Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM

What Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM does

The Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport Magglingen (EHSM), founded in 1998 as a university of applied sciences and institutionally accredited under HFKG for 2022–2029, is Switzerland's only higher education institution exclusively dedicated to sport. It operates as a department within the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO), under the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport. The institution delivers BSc and MSc programs in Sports (the latter jointly with the University of Fribourg), multiple CAS certificates, an EMBA in Sport Management, and the Trainerbildung Schweiz coach-education competence center, alongside Summer Schools at facilities in Magglingen, Ipsach, Tenero, and Andermatt.

EHSM's underlying platform combines campus-based academic delivery with applied sports science services and proprietary research products. Service lines span training science, sports physiology (endurance, strength, team sports), sports medicine, sports physiotherapy, sports psychology, sports nutrition, technique and tactics consulting, and a Sports Facilities Unit. Technical assets include altitude training infrastructure (generators simulating up to 2,500m elevation, 15 tents, 20 generators, and Swiss Olympic House accommodation for live-high-train-low protocols), the MLD-Test/Optojump diagnostic systems, the Swiss Olympic Medical Center Magglingen-Biel, and a pupil-based neurofeedback VR system ('myflow') developed with ETH Zurich's Neural Control of Movement Lab and ETH spin-off MindMetrix (~1.2M CHF SNF funding). The 'play more football' children's format, adopted as the Swiss national standard and winner of the 2025 UEFA Grassroots Award, is a flagship productized research output.

The revenue model is dominated by federal government funding through BASPO, with no tuition fees for federal study programs and no private shareholders. Commercial-adjacent revenue streams include continuing education (CAS/EMBA fees), continuing-education courses, sponsored research grants (e.g., Swiss National Science Foundation), and service contracts with Swiss Olympic, the Swiss Football Association, Swiss Athletics, Swiss Swimming, Swiss Ski, Swiss Armed Forces, Swiss Special Forces, and Professional Firefighters. Customers are essentially public-sector or quasi-public entities across Switzerland's sport, defense, and education systems.

Name

Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM

Legal name

Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport Magglingen EHSM

Website

https://ehsm.admin.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport Magglingen (EHSM) is Switzerland's federal university of applied sciences exclusively dedicated to sport, operating under BASPO and delivering BSc/MSc programs, continuing education, and applied sports science services to elite athletes, national federations, and the Swiss Armed Forces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Sport Sciences

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Coach Education, Certification & Clinics (HSADAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Performance Personal Training (HSADAAAF), Sports Psychology & Mental Performance Coaching (HSADAEAH), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Referee, Umpire & Coach Education/Certification Academies (MPAKAJAN), Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAL)

Keywords

• Sports higher education
• Sport science research
• Coaching certification programs
• Athlete performance services
• Sport management degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Magglingen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: The EHSM is a government institution funded by the Swiss Federal Government through the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO). It operates as part of the federal administration under the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EHSM delivers higher-education degree programs (BSc, MSc, EMBA) in sport, national coach education (Trainerbildung Schweiz) for Swiss sport federations, applied sport-science research and consulting services (physiology, psychology, medicine, physiotherapy, nutrition, biomechanics), and develops proprietary sport products such as the "myflow" neurofeedback system and the "play more football" participation program. Its offerings are targeted at prospective students, athletes, coaches, sport federations, and public/private organizations seeking sport-science expertise.

Product overview

The EHSM operates as a multi-module educational and service platform centered around sports science. Core academic products include Bachelor and Master programs in Sports, while continuing education encompasses CAS certificates and EMBA programs for sports management. Service offerings span athletic performance (sport physiology, psychology, physiotherapy, medicine), research consulting (training science, technique/tactics, monitoring/evaluation), and specialized facilities (altitude training). The institution also develops proprietary products including the 'play more football' children's format and 'myflow' neurofeedback VR training system. All offerings interconnect through interdisciplinary sports science research applied to Switzerland's elite, youth, and mass sports systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trainerbildung Schweiz (Coach Education Switzerland): Competence center for the education and further training of coaches in Swiss performance and elite sport.
• play more football

Products and services

• Bachelor degree programs in sport (BSc)

Quantifiable outcome

• 62% increase in technical and tactical actions compared to traditional format
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, secondary and minor.

