Technopôle de Sainte-Croix

What Technopôle de Sainte-Croix does

Technopôle de Sainte-Croix is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 2008 that operates a microtechnology technology park in Sainte-Croix, Canton of Vaud. The foundation was founded to support innovative companies in microtechnology, mechanics, watchmaking, mechanical art, and related fields, and it sits in a region with a 19th-century heritage of automatons and music boxes. The park's first building comprises 1,600m2 of occupied industrial space and is currently at full capacity, with a feasibility study underway for a second building to meet unmet demand.

The ecosystem co-locates three training institutions (CPNV, HEIG-VD, SWI) with six resident companies including IKRtech (custom motors and actuators, notably for the MMX/JAXA Mars mission), CAP14 (mechanical subcontracting for watchmaking), CVK, Plinio Atelier, EnviroScopY, and Ibleo (plasma torch technology). Core technical capabilities span additive manufacturing and 3D printing (via the AddiPole center with LPBF and EBM), CNC precision machining, electronic assemblies including ESA-certified welding training, 3D digitization and metrology, and custom motor/actuator design. The HEIG-VD AddiPole/COMATEC laboratory conducts applied R&D projects, and the 2025-launch THERAMAP cross-border project with Interreg France-Suisse funding extends into ceramic coatings for 3D-printed parts in medical, automotive, watchmaking, and aeronautics applications.

The foundation operates without disclosed revenue figures. Its revenue mechanics are indirect: it does not sell commercial products directly but provides incubation spaces (subscription/recurring), industrial mandates routed through resident companies (professional services), training and technology transfer via on-site institutions, and applied R&D supported by grants from InnoSuisse, Alliance, and Interreg. GTM is sales-led and relationship-driven, with no external sales force; resident companies are selected on fit, and pricing for incubation is kept low to let startups concentrate capital on equipment. Governance is a public-private partnership via a Foundation Council that includes representatives from the Commune of Sainte-Croix, CPNV, HEIG-VD, ADNV, and Dentsply Sirona, with no venture capital or private equity ownership. The foundation is led by Director Hélène Mazerolle since 2022.

Name

Technopôle de Sainte-Croix

Legal name

Fondation du Technopôle de Sainte-Croix

Website

https://technopole1450.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Technopôle de Sainte-Croix is a Swiss non-profit foundation operating a microtechnology technology park in Sainte-Croix, Vaud, founded in 2008. It hosts three training institutions and six resident companies in additive manufacturing, precision machining, watchmaking, and motors/actuators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Technology Park

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Technology incubation services
• Microtechnology manufacturing
• Additive manufacturing services
• Industrial technology park
• Precision machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sainte-Croix

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation Services: Provides equipped industrial spaces and facilities for startups and SMEs in microtechnology. Companies like CAP14 benefited from incubation space (150m2) and shared amenities including conference rooms, cafeteria, and metrology facilities.
2. Industrial Mandates: All entities at the Technopôle offer customized projects in their industrial sectors - design, 3D scanning, 3D printing, machining, metrology, finishing, welding and brazing. Projects range from prototyping to industrialization.
3. Training and Technology Transfer: Standard and customized training programs delivered by training institutions (CPNV, HEIG-VD, SWI) covering microtechnology topics. Events like Focus Découverte provide professional development opportunities.
4. Applied Research & Development: R&D projects conducted by professors and researchers from HEIG-VD, including development projects for specific products and exploratory applied research. Supports funding applications from InnoSuisse, Alliance, and Interreg.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Technopôle de Sainte-Croix is a microtechnology technology park and incubation foundation that hosts companies, training institutions, and startups focused on microtechnology, mechanics, watchmaking, and mechanical art. It provides equipped industrial spaces, technology transfer through training partners (CPNV, HEIG-VD, SWI), applied R&D projects, and customized industrial mandates spanning design, 3D scanning, 3D printing, machining, metrology, finishing, welding, and brazing. The foundation operates a community ecosystem that enables knowledge sharing and collaboration between residents.

Product overview

The Technopôle de Sainte-Croix is a microtechnology park ecosystem rather than a single unified software product. It provides a shared infrastructure and collaborative environment hosting multiple companies, educational institutions, and startups. The core offerings include AddiPole (a competence center for additive manufacturing and 3D digitization), precision machining services, electronic assembly, and custom electric motor development. The ecosystem is supported by training programs, applied R&D services, and industrial mandate capabilities delivered by resident entities including CPNV (vocational training), HEIG-VD (engineering school), and SWI (welding institute). Companies such as IKRtech (motors), CAP14 (mechanical subcontracting), and IBLEO (plasma torch technology) contribute specialized expertise in areas including watchmaking, medical devices, and aerospace applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AddiPole: Center of competencies in additive manufacturing and 3D printing, hosted at the Technopôle and run by HEIG-VD. Specializes in metal additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, and finishing technologies for medical, watchmaking, and other precision industries.
• COMATEC-AddiPole

