AIT India 2025/26: Swiss and Indian startups complete their innovation journey
The 12th edition of the Academia-Industry Training (AIT) India program has now successfully concluded. Designed to support early-stage startups on their path to market readiness, it brought together ten Swiss and eight Indian founders of science-based startups for an immersive cross-border innovation experience. The next AIT India call will open soon. Ahead of that, the Swiss Leading House South Asia will launch the inaugural edition of AIT Nepal.
The AIT India program guides participants through key elements of both the Indian and Swiss innovation ecosystems. For the Swiss startups, the journey began in August 2025 with a competitive jury day, which saw ten startups selected for the program. A few weeks later, the two-day kick-off event brought the Swiss-based founders together for the first time to exchange ideas, refine their pitches, and prepare for the program ahead.
The core of the program consisted of two intensive learning weeks: first in India (November 16 to 22, 2025) and later in Switzerland (March 15 to 21, 2026). Across both locations, participants engaged in workshops, ecosystem visits, networking events, coaching sessions, pitching practices, and market insights.
From jury day to final pitching competition
“The week in each country gave us the opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the science and innovation landscape, to learn from decision-makers and experts, and to gain valuable insights into companies and more mature startups. Another very important aspect was the peer learning,” says Amanda Strub, Manager of the Swiss Leading House South Asia. Participants also took part in major innovation gatherings such as the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Asia’s largest tech conference, and the START Summit in St. Gallen.
During the week in Switzerland, participants met with experts from Switzerland Global Enterprise and spent a full day at Startup@HSG. They also visited the Paul Scherrer Institute, Unbound Potential, ARTIDIS, Switzerland Innovation Park Basel and Wyss Zurich. A particular highlight of this year’s edition was a three-day joint program with the AIT Brazil cohort, enabling exchange across three continents and innovation systems.
The week closed with the final pitching competition, where all 18 startups presented their progress and future potential. A representative of the Embassy of India in Switzerland was also present for the occasion, underscoring the program’s bilateral dimension. An expert jury selected the winning participants, with one winner being selected from Switzerland and one from India.
Celebrating the 2025/26 program winners
1st place:
- Kunaljit Chadha – Impact Build (Switzerland)
- Kiran Bettadapur – FlaskAI (India)
2nd place:
- Selen Ercan Jenny – LAYERED (Switzerland)
- Subu Gupta – Quantum Biosciences (India)
3rd place:
- Kanika Dhema – Renuro (Switzerland)
- Tapish Agarwal – Hycosys (India)
A program strengthening bilateral ties
AIT India is led by the Swiss Leading House South Asia and implemented in close collaboration with Swissnex in India and STARTUP CAMPUS Switzerland. The program connects researchers, innovators, and early-stage founders from both countries and fosters access to international innovation networks. It is jointly funded by the Swiss Leading House South Asia at the ZHAW and the Government of Karnataka in India.
Hosted at the ZHAW, the Swiss Leading House South Asia operates in an environment where applied research, collaboration with industry, and entrepreneurial thinking are steadily encouraged. This backdrop aligns well with programs like AIT, which help science-based startups gain visibility, refine market approaches, and build connections across two innovation ecosystems.
Looking ahead: AIT India and AIT Nepal 2026/27
Applications for the next AIT India edition will re-open soon, offering Swiss science-based startups the opportunity to discover one of the world’s fastest-growing technology and innovation markets.
A new addition in 2026/27 is the inaugural edition of AIT Nepal, providing early access to an emerging ecosystem with growing momentum in sectors such as bio tech, clean tech, food systems, and digital health. Together, India and Nepal offer fertile ground for Swiss startups looking to explore new markets and test scalable solutions.