• Wingate Institute (Israel)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Cooperation agreement signed July 2022 covering: expertise exchange in elite sports; exchange of knowledge on construction, maintenance and operation of sports facilities; sports technology, innovation and data management; coach education and development in elite sports; facilitation of athlete and coach exchange; and prevention of sports abuses.
• Swiss OlympiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Cooperation agreement between BASPO and Swiss Olympic defines services EHSM provides including: support for talent-oriented youth sports with sports science services, development and promotion of youth elite sports, coach education support, and services in training science, sports medicine, sports physiotherapy, sports psychology, and sports nutrition for selected federations.
• INSEP (Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership since 2012 covering expert exchange, elite sports medicine, management of elite sports centers, coach education, elite sports training, sports documentation, anti-doping, facility use, and athlete exchange.
• SPLISS Network (Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Letter of Intent since 2012 with Vrije Universiteit Brussel coordination, Victoria University, Sheffield Hallam University, and Universiteit Utrecht. Covers joint research in elite sports systems, guest lectures, and access to extended research network of 16 nations.
• Beijing Sport UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Cooperation since 2007 in sports science research, coach and trainer education, and information and documentation exchange. Beijing Sport University has over 14,000 enrolled students, over 1,000 staff including 346 professors.
• Department of Sports and Movement Science, University of SalzburgsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Cooperation since 2007 in sports science research and education, and information and documentation exchange. Focus areas include Alpine Sports, Teaching and Learning Research, and Prevention and Therapy.
• Berner Fachhochschule BFH (Bern University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998EHSM has been affiliated with BFH since 1998, with formal associization agreement signed in 2022. EHSM operates as an associated partner within BFH. Exchange at rectorate level through BFH university leadership and participation in commissions for Teaching, Research, Equality, Continuing Education, Evaluation and Quality Development. Various development projects with BFH departments.
• Institute for Sports Science, University of BayreuthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Cooperation since 1997 in science and research. Student exchange promoted with mutual recognition of training elements.
• TH Deggendorf (Technical University of Deggendorf)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with university offering 43 study programs in technology, economics, and health for approximately 5,700 students, with emphasis on practical orientation and internationality.
• Swiss Federal Office of Sport BASPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHSM is a division of BASPO, which serves as Switzerland's federal center of excellence for sport. BASPO develops and shapes national sport policy, functioning as service, training, and training center for elite, performance, and mass sports.
• Swiss Football Association (SFV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining science support for talent identification (PISTE) and talent development (FTEM). Joint project play more football developed and implemented nationally.
• ETH Zurich (Neural Control of Movement Lab)majorTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on neurofeedback research project 'Advanced mental training for arousal-regulation using pupil-based neurofeedback and virtual reality'. Prof. Dr. Nicole Wenderoth leads basic research component.
• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonitoring and Evaluation department participates in NATO research cooperation for defense-related sports science applications.
• SwissuniversitiessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEHSM is a member of swissuniversities, the association of Swiss universities for coordination and representation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• INSEP (Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance): France's national elite sport institute under the Ministry of Sports, offering elite athlete training, coaching education, and sports science research. Directly comparable to EHSM as a state-funded national sport university/research center serving elite athletes and federations; existing partnership since 2012.
• Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH): Norway's national university dedicated to sport and physical activity, providing sport science degrees and serving the Norwegian Olympic and elite sport system. Direct peer as a small-country specialized national sport university with federal-style mandate and elite-sport integration.
• German Sport University Cologne (DSHS Köln): Germany's only sport university, a state-funded institution focused exclusively on sport science education, research, and elite athlete services. Closest structural peer to EHSM in terms of single-discipline national sport university model with academic and applied service delivery.
• Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH): Sweden's state-funded university specializing in sport and health sciences, with academic programs and applied research supporting the Swedish sports system. Comparable to EHSM as a small-country Nordic public sport university focused on sport science.
• Wingate Institute: Israel's national center for sport excellence and sport science education, providing elite training, coaching certification, and applied research. Direct peer as a national elite-sport education and service institution; existing EHSM partner since 2022.

Regional players

• University of Salzburg (Department of Sport and Movement Science): Austrian public university department with sport science and movement science programs, focusing on Alpine sports, learning research, and prevention. Comparable sport science academic peer and EHSM cooperation partner since 2007, but operating within a general university rather than as a standalone sport institution.
• University of Bayreuth (Institute for Sports Science): German public university with a dedicated Institute for Sports Science offering sport science programs and research, including Alpine sports focus. Comparable academic peer for sport science education and a long-standing EHSM cooperation partner since 1997.

Broad incumbents

• Beijing Sport University: China's premier national sport university with 14,000+ students, 1,000+ staff and 346 professors, offering comprehensive sport science, coaching, and elite athlete programs. Comparable as a national flagship sport university and existing EHSM cooperation partner since 2007, but operating at vastly larger scale.
• Loughborough University (School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences): Leading UK research university with a top-ranked sport and exercise science school offering degrees, elite athlete services, and applied sports research. Comparable as an elite-sport-oriented university with academic and service delivery; broader and more commercially diverse than EHSM.

Others

• Sport England (public body): UK public body funding and advising on community sport, including applied research partnerships with universities. Comparable as a public-sector national sport policy/funder analog but not an academic institution; included as a structural counterpart for EHSM's BASPO/Swiss Olympic-style public-funder relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ehsmhefsm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/eidgen%C3%B6ssische-hochschule-f%C3%BCr-sport-magglingen-ehsm
• Instagraminstagram.com/ehsm_magglingen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM