FSRM
FSRM is a Swiss non-profit foundation (founded 1978, Neuchâtel) that delivers 150+ short continuing-education courses annually in microtechnology, watchmaking, medtech, management, and AI to engineers and technicians from 300+ industrial companies, supported by a 200+ trainer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersNeuchâtel, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FSRM does
FSRM (Fondation Suisse pour la recherche en microtechnique) is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1978 and headquartered in Neuchâtel. It operates as a continuing-education and professional-training organization serving engineers, technicians, and managers in industrial companies across the Swiss Arc Jurassien. Its core offering is a catalog of more than 150 short, intensive courses per semester covering microtechnology, nanotechnologies, materials, production, quality, medical devices, watchmaking, management, and emerging technologies such as generative AI and Industry 4.0. Courses are delivered by a network of more than 200 specialist trainers drawn from industry, research, and academia, and are offered in French, German, and English via open enrollment, customized in-company training, and the FSRM-Kids outreach program for children aged 7-13.
The foundation monetizes its services through three primary streams: open-enrollment course fees (CHF 690-1,500 per attendee depending on duration and early-bird status), bespoke in-company training delivered on-site at client facilities (used by 300+ recurring corporate clients including Audemars Piguet, TAG Heuer, Straumann, Logitech, Bobst, and CSEM), and professional services for conference organization and EU project dissemination (managing events such as MNE 2026, Swiss NanoConvention, and EFTF 2024, and leading dissemination work packages in Horizon Europe and predecessor framework projects). Auxiliary services include association secretariat management (Micronarc, sensors.ch, Swiss MNT Network, Solar Swiss Connect), the publicly-funded Innovation Tour across four cantons, and the Micronarc platform. Pricing follows a pay-as-you-go model with 20% discounts for additional company attendees, students, and Canton of Neuchâtel firms affected by US tariffs. With only 9 staff, FSRM operates as a lean, network-driven foundation that monetizes its institutional position as the hub of the regional microtechnology ecosystem rather than as a scaled labor business.
Distribution is single-country (Switzerland) and primarily direct-to-consumer through the FSRM website (fsrm.ch), email registration, and on-site delivery. The foundation is governed by a Foundation Council and operates as a neutral, independent private-law entity with public and private backing from the Swiss Confederation, cantons, cities, and 24 founding companies. Recent material events include the death of long-tenured Director Philippe Fischer on August 8, 2025, and the appointment of Sebastian Gautsch (formerly Vice-Director Microtechnology Section at EPFL) as Director effective September 1, 2025, alongside a Spring 2026 program expansion that adds a dedicated AI training category.
FSRM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FSRM
- Legal name
- Fondation Suisse pour la recherche en microtechnique
- Website
- https://fsrm.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FSRM is a Swiss non-profit foundation (founded 1978, Neuchâtel) that delivers 150+ short continuing-education courses annually in microtechnology, watchmaking, medtech, management, and AI to engineers and technicians from 300+ industrial companies, supported by a 200+ trainer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FSRM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training and Continuing Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Compliance, Certification & Continuing Education LMS (EDAFAAAD)
Keywords
Where FSRM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neuchâtel
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
FSRM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Public Course Registrations: Professionals and companies register and pay for open-enrollment training courses. Revenue is per-course and per-attendee. Registration is via the website or email, with payment required before the course begins. Over 150 courses are offered per semester across technical, horological, and management topics.
- Customized In-Company Training: Tailored courses developed and delivered on-site at client companies. Courses are priced upon request. Over 300 companies regularly engage FSRM for in-company training.
- Congress and Event Organization: FSRM organizes scientific congresses, conferences, and seminars as a service to clients. Examples include MNE 2026 (700+ attendees), Swiss NanoConvention (275+ attendees), and EFTF 2024 (475 attendees). Services include registration, websites, accounting, proceedings management, and exhibition coordination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard course fee (1-day course) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird course fee (1-day course) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard course fee (2-day course) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird course fee (2-day course) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Group discount - additional company attendees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
FSRM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FSRM operates as a non-profit Swiss foundation that delivers more than 150 short, intensive continuing education courses per semester for engineers, technicians, and industry managers, covering microtechnology, nanotechnologies, watchmaking/horology, materials, production, quality, medtech, AI, and management. The foundation supplements its core course catalog with customized in-company training delivered on-site at client facilities, full-service congress and seminar organization, association secretariat management, and EU research project dissemination services.
