding through member organization fees and specialized funding for professional exchange and technological development. The academy provides approximately 100,000 CHF annually in specialized funding to member societies for implementation projects and events.
2. Government Funding: The Germaine de Staël Funding Programme promotes Franco-Swiss research partnerships on behalf of the federal government, covering travel and accommodation costs for short stays.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) is the Swiss network for engineering sciences, convening 408 individual members from 53 member organizations to provide expert advisory, knowledge platforms (including tecCH), the Technology Outlook publication series, and programs supporting young talent and technology transfer. It also administers awards for technology transfer and honorary membership in cooperation with the Swiss Academies of Sciences and the International Academy of Engineering.

Product overview

The Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) operates as a multi-platform organization rather than a single unified product. The core offering consists of educational and knowledge-sharing platforms including educamint (STEM platform for schools), Swiss TecLadies (women in technology program), SAIROP (AI cooperation platform), and Technology Outlook (technology knowledge platform). These are complemented by publication products (Panorama annual report, Technoscope magazine) and various grant programs (Grants for Member Organisations, Germaine de Staël Funding, For Women in Science). The platforms serve distinct but complementary functions: youth promotion, professional networking, knowledge dissemination, and research funding within Switzerland's engineering sciences ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• educamint: The largest Swiss online platform with offers for schools and leisure activities relating to maths, IT, science and technology (STEM)
• SAIROP
• Swiss TecLadies
• Technology Outlook

Products and services

• Expert Network Membership
• Technology Outlook
• tecCH Information Platform
• Young Talents Program
• Awards for Technology Transfer
• Expert Advisory Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24 publications in energy and environment alone, with rigorous peer review process
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• educamintcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnereducamint is the largest Swiss online platform offering STEM-related opportunities for schools and leisure activities. SATW co-promotes this platform as part of its youth promotion and technology education mission.
• SAIROP (Swiss AI Research and Applications Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIROP promotes cooperation in AI in Switzerland, provides orientation in the dynamic AI field, lists relevant players and events, and specifically supports the transfer of knowledge between research, business and administration.
• Technology Outlook PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe central knowledge platform for Switzerland as a business location offers in-depth texts on technologies, application examples and national and international trends, maintained by SATW.
• Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences (Akademien-Schweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSATW is part of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, collaborating on cross-disciplinary initiatives such as the Denk-Schrift Energie (energy think paper).
• Federal Government (SERI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI collaborates with SATW on events such as the EOSC Node Switzerland initiative.
• 53 Member OrganisationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSATW's network includes 53 member organizations including biotechnet switzerland, Electrosuisse, Swiss Engineering STV, Swiss Biotech Association, Swiss Chemical Society, and others representing various engineering and technology disciplines.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF): Switzerland's primary federal research funding body. Comparable as a federally supported scientific convener distributing grants and shaping national research priorities, though focused on funding rather than engineering-sciences advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum (Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution): Global multistakeholder platform convening governments, industry, and academia on emerging technology. Comparable as a knowledge and convening organization shaping technology policy, though far larger and globally scoped vs. SATW's Swiss mandate.
• ETH Domain: Strategic governing body of the ETH Domain (ETH Zurich, EPFL, PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Overlaps with SATW on technology foresight, STEM talent promotion, and policy advice, but at vastly larger scale and with direct teaching/research capabilities.

Direct peers

• National Academy of Engineering (US): US national engineering academy within the National Academies structure. Closely comparable as a federally chartered expert network producing authoritative engineering publications and policy advice.
• Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences (Akademien-Schweiz): Umbrella body of Swiss academies of which SATW is a member. Operates very similar convening, publication, and cross-disciplinary policy initiatives (e.g., the joint Denk-Schrift Energie), making it the closest organizational peer.
• acatech (Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften): Germany's national academy of technical sciences. Operates the same model as SATW: independent expert network funded by government and members, advising on technology policy through thematic platforms, publications, and international partnerships.
• Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA): Sweden's national engineering academy. Comparable peer-review-driven publications, fellowship-based expert network, and government advisory role covering exactly the technology domains (energy, AI, manufacturing) that SATW focuses on.
• Royal Academy of Engineering: UK's national academy of engineering. Comparable mandate of government advisory work, fellowships for engineering experts, programs to promote diversity in engineering, and policy-grade publications — a near-mirror of SATW's structure.
• Swiss Engineering STV: Swiss professional association of engineers and architects, a SATW member organization. Directly comparable as a membership-driven engineering body with advocacy, events, and professional development mandates.

Regional players

• Swissmem: Leading Swiss industry association for the MEM (machine, electrical, metals) sector. Closely comparable as a Swiss industry-membership organization that convenes companies, runs policy advocacy, and operates close to SATW's industrial advisory work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/satw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences