Schweizer Jugend forscht | Science et jeunesse | Scienza e gioventù

What Schweizer Jugend forscht | Science et jeunesse | Scienza e gioventù does

Schweizer Jugend forscht (SJf), legally Stiftung Schweizer Jugend forscht, is a non-commercial, politically and denominationally independent Swiss foundation founded in 1966 and headquartered at Aarbergergasse 40 in Bern. The foundation operates Switzerland's premier youth science talent promotion programs, serving youth aged 16-23 (and, through Kids@Science, ages 10-14) from Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including students from Gymnasiums and vocational schools. Its flagship product is the Nationaler Wettbewerb (National Competition), an annual interdisciplinary research competition that in 2026 held its 60th edition at FHNW in Muttenz with 114 finalists competing for 33 Gold, 47 Silver, and 25 Bronze awards plus special prizes totaling approximately 230,000 CHF.

The foundation's product portfolio includes themed Studienwochen (Study Weeks) in Biology & Medicine, Chemistry & Materials, Humanities & Social Sciences, Informatics, and IWRW; the ISTF (International Swiss Talent Forum), an annual international forum that convened approximately 70 participants aged 18-23 in 2026 to address global challenges; an Alumni Network; and an Ambassador Network spanning vocational education and secondary schools. SJf also coordinates Swiss delegations to international competitions including Regeneron ISEF, EUCYS, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and European Space Camp, and co-organizes Kids@Science summer camps with EPFL's Service de promotion des sciences.

The business model is foundation-funded rather than commercial: revenue derives from donations, sponsorships, and public support, and all youth programs are provided free of charge. The foundation covers accommodation, meals, and event costs for participants and funds international travel and registration fees for awardees traveling abroad to global competitions. Distribution occurs through direct event participation, school coordination via the Ambassador Network, multi-language operations (German, French, Italian), and an omnichannel presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and a content blog. No public APIs, software products, or commercial revenue streams exist; the foundation operates as a mission-driven non-profit.

Name

Schweizer Jugend forscht | Science et jeunesse | Scienza e gioventù

Legal name

Stiftung Schweizer Jugend forscht

Website

https://sjf.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schweizer Jugend forscht is a Swiss non-profit foundation, founded in 1966 and based in Bern, that runs free national science competitions, study weeks, and international forums for Swiss youth aged 10-23, funded by donations and public support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Science Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Fair Competitions (Science Fairs, Research Symposiums) (EDAMAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate) (EDAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Youth science competitions
• Science talent promotion
• STEM education programs
• Research study weeks
• Youth research foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations: Schweizer Jugend forscht is a non-profit foundation funded through donations, sponsorships, and public support. Participation in all programs is free of charge for youth participants.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schweizer Jugend forscht is a Swiss non-profit foundation that runs free youth science programs for ages 16–23, including an annual National Competition (Nationaler Wettbewerb) with Bronze/Silver/Gold awards and special prizes, themed Study Weeks (Studienwochen) in disciplines such as biology/medicine, chemistry/materials, humanities/social sciences, and informatics, the international ISTF forum, an Alumni Network, and an Ambassador Network that promotes the programs through Swiss and Liechtenstein schools.

Product overview

Schweizer Jugend forscht (SJf) operates a portfolio of youth science promotion programs centered around a tiered competition structure and immersive study experiences. The flagship offering is the Nationaler Wettbewerb (National Contest), an annual interdisciplinary research competition for youth aged 16–23, culminating in a national final with Bronze/Silver/Gold awards and special prizes enabling international competition participation (e.g., Regeneron ISEF, EUCYS). Complementing the contest are Studienwochen (Study Weeks)—themed week-long residential programs in Biology & Medicine, Chemistry & Materials Science, Humanities & Social Sciences, Fascinating Informatics, IWRW, and specialized camps for younger audiences (Kids@Science, Coding Camp, TechXperience). The ISTF (International Swiss Talent Forum) connects top youth talents internationally to solve expertposed challenges. The organization further sustains engagement through an Alumni Network and Ambassador Network. All programs are provided free of charge to participants, with the foundation covering accommodation, meals, and international travel/registration fees for awardees. SJf is a non-profit, politically and denominationally independent foundation founded approximately 50 years ago, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nationaler Wettbewerb (National Contest)

