HSeT Foundation

What HSeT Foundation does

HSeT Foundation (legal name: Fondation Health Science e-Training) is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 2006 in Lausanne, Switzerland, with e-learning operations dating to 2001. The foundation develops and delivers customized online training curricula in health and life sciences for partner institutions worldwide. Its core methodology, COLT (Customized OnLine Training), tailors e-learning programs to the specific needs of distinct learner groups defined by partner universities and organizations.

The technical infrastructure combines a proprietary Content Management System built on Microsoft .NET with an Oracle/SQL database for content authoring and revision control, integrated with a Moodle-based Learning Management System for course delivery and learner tracking, alongside WordPress for public communications. The foundation curates a media library of more than 50,000 scientific illustrations and animations and produces learning activities including annotated articles, interactive case-based learning modules, virtual microscope tools, and self-assessment quizzes. Programs span undergraduate medical education (notably a 10-year BS Medicine program at the University of Mauritius with UNIGE), postgraduate certifications (CAS/DAS in Translational Nephrology at UZH-UNIBE, CAS in Biobanking at UNIGE, IMVACC in Vaccinology at UNIL), and professional training (Institut Pasteur Vaccinology, WHO/Institut Pasteur rabies workshops, IAGG e-TRIGGER geriatrics).

HSeT serves universities, healthcare professionals, international organizations, and students from developing countries, reaching learners in Switzerland, Europe, Africa, Asia-Oceania, and North America. The organization generates revenue through course and program fees (CHF 150-750 per Data Science course tier), institutional partnership development services, grants and sponsorships from entities including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), European Commission, EDCTP, State Secretariat for Education and Research (SBFI), Lombard Odier, and Velux Foundations, donations via PayPal and bank transfer, and active fundraising for scholarships supporting students from developing countries. With 1-10 employees, the foundation operates through a lean core team supplemented by a Scientific Advisory Board, Executive Committee, and pro bono academic collaborators from leading Swiss and international institutions.

Name

HSeT Foundation

Legal name

Fondation Health Science e-Training

Website

https://hset.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HSeT Foundation is a Swiss non-profit foundation that develops customized online e-learning curricula and training programs in health and life sciences for universities, healthcare professionals, and international organizations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Sciences E-Learning

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation & Scenario-Based Learning Authoring (EDAFAHAD), Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

Keywords

• Online medical education
• Health sciences e-learning
• Customized online training
• Life science training
• Academic e-learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Delivery and Program Fees: HSeT generates revenue through fees associated with delivering customized online training programs and courses. Programs include undergraduate (BS/MS in Medicine), postgraduate (MAS/DAS/CAS in Translational Nephrology, Biobanking, Vaccinology), and professional development courses. Fees are charged per course or program tier (Light, Interactive, Personalized formats).
2. Institutional Partnerships and Sponsorship: HSeT receives financial support from institutional sponsors including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), European Commission, EDCTP, State Secretariat for Education and Research (SBFI), University of Geneva, Lombard Odier, Velux Foundations, Fondation Privée HUG, and ISREC. Sponsors support scholarships, scientific collaborator positions, and development of new educational facilities.
3. Study Program Development Services: HSeT provides fee-for-service consulting for the development of academic programs, including curriculum design, accreditation support, recruitment of teachers and experts, and fundraising strategy development. Services span the entire lifecycle of program creation for partner institutions.
4. Scholarship and Capacity Building Programs: HSeT actively fundraises to establish dedicated scholarships enabling qualified individuals, particularly from developing nations, to access world-class training. Scholarships support participation in accredited academic and professional programs, including those in Switzerland, contributing to global health capacity building.
5. Donations: HSeT accepts donations from individuals and organizations through PayPal and bank transfer (UBS), supporting the foundation's mission to promote cooperation in Internet-based training and strengthen digital learning in developing countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HSeT Foundation designs, develops, and delivers customized e-learning curricula and online training programs in health and life sciences for universities, research institutions, international organizations, and healthcare professionals. Core deliverables include continuing education certificates, diplomas, and master's degrees (notably in translational nephrology and biobanking), short specialized courses, and bespoke institutional learning portals. All programs are produced using the proprietary COLT methodology, the HSeT Content Management System built on Microsoft .NET, and the Moodle Learning Management System, and are supported by a scientific media library of over 50,000 illustrations, animations, and interactive learning objects.