Product overview
FSRM (Fondation Suisse pour la recherche en microtechnique - Swiss Foundation for Microtechnology Research) is a professional training organization that operates as a unified platform offering over 150 short, intensive, and immediately applicable training courses for industrial professionals. The portfolio spans core training courses in microtechnology, nanotechnologies, AI, management, and quality, supplemented by customized company courses, events organization services, management expertise, and EU research dissemination services. FSRM also operates outreach programs including FSRM-Kids and manages platforms like Micronarc and the Innovation Tour project. Founded in 1978, the organization has trained over 20,000 engineers and technicians across industries including watchmaking, microtechnology, production, medical devices, and management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FSRM Training Course Catalog Open-enrollment continuing education catalog of more than 150 technical, watchmaking, and management courses per semester, designed for engineers and technicians in industrial companies. Courses cover microtechnology, nanotechnologies, materials, production, quality, medtech, horology, AI, and management, delivered in French, German, and English.
- Customized In-Company Training Tailored training programs developed and delivered on-site at client company facilities, designed to meet specific organizational needs with practical, immediately applicable content. More than 300 companies regularly engage FSRM for in-company training.
- Congress and Event Organization Services Full-service congress and seminar organization for scientific and industry events, including registration management, professional website development, e-marketing, accounting, exhibition coordination, and proceedings management. Notable events include MNE 2026 (700+ attendees), Swiss NanoConvention (275+ attendees), and EFTF 2024 (475 attendees).
- Association and Project Management Expertise Logistical and administrative support for professional associations and project managers, including multi-partner project management, association secretariat, and expert opinions in the micro/nanotechnology domain. FSRM manages secretariats for Micronarc, Swiss MNT Network, sensors.ch, and Solar Swiss Connect.
- European Research Project Dissemination Services Communication, dissemination, and project management services for EU-funded research projects (e.g., Horizon Europe), including impact section development, communication strategy, intellectual property structures, and work package leadership for training, dissemination, and exploitation in micro/nanotechnology research consortia.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 engineers and technicians have deepened their competencies through FSRM courses since 1978.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use FSRM
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FSRM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
FSRM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Swiss MNT NetworkcoreFSRM serves as the secretariat and accounting manager for the Swiss MNT Network. The organization is a founding member. The network connects Swiss micro and nanotechnology actors.
- sensors.chcoreFSRM ensures the presidency and secretariat of the sensors.ch association, which is the Swiss sensors community platform.
- Solar Swiss ConnectminorFSRM is represented on the committee and assumes the secretariat and accounting of the Solar Swiss Connect association.
- Swiss ePrintminorFSRM is co-organizer of the Swiss ePrint Conference on Printed Electronics and Functional Materials (held 2011-2023, approximately 80 participants).
- Swiss NanoConventioncoreFSRM co-organizes the Swiss NanoConvention, a major annual event for nanotechnology in Switzerland (e.g., SNC 2025 in Brugg with 275 participants, SNC 2023 in Neuchâtel with 275 participants).
- Microcity SAcoreFSRM is a stakeholder of Microcity SA, a technology park and innovation hub in Neuchâtel that hosts EPFL's microtechnology research activities. FSRM holds some watchmaking courses at the Microcity EPFL site.
- arcjurassien.ch (Arc Jurassien Intercantonal Regional Policy Program)coreFSRM leads the Innovation Tour project, which is supported by the Arc Jurassien intercantonal regional policy program and funded by the Swiss Confederation and the cantons of Bern, Jura, Neuchâtel, and Vaud. The project organizes economic missions to innovation poles across the region.
- MNE 2026 (Micro-Nano Engineering)coreFSRM is co-organizer of the MNE 2026 conference (Micro-Nano Engineering) to be held in Interlaken, expected to host 700 participants.
- Swiss Electronics ClusterminorFSRM is a founding member of the Swiss Electronics Cluster.
- EPFL AlumniminorFSRM is a partner of EPFL Alumni for training activities, collaborating on lifelong learning programs for EPFL graduates.
- Association Suisse de Normalisation (SNV)minorFSRM is a partner of the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV), Switzerland's standardization body.
- SATW (Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences)minorFSRM is a member of the SATW academy, contributing to and benefiting from Switzerland's engineering sciences network.
- EMPA-AkademieminorFSRM co-organizes German-language courses with EMPA-Akademie, leveraging EMPA's research expertise for professional training.
- CTI (Swiss Innovation Agency / KTI)minorFSRM organizes the annual Micro Nano Day for CTI (now Innosuisse), the Swiss innovation promotion agency.
