NETS Programm
  • NETS provides the tools needed for technology and science entrepreneurs to become successful
  • NETS gives close insight into the American approach to entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.
  • NETS transfers this experience into a European and Swiss framework.
  • NETS creates an entrepreneurial community between different sciences, regions of Switzerland and types of universities.
  • NETS encourages and promotes technology and science entrepreneurship within the Swiss universities.
NETS criteria and selection

Candidates form all scientific disciplines are welcome to apply for the NETS 2004 opportunity. They must:
  • Still be members of their university or be attached/closely linked to it
  • Prepare their start-up or have a business opportunity in the pipeline
  • Have a good knowledge of English
The Swiss universities nominate their three candidates until december 1st 2003. Each university has named a NETS contact who is in charge for the applications and the nomination. A Preselection and final selection of the nominated candidates are made by the NETS jury.
The best candidates are then invited to follow the NETS entrepreneurship development program as finalists that starts in spring and ends in late summer.

NETS training

The final candidates undergo an intense entrepreneurship development training of more than three weeks starting in spring and ending in late summer:

Introductionary Seminar: 2 days in march/april in Basel

  • Entrepreneur profile test
  • Presentation and personal skills course

Create Tool Kit: 5 days in may in Lausanne

  • Entrepreneur tool kit course

Boston Kick: 10 days in june in Boston

  • Feel the buzz and learn from it
  • Company visits
  • Networking
  • Entrepreneurs course at Babson College

Swiss Flavor: 3 days in september in Lausanne

  • Company visits
  • Meeting with VC's and Business Angels

Autumn Crop: september

  • NETS Award Ceremony
  • NETS Annaul Meeting


NETS Experience

The NETS program is an exceptional opportunity in Switzerland, not to be missed if starting a technological business is your goal! As my background is essentially technical, the program enabled me to get a hold on as many business tools as possible helping me to move on efficiently with my venture project. Spending half of the program time on both side of the Atlantic Ocean brought me valuable and close insight into the American and Swiss approach to entrepreneurship. Sharing experience, opinion but also valuable advice with 16 other entrepreneurs of various backgrounds was extremely enriching.“

Nathalie Cobut, EPFL, TechPowder SA, NETS encouragement prize winner 2002

"The NETS program is like a toolbox for entrepreneurs. As a scientist, I lacked the business background. The program gave me a chance to develop and learn basic business skills and concepts useful when starting a company. In addition, the program gave me the opportunity to meet other young entrepreneurs, facing the same challenges and difficulties as me. Exchanging views and experiences with them proved to be extremely valuable."





Grégoire Ribordy, University of Geneva, id Quantique SA, NETS encouragement prize winner 2001

"The NETS program was a challenging introduction to entrepreneurship and well worth the effort and cost. It was a promising beginning, a significant boost to our own work and laid the foundation for an important network of personal and business relationships.
Participation in the program was very helpful for getting our own business venture started."

Andréa Belliger, University of Lucerne, Online Education Solutions, NETS encouragement prize winner 2000

NETS Challenge

The NETS entrepreneurship development program is a challenge for all partners: For the Swiss universities to identify and nominate suitable candidates, for the candidates, for the candidates to be selected by the NETS jury during a competitive selection process and finally for the Gebert Rüf Foundation to build up a fast-growing network that helps turn scientific knowledge into innovation and business opportunities.