Product overview

HSeT Foundation operates as a non-profit organization developing online training in health and life sciences. The core offering is COLT (Customized OnLine Training), a methodology that provides tailored e-learning programs for partner institutions. The technical infrastructure consists of a proprietary Content Management System (built on Microsoft .NET with Oracle/SQL databases) for content creation and management, integrated with Moodle for learning management and delivery. The platform is complemented by WordPress for public communications. HSeT offers course content development services including scientific illustrations and animations (media library of 50,000+ assets), digital textbooks, and learning activities (annotated articles, interactive cases, virtual microscopy, self-assessments). Educational programs include undergraduate partnerships (University of Mauritius Medicine), postgraduate certifications (CAS/DAS Translational Nephrology, CAS Biobanking), professional courses (Vaccinology with Institut Pasteur, Rabies workshops), and specialized training (e-TRIGGER gerontology/geriatrics). Short courses include Data Science for Life Sciences. The organization leverages Swiss academic identity federation (SWITCH edu-ID) for authentication and offers mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COLT (Customized OnLine Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 of 27 initial cohort students (University of Mauritius, 2013-2019) successfully graduated as Mauritian doctors, with all passing Medical Council licensing exams and 8 of top 10 scorers for two consecutive years.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

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

• IAGG (International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Global organization for aging research and gerontology education. HSeT developed and operates the IAGG e-TRIGGER (e-TRaining In Gerontology and Geriatrics) program, covering two time zones: AFMEE (Africa, Middle East, Europe) and ASIO (Asia-Oceania). The ASIO program graduated 82 trainees from 19 countries in 2026.
• University of BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss academic institution partnering with HSeT for e-Learning projects. University of Basel is one of the leading research universities in Switzerland and a longstanding institutional partner in HSeT's network of Swiss universities supporting health science education development.
• University of BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the UZH-UNIBE CAS/DAS in Translational Nephrology program, delivered as a blended e-learning course. The Universities of Zurich and Bern collaborate with HSeT for program delivery and accreditation.
• University of ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the UZH-UNIBE CAS/DAS in Translational Nephrology program alongside University of Bern, with HSeT providing the e-learning platform and program management.
• University of Geneva (UNIGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and sponsor of HSeT. UNIGE collaborated on the first eLearning program in Immunology (2001) and continues to partner on the Bachelor in Medicine program, CAS in Biobanking, and other educational initiatives. Several HSeT co-founders and board members are affiliated with UNIGE.
• EPFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, a leading technical university, partnering with HSeT for e-Learning curriculum development and delivery across health and life sciences programs.
• University of Lausanne (UNIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSeT co-founder Bernard Rossier served as former Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at UNIL. UNIL partners with HSeT on the Master in Medical Biology program and the IMVACC (Master of Advanced Studies in Vaccinology, 2016-2024).
• Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational infrastructure platform for bioinformatics in Switzerland, collaborating with HSeT on educational resources in computational biology and bioinformatics for health sciences training.
• National Center of Excellence Kidney Control of Homeostasis (NCCR Kidney.CH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research focused on kidney physiology, collaborating with HSeT on the CAS/DAS in Translational Nephrology program and related educational content.
• Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss national center for applied human toxicology, partnering with HSeT for the delivery of the Master in Human Toxicology program through customized e-learning platforms.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO collaborates with HSeT on rabies surveillance and control workshops, co-organized with Institut Pasteur and WOAH. WHO provides expertise and endorsement for training programs targeting disease control personnel in low-income countries. HSeT board member Prof. Hervé Bourhy heads the WHO Collaborating Center for Rabies Reference and Research at Institut Pasteur.
• Institut PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international partner for Vaccinology courses and Rabies workshops. Institut Pasteur organizes intensive 11-day rabies workshops (8 editions since 2013) in collaboration with WHO, WOAH, and HSeT. HSeT serves as educational partner for Institut Pasteur's Vaccinology Course (2026) directed by Prof. Armelle Phalipon and Prof. Chetan Chitnis.
• US National Institutes of Health (NIH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS federal agency supporting biomedical research, partnering with HSeT on e-Learning initiatives including the NIH Vaccine Research Center collaborations and broader health science training programs.
• International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit health organization dedicated to developing vaccines for HIV/AIDS, partnering with HSeT on educational content and training related to vaccine development and immunology.
• The Global HIV Vaccine EnterprisemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance of organizations working to accelerate HIV vaccine development, collaborating with HSeT on training and educational resources for the global health research community.
• The U.S. Military HIV Research ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS military program focused on HIV vaccine research, partnering with HSeT on educational initiatives related to HIV/AIDS and infectious disease training.
• Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI, UCSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of California's clinical and translational science institute, partnering with HSeT on translational medicine education and training programs.
• NIH Vaccine Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, collaborating with HSeT on vaccine research training and educational content.
• Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa (SAMRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African medical research council, partnering with HSeT on training programs targeting African health priorities, including rabies control and epidemiology capacity building.
• University of MauritiusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey international partner for a 10-year undergraduate BS in Medicine program (2014-2024) developed in collaboration with University of Geneva. HSeT produced 4 online modules with 2-3 case studies each for Years 2 and 3 of the Bachelor program. 25 of 27 initial cohort students graduated successfully as Mauritian doctors.
• University of Cheikh Anta Diop de DakarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading university in Senegal, partnering with HSeT on African health science education and training initiatives.
• University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS research university partnering with HSeT on clinical research training and translational medicine education programs.
• Sanofi PasteurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal vaccine company and commercial enterprise partner, providing support for rabies workshops and vaccine-related training programs. Sanofi Pasteur is also listed as a sponsor for rabies workshops.
• Foederatio Analyticorum Medicinalium Helveticorum (FAMH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss professional organization for medical analysts, partnering with HSeT on laboratory medicine training and educational content.
• Swiss Society of HematologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss professional society for hematology, collaborating with HSeT on specialized training content in hematology.
• Innovative Medicine Initiative: PharmaTrainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU IMI-funded program focused on medicines development training, partnering with HSeT on the Clinical Investigator Course (CLIC) and harmonized clinical trial training curricula.
• National Center of Excellence Molecular OncologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research focused on molecular oncology, partnering with HSeT on related educational content and training programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Smart Sparrow: Smart Sparrow provides an adaptive e-learning authoring platform with simulation and scenario-based learning capabilities used by universities and health-professions educators. Comparable to HSeT on the instructional-design and simulation-authoring layer, but as a tool provider rather than a turnkey program operator.