Quantifiable outcome

• 114 finalists in 2026 National Competition
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHNW hosts the annual National Competition finals on its campus in Muttenz. The 60th National Competition took place at FHNW from April 30 to May 2, 2026.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPFL's Service de promotion des sciences (SPS) partners with SJf to organize Kids@Science summer camps, including Girls@Science and Boys@Science programs for children.
• Swiss Study Foundation (Schweizerische Studienstiftung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembers of the Swiss Study Foundation are eligible to participate in the International Swiss Talent Forum (ISTF) alongside National Competition finalists.
• SwissSkills Professional ChampionshipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold medalists from SwissSkills Professional Championships are eligible for invitation to ISTF, creating pathways for vocational school students.
• Swiss Science OlympiadsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedal winners from Swiss Science Olympiads can be invited to participate in ISTF alongside National Competition finalists.
• Regeneron ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJf selects and funds Swiss delegations to represent Switzerland at the world's largest science competition for young researchers held annually in the USA.
• EUCYS (European Contest for Young Scientists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJf nominates Swiss participants for the annual European science competition, such as the 2025 event held in Riga.
• European Space CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial prize offering winners the opportunity to attend the European Space Camp at Andoya Space Center in Norway, learning to build and launch rockets.
• Stockholm Junior Water PrizeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJf facilitates Swiss participation in the international water science competition held annually in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Jungfraujoch Research StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial prize offering winners exclusive research internships at the Jungfraujoch high-altitude research facility in Switzerland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS): EU-level science competition for pre-university researchers; SJf nominates Swiss delegates. Directly comparable as a multi-country youth science competition organizer with similar evaluation structures.
• Jugend forscht: Germany's flagship youth science competition foundation, structurally identical to SJf in running national contests, regional finals, and study programs for school-age researchers. Directly comparable as the German sister model in the DACH youth-science-talent space.
• Science Olympiad (USA): U.S. national organization running Science Olympiad tournaments across STEM disciplines; directly comparable in mission and structure, though focused on team-based events rather than independent research.
• British Science Association: UK non-profit running the British Science Festival, CREST Awards, and affiliated youth science engagement programs; directly comparable as a national STEM-talent-promotion foundation.
• Society for Science: U.S.-based non-profit that runs Regeneron ISEF (a core SJf outbound pathway); operates at a larger scale and runs the Science Talent Search. Directly comparable as a national organizer of elite youth research competitions.
• Schweizerische Studienstiftung (Swiss Study Foundation): Swiss foundation supporting academically outstanding students through scholarships and programs; closely comparable as a Swiss non-profit talent-promotion organization with cross-referral to SJf at ISTF.

Broad incumbents

• Bayer Foundation: Corporate foundation funding life-sciences and STEM education globally including youth research competitions; comparable as a broader-incidency STEM-talent funder with overlapping applicant pools in Europe.
• FIRST: Large U.S.-based youth STEM organization running FIRST Robotics, LEGO League, and similar competitions; comparable as an established incumbent in the global youth STEM-competition category.

Others

• SwissSkills: Swiss professional championships organization whose gold medalists gain ISTF access; comparable as an adjacent Swiss talent-promotion foundation feeding into SJf's international pathway.
• EPFL Service de promotion des sciences (SPS): EPFL's outreach unit co-organizing Kids@Science with SJf; comparable as an adjacent institutional youth-science-promotion program and a key partner with overlapping audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SJf_CH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CHJugendForscht
• Facebookfacebook.com/sjf.ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/schweizer_jugend_forscht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-schweizer-jugend-forscht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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