ETH Pioneer Fellowship 2025–2026

If you are an ambitious ETH Zürich student or researcher ready to transform your research into a real-world venture, the ETH Pioneer Fellowship 2025–2026 is an excellent opportunity. The program is designed to support entrepreneurial talent in turning cutting-edge research into viable spin-off companies. Applications are now open for both Deep-Tech Incubation and Social Impact Incubation tracks, providing funding, mentorship, and access to ETH’s innovation ecosystem.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: ETH Zürich, Switzerland

• Program Level: Postgraduate fellowship (entrepreneurship incubation)

• Target Group: ETH master’s students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and scientific staff members with research-based innovation projects

• Tracks & Fields of Study:

  • Deep-Tech Incubation: ICT, Space Tech, Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharma, Biotech, Medtech

  • Social Impact Incubation: Projects addressing needs in low- and middle-income countries (OECD DAC list)

• Value & Coverage:

  • CHF 120,000 for 12 months (ICT/Space Tech/Engineering/Others)

  • CHF 180,000 for 18 months (Life Sciences, Pharma, Medtech)

  • CHF 150,000 for 18 months (Social Impact projects)

  • Coaching, entrepreneurial training, ETH infrastructure, CAS in Entrepreneurial Leadership, networking, and office/lab access

• Duration: 12 or 18 months depending on track

• Application Deadlines:

  • March deadline: March 3, 2025 (program start: June–December 2025)

  • September deadline: September 1, 2025 (program start: December 2025–June 2026)

• Start Date: Between 3–9 months after application deadline

• Eligible To: ETH Zürich students, scientific staff, and researchers; projects must have at least Proof of Concept (TRL 4)

📚 Fellowship Overview

The ETH Pioneer Fellowship empowers talented individuals to develop innovative research into market-ready products or services. Fellows are supported in building ETH spin-offs through:

• Deep-Tech Incubation Program: Tailored for advanced engineering, ICT, biotech, pharma, and medtech projects. Fellows gain funding, business coaching, and mentorship from ETH professors and industry experts. Projects must demonstrate Proof of Concept (PoC) or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) readiness.

• Social Impact Incubation Program: Designed for projects with measurable benefits for low- and middle-income countries, especially for populations living on less than $10/day. Only one fellowship is awarded per call in this track.

Both tracks include structured entrepreneurial education, community networking, and support for transitioning from research to spin-off company creation.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Substantial financial support (CHF 120,000–180,000 or CHF 150,000 depending on track)

• Employment as ETH staff with full benefits

• Access to ETH’s entrepreneurial ecosystem (E3) and state-of-the-art labs and offices

• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Technology Ventures (tuition covered)

• Business coaching by experienced entrepreneurs and mentors

• Networking with investors, industry leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs

• Participation in 3Pi Competition (Pioneer Pitching) to showcase projects

• Alumni community engagement and ETH Founders network membership

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be ETH Zürich master’s students, doctoral/postdoctoral researchers, or fixed-term scientific staff members

• Apply with a project based on ETH intellectual property (IP) and supported by an ETH host professor

• Demonstrate Proof of Concept (TRL 4) or in-vitro validation (for biotech)

• Apply no later than six months after graduation or end of ETH employment (or up to nine months before)

• Not have incorporated a company prior to fellowship start

• Commit full-time to the program (exceptions only for family reasons)

Note: Applicants from ETH Domain Research Institutions may also be eligible if their project is ETH IP-based. Non-ETH IP projects (e.g., EPFL or other universities) are not eligible.

📝 Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted online via ETH eResearch portal. Required documents include:

• Project Summary (non-technical overview)

• Detailed Project Description (technology, market, competitor analysis, time plan, outcomes)

• Financial Plan (salary + project costs)

• Intellectual Property Situation document

• Applicant CV & Publication List

• Letter of Support from ETH host professor (must confirm infrastructure, IP access, and supervision)

• 2-minute Video Presentation (introducing applicant, project, and motivation)

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure (if any)

• Resubmission Statement (if reapplying)

⚠️ Important: All documents must be uploaded in PDF (max 15 MB). Video must be submitted in MP4 format via Polybox. Use ETH templates provided on the program site.

The steps required for submission are outlined in this document (PDF)

📆 Key Dates

• Application Deadline: September 1, 2025 (5 PM Swiss time)

• Deep-Tech Interviews: October 23, 2025

• Social Impact Interviews: October 28, 2025

• Results: Within 3 months after deadline

• Program Start: December 2025 – June 2026

🔍 Conclusion

The ETH Pioneer Fellowship 2025–2026 offers a unique opportunity for ETH researchers and students to transform innovative ideas into thriving spin-offs. With financial support, coaching, and access to ETH’s resources, fellows gain everything they need to scale their research into impactful ventures—whether in high-tech industries or social entrepreneurship.

🔗 Official Link

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