Products and services

• AddiPole — Additive Manufacturing Competence Center A micro-manufacturing competence center specializing in additive manufacturing (3D printing), 3D digitization, and post-processing finishing techniques, run with HEIG-VD. It serves industries including watchmaking, medical, and precision engineering, and hosts the COMATEC-AddiPole R&D laboratory.
• Incubation Services Provision of equipped industrial spaces (e.g., 150 m² for startups like CAP14) with shared amenities including conference rooms, cafeteria, and metrology facilities for microtechnology startups and SMEs.
• Industrial Mandates Customized projects commissioned by external companies, delivered by resident entities. Services span design, 3D scanning, 3D printing, machining, metrology, finishing, welding, and brazing, from prototyping through industrialization.
• Training and Technology Transfer Standard and customized training programs delivered by CPNV, HEIG-VD, and SWI on microtechnology topics including additive manufacturing, machining, welding (including ESA-certified space-applications training), and finishing processes. Events such as Focus Découverte provide professional development.
• Applied Research and Development (Ra&D)

Quantifiable outcome

• Startups like CAP14 successfully complete incubation and establish themselves at the Technopôle for continued growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Interreg France-SuissecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cross-border cooperation program financing joint projects between France and Switzerland. Supports the THERAMAP project developing ceramic coatings for additive manufacturing parts. Coordinates funding from FEDER (France), Swiss Confederation, and Canton of Vaud.
• Centre professionnel du Nord vaudois (CPNV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three training institutions housed at the Technopôle. Provides vocational training including polymecanic sections and operates an machining workshop at the facility.
• Haute École d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering school with AddiPole center for additive manufacturing and the COMATEC-AddiPole laboratory conducting R&D projects. Provides professors, researchers, and student projects at the Technopôle.
• Swiss Welding Institute (SWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelding institute providing certified training including ESA-approved training courses for space applications. Hosts training sessions at the Technopôle.
• InnovaudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting innovation in Vaud companies. Helps businesses establish in the canton, supports growth of startups, and connects companies with support programs. Co-organizes events at the Technopôle.
• platinnminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOffers coaching for entrepreneurs - up to 40 hours of coaching (business, finance, organization) can be covered by the Canton. Part of Innovaud ecosystem.
• MicronarcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes micro and nanotechnologies in French-speaking Switzerland. Offers companies sector group booths at European trade shows, thematic workshops, and networking events.
• Arc jurassien ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional policy program supporting innovation and inter-company collaboration in the Jura arc. Supported by the Confederation and cantons of Berne, Jura, Neuchâtel, and Vaud. Organizes Innovation Tour visits.
• Université de technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM) / ICBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner in the THERAMAP project. ICB laboratory develops ceramic coating deposition technology under atmosphere. Marie-Pierre Planche is the French project lead.
• IBLEOcoreTechnology or IntegrationStartup developing plasma torch technology for the THERAMAP project. Joined Technopôle as resident in 2024 and will install production machines at the facility for orthopedic industry clients.
• JY'NOVEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany developing polishing processes for hard ceramic layers as part of the THERAMAP project consortium on the French side.
• AddiPole / HEIG-VD COMATECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicromanufacturing center specializing in additive manufacturing, digitalization, 3D printing services, and R&D projects. Conducts projects including THERAMAP, surface texturing, and titanium printing. Part of HEIG-VD.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AddiPole / HEIG-VD COMATEC (as a competence center): Additive manufacturing competence center hosted at the Technopôle, but the broader AddiPole / HEIG-VD COMATEC ecosystem extends across HEIG-VD sites and partners — comparable as an applied micro-manufacturing R&D center though not an independent entity in the same way.
• Inspire AG: Swiss research and technology transfer organization for manufacturing, co-founded by ETH Zurich, conducting applied R&D for industry partners — comparable in mission (industrial R&D + tech transfer + industry collaboration), though at national scale.
• Y-Parc: Swiss technology park located in Yverdon-les-Bains (also Canton of Vaud) operating an incubator model for technology companies with shared infrastructure and academic partnerships — a direct regional peer operating the same technology-park-plus-incubation model in the same canton.
• The Ark Foundation: Foundation supporting innovation and incubation of technology SMEs in the Jura bernois region, with co-located companies and academic/training partnerships — highly comparable operating model to Technopôle de Sainte-Croix, in the adjacent Arc jurassien.

Broad incumbents

• EIT Manufacturing: European Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on manufacturing, supporting applied R&D, incubators, and skills programs across Europe — comparable ecosystem-building role in manufacturing, including additive manufacturing, though at continental scope.
• EMPA: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, conducting applied research in advanced materials and manufacturing — broad incumbent with overlapping capability in materials, additive manufacturing, and industrial R&D collaboration.
• Switzerland Innovation: National network of Swiss innovation parks (including sites at EPFL, ETH Zurich, Basel, Biel) operating as broader incumbents in the Swiss innovation-park landscape — comparable in function but at national scale and broader thematic scope.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Électronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss R&D center serving microtechnology, watchmaking, medtech, and industrial clients with applied research and technology transfer — overlaps significantly with Technopôle's microtechnology vertical but at much greater scale and as a publicly funded national institution.

Others

• Innovaud: Agency promoting innovation and supporting company growth across Canton of Vaud — an ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor; explicitly listed as a partner of the Technopôle and co-organizer of events.
• Micronarc: Cluster organization promoting micro and nanotechnologies in French-speaking Switzerland through trade shows, thematic workshops, and networking — closely aligned thematically with the Technopôle and listed as an active partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technop%C3%B4le-sainte-croix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Technopôle de Sainte-Croix