Academia-Industry Training India
The Academia-Industry Training (AIT) India supports researchers from Switzerland and India who want to turn their science into business. Whether you are working on a startup idea or have already launched a startup based on your applied research, this program helps you explore the Indian and Swiss innovation ecosystems and brings you closer to a market-ready solution.
For over a decade, the AIT India has been empowering researchers to become sciencepreneurs. The program is funded by the Swiss Leading House South Asia. Together with our partners Swissnex in India and STARTUP CAMPUS we design this program to support participants in exploring the potential of their innovations in the Indian and Swiss markets.
AIT India alumni have launched successful startups and entered new markets. Many of these startups have made a lasting impact in fields such as sustainability, energy and health. This makes the program a reliable early indicator of emerging trends.
The current program edition consists of the following:
- Jury day: August 27, 2025
10 Swiss-based startups were selected out of all applications in a competitive virtual pitching session. - Kick-off seminary: September 25 to 26, 2025
- Seminary in India: November 16 to 22, 2025
- Seminary in Switzerland: March 15 to 21, 2026
AIT India 2025/26 cohort
Step into the world of our startup founders. Learn what motivates them, what challenges them, and what keeps their vision alive.
Constantin Krüger, Alpion CryoSolutions
“At Alpion CryoSolutions we want to bring drug development to the next level. Our new patented technology enables us to see proteins while they are working. Recording the way a protein functions exactly will enable a greater understanding of the most important biological processes, which in turn opens up the possibility for new therapeutics.”
Romain Trihan, CeraSkin
“CeraSkin intends to provide MedTech companies with ceramic particles that puncture the external layer of the skin, without pain, to help improve skin treatments efficiency. With our patented process, developed thanks to research work conducted at Empa, we can produce ceramic particles in a suitable way for big production.”
Luc Bondaz, DeltaSpark
“DeltaSpark’s vision is to turn CO2 into building blocks of the future: building materials and clean H2. I always thought CO2 is seen as a major problem due to our failure to harvest it as a resource.”
Kunaljit Chadha, Impact Build
“Our startup tackles the building industry’s massive CO2 emissions, waste, and labor shortages by transforming excavated soil, normally landfilled, into low-carbon, cost-competitive building products with robotics.”
Selen Ercan Jenny, LAYERED
“LAYERED addresses the challenge of providing surface coating/finishing to building structures by its novel spray-based printing-in-motion technology. We develop and employ a learning-based optimization and adaptive control approach that enhances efficiency and precision.”
Juxhino Kavaja, nuorail
“nuorail develops energy-optimal autopilot software harnessing the power of applied mathematics. Our software minimizes the energy usage of train operation by optimizing traction and regenerative braking forces in real time while ensuring on-time arrival and compliance with operational constraints.”
Paulius Viskaitis, Skaaltec
“At Skaaltec we are building SmartVNS, a wearable device that helps stroke survivors in their recovery. Strokes often leave people with lasting difficulties, and existing therapy is hard work that can plateau too soon. We want to give people something that fits into their daily lives and helps them keep improving.”
Federico Martinelli-Orlando, TALPA Inspection
“At TALPA Inspection, we address the critical inefficiency in current infrastructure assessment and maintenance. Existing inspection methodologies are too slow to keep pace with the deterioration of our aging concrete structures – a race against time we are currently losing.”
Kanika Dheman, Renuro (UROPATCH)
“Today, there is no simple way for patients or caregivers to continuously monitor bladder volume in daily life. UROPATCH is a small wearable patch that measures bladder filling non-invasively and in real time. It aims to prevent health crises, reduce hospital visits, and give users back control over their bodies.”
Sébastien Le Fouest, Windworks
“Wind energy is central to the energy transition, yet large projects often stall for years due to complex approval processes and public opposition. This bottleneck leaves a huge share of the renewable potential untapped. At Windworks, we address this gap with mid-sized turbines designed for acceptance: compact, quiet, and suited to industrial and community sites where conventional wind farms cannot be built.”
Eligibility Swiss-based applicants
The program is open to: Swiss-based master’s students or researchers
- with a startup idea, or
- who have founded or co-founded an early-stage, science-based startup or spin-off.
If you meet the criteria above, we are very much looking forward to receiving your application.
What’s in it for you?
- Participate in two fully funded weeks in India and in Switzerland
- Pitch at Asia’s largest tech conference
- Compete for CHF 10,000 to take your next step toward international success
- Join a vibrant community of sciencepreneurs
- Build your international network
The next opportunity to apply to the program is: early summer 2026.
Stay tuned and add your name to the waiting list!
AIT India Alumni
Learn more about our alumni, their research, and startups.
In short: Academia-Industry Training India
Grant of CHF 10,000: compete for this grant to further develop and scale your innovation
Expenses covered: all expenses including food, accommodation, and transportation during the seminaries
Program destinations: India and Switzerland
Call: 1 per year
Inspiration
Gain an insight into past program editions and hear directly from participants.
Read on
AIT India 2024: Strengthening Swiss-Indian innovation ties
AIT India 2024: Kick-off drives Swiss startups' Indian market exploration
AIT India 2023: Swiss innovators drive their startups projects forward
AIT India 2023: Entrepreneurs build a bridge between Switzerland and India
AIT India 2023: Ten sciencepreneurs to validate their innovative concepts in India
AIT India 2022: From the lab to India (university magazine “Impact”)