Emerging players

• InStride: InStride partners with employers and universities to deliver workforce-development programs including health-sector continuing education. Comparable to HSeT in delivering accredited, partner-branded digital learning experiences, but focused on employer-sponsored rather than university-sponsored learners.
• Area9 Lyceum: Area9 Lyceum provides adaptive learning platforms with case-based and scenario-based content for health professions education, used by medical schools and continuing-education providers. Overlaps with HSeT on case-based learning, simulations, and health-professions continuing education, though it focuses on adaptive AI-driven delivery rather than full program management.
• Sana Labs: Sana Labs builds an AI-native learning platform used by enterprises and educational institutions for personalized, interactive learning experiences. Comparable to HSeT as an institutional learning platform with a focus on personalization, but Sana targets corporate L&D and consumer-grade learners rather than university-accredited health science programs.

Broad incumbents

• edX: edX (2U) hosts university and institutional online programs including health and life sciences degrees and short courses from institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Johns Hopkins. Comparable to HSeT as an institutional online learning platform, but serves a much broader subject catalog and uses a more standardized, less customized delivery model.
• Coursera: Coursera partners with top universities and organizations (including WHO, Imperial, Johns Hopkins) to deliver online courses, certificates, and degrees across health and life sciences. Comparable to HSeT as a digital course-delivery and credentialing platform serving institutional partners, but operates at vastly greater scale and with a broader catalog.

Direct peers

• OpenWHO: OpenWHO is the World Health Organization's own free online learning platform for health emergencies, infectious diseases, and public health. It is a direct peer of HSeT because both deliver WHO-affiliated, globally accessible health science training to professionals in low- and middle-income countries — and OpenWHO is a key competitor/partner for the same intergovernmental training budgets.
• Osmosis (Elsevier): Osmosis, now part of Elsevier Health, provides video-based and adaptive learning for medical and health science students and professionals globally. It is directly comparable to HSeT in delivering health-sciences continuing education with rich visual media, though Osmosis focuses on a consumer/institutional subscription model rather than the customized partner-portal approach.
• Lecturio: Lecturio offers video-based medical and health science courses, exam prep, and clinical reasoning training to students and professionals worldwide. Like HSeT, it combines structured curricula with visual/animated content, though its delivery model is consumer/SaaS rather than customized per institutional partner.

Regional players

• Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+): SSPH+ is a foundation coordinating continuing education and public-health training across Swiss universities, including digital and blended programs. Comparable to HSeT as a Swiss-based non-profit delivering inter-university health science education programs, though SSPH+ focuses more on coordination/networking while HSeT focuses on custom content and platform delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about HSeT Foundation