- fablab-neuchminorFSRM collaborates with fablab-neuch for its practical 3D printing course, leveraging the fablab's prototyping equipment and community.
- Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH)minorFSRM collaborates with the FHH on practical watchmaking courses, leveraging the foundation's industry expertise and networks.
- CleantechAlpsminorFSRM is a project partner of CleantechAlps, responsible for dissemination and communication activities in the cleantech domain.
- Swiss Plastics ClusterminorFSRM is a partner of the Swiss Plastics Cluster for training activities in plastics and polymers for industrial applications.
- Association PME et Créateurs d'EntreprisesminorFSRM is a member of the Association PME et Créateurs d'Entreprises, a network supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs in the region.
- ChipScope (EU Project)minorFSRM led the Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation work package for the ChipScope EU research project.
- EuroTraining / EuroTraining-MST (EU Projects)minorFSRM was the coordinator of both EuroTraining and EuroTraining-MST EU research projects.
- Nano2Life (EU Project)minorFSRM led the Dissemination, Exploitation, and Training work package in the Nano2Life EU project.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FSRM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SGS Academy: SGS is Swiss-headquartered and operates a global training academy for industrial and quality professionals. SGS Academy's course catalog overlaps with FSRM's quality, ISO, and regulatory compliance training for industrial clients.
- VDI Wissensforum: VDI Wissensforum is the training arm of Germany's largest engineering association, offering courses for engineers across technical, quality, and management disciplines. Comparable to FSRM's association-driven, specialist-trainer model.
- TÜV Rheinland Akademie: TÜV Rheinland Akademie offers certified continuing education for engineers and technicians across technical, quality, and safety domains. Comparable instructor network structure and quality/regulatory training catalog to FSRM.
- Haus der Technik: HDT is a German continuing education provider for engineers and technical professionals, offering short, intensive, immediately applicable courses across mechanical, production, and management topics — closely matching FSRM's positioning.
- Technische Akademie Esslingen: TAE is a German technical continuing education institution offering short, intensive courses for engineers and technicians in production, materials, and management — a near structural analogue to FSRM's catalog.
- DEKRA Akademie: DEKRA Akademie provides technical, quality, and management training to industrial professionals across Europe. Its combination of open enrollment and in-company programs parallels FSRM's distribution model.
- EMPA-Akademie: EMPA's training arm co-organizes German-language courses with FSRM and serves the same Swiss technical audience. Both are publicly funded Swiss technical academies offering courses for industrial engineers and technicians.
- TÜV SÜD Akademie: TÜV SÜD Akademie delivers continuing education for engineers and technicians across technical, quality, and management topics. Its focus on certified compliance training mirrors FSRM's regulatory course portfolio (ISO 10993, CE marking, EU MDR).
- DIN-Akademie: DIN-Akademie is the training arm of the German Institute for Standardization, offering standards-based continuing education. FSRM's regulatory compliance training (ISO, CE, NIHS) overlaps directly with this niche.
Broad incumbents
- Bureau Veritas Training: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC firm with a substantial training services line. While broader than FSRM, it competes in industrial quality, regulatory, and management training for the same European engineering audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FSRM social profiles
Digital presenceFSRM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FSRM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
FSRM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FSRM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FSRM
What does FSRM do?
FSRM operates as a non-profit Swiss foundation that delivers more than 150 short, intensive continuing education courses per semester for engineers, technicians, and industry managers, covering microtechnology, nanotechnologies, watchmaking/horology, materials, production, quality, medtech, AI, and management. The foundation supplements its core course catalog with customized in-company training delivered on-site at client facilities, full-service congress and seminar organization, association secretariat management, and EU research project dissemination services.
Is FSRM a public or private company?
FSRM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FSRM founded?
FSRM was founded in 1978. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FSRM based?
FSRM is headquartered in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does FSRM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Course Registrations are the primary driver. The others are customized In-Company Training and congress and Event Organization.
Who are FSRM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SGS Academy, VDI Wissensforum, TÜV Rheinland Akademie, Haus der Technik, Technische Akademie Esslingen, DEKRA Akademie, EMPA-Akademie, TÜV SÜD Akademie and DIN-Akademie. Bureau Veritas Training is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does FSRM have an API?
No public API is recorded for FSRM.
What industry is FSRM in?
FSRM's product category is Professional Training and Continuing Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAM, Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE), with a secondary code of EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.