Isabelle Moret leads the Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment, and Heritage of Canton of Vaud, playing a key role in driving the region’s economic growth. In our recent conversation on the occasion of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards 2024, Isabelle highlighted how Vaud is endorsing innovation and supporting local startups. By offering essential resources and creating a lively ecosystem, the canton is emerging as a key player in attracting new talent and shaping the future of Switzerland’s entrepreneurial landscape.
As Head of the Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment, and Heritage (DEIEP) of the canton of Vaud, Isabelle Moret has been serving as a State Councillor since July 1, 2022. Dedicated to addressing the concerns and needs of the people of Vaud, she actively works to promote sustainable economic growth, create jobs, drive innovation, and improve work-life balance.
Isabelle, can you tell us about the importance of the “TOP 100 Swiss Startups” event for the canton of Vaud?
TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards is one of the most important startup events in Switzerland, it has traditionally been held in German-speaking Switzerland, and we are proud to see that the organizers also acknowledge the importance of the canton of Vaud in the Swiss startup scene. This year, 29 startups from Vaud are part of the TOP 100 ranking, further showcasing the strength and innovation of our region. This event brings together innovators and investors and rewards young startups that will shape the future of our country and its future competitiveness. It is therefore an opportunity to highlight our young startups, our talents, and our innovation ecosystem.
What are the expectations and objectives of the canton of Vaud in hosting this event?
The canton of Vaud supports the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award event to provide startups with an essential platform, allowing them to connect with investors, strengthen their network and accelerate their growth. Our main objective is to encourage the growth of young innovative companies by giving them the means to succeed in this dynamic environment that we are building in the canton to promote innovation.
What assets does the canton of Vaud have to offer that attracted the event here this year?
Each year, 25 to 30 startups from Vaud make it into the TOP 100 ranking, highlighting the region’s thriving innovation scene. With 80,000 students and researchers enhancing an active and engaging educational environment, Vaud sees 40 to 50 new startups emerge annually. This growth is supported by strong academic institutions, a robust network of corporate collaborations, and a great quality of life. All these factors, and the many events we host, have placed the canton of Vaud in 11th position in this year’s Startup Genome world ranking of emerging innovation ecosystems.
What role does the department you head play in supporting and promoting startups in the canton of Vaud?
We support startups directly through various mechanisms, such as financial backing, bank guarantees, and easier access to financing. We also support organizations that work to connect and accompany startups via thematic programs, events or missions entrusted to them, such as Innovaud, FIT, or various acceleration programs. Additionally, we have a dedicated platform called Viva Vaud, which offers multiple supports for projects focused on sustainability, a key cross-disciplinary priority for us. At the same time, we create the framework conditions to help these entrepreneurs establish themselves over the long term, by supporting them in their challenges, such as recruiting talent or raising funds, with Innovaud being a major partner in this process.
Can you share any success stories of local startups that have benefited from the support of the canton of Vaud?
I could tell you about Haya Therapeutics, based at the Biopole in Lausanne and that ranked first at the TOP 100 in 2023, or Tune Insight or Corintis, but I’ll tell you about Demosquare, an EPFL start-up that just raised CHF 1.2 million in August that has created an AI platform to analyze and monitor political and regulatory activities. For example, when regulation in a field of activity evolves, Demosquare analyzes its changes to benefit the companies concerned. This is an important lever for effective economic policies! The ICT startup has benefited from various forms of support from the canton, both through direct financial aid and through participation in canton-supported programs such as the Trust Village, FIT Digital support, and the Tech4Trust acceleration program. I hope we’ll see them in the TOP 100 this year!
How do you see the startup landscape in the canton of Vaud evolving over the next few years?
We see the startup landscape in the canton of Vaud evolving into a more lively and ever-evolving ecosystem over the next few years. A significant trend we anticipate is the growing convergence of innovations across different fields. This multidisciplinary and collaborative approach is becoming more common, and having a diverse economic fabric in the canton is a major asset. It allows startups to draw from a wide range of expertise and resources, driving innovative advancements that can address complex global challenges. For instance, Ecorobotix, a startup at the crossroads of robotics, agritech and artificial intelligence, has found fertile ground for its development in the north of the canton. In addition, we can also see the growth in the integration of AI tools in different industries and sectors of activity, such as the medical field or industrial production.
Find out more about the different tailored programs offered by Innovaud.
ABOUT TOP 100
The annual ranking of the TOP 100 Swiss Startups has become a benchmark in Switzerland’s startup ecosystem—and beyond. Every year, a panel of 100 leading investors and startup experts chooses the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups. Each jury member nominates 10 Swiss startups that are fewer than five years old and show the greatest commercial potential. They assign 10 points for the first place and one point for the tenth place. The companies with the most points make it into the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Ranking.
20.09.2024 09:30, Rita Longobardi
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