Projects wanted - CSEM awards CHF 200,000 to Swiss SMEs

Since 2018, the CSEM has been sponsoring a competition called "Digital Journey"digitization in Swiss SMEs. It offers a company with fewer than 250 employees the opportunity to draw on CSEM's range of technologies to make their digitisation dreams come true. A jury of experts (see below) appoints the winning company, which receives support and advice from CSEM specialists worth CHF 100,000.

Offer expanded

As it did last year, CSEM has expanded its offer and decided to allow not just one, but two Swiss companies to benefit from this support. "For SMEs that are ready to fundamentally rethink their business model and processes, digitalisation opens up unimagined opportunities. CSEM can offer digital technologies tailored to the specific needs of these companies," explains Alexandre Pauchard, CEO of CSEM.

Projects of last year's winners

Last year, the Digital Journey prize went to two companies from the healthcare sector, Gait Up and Definition12. Their projects were chosen because of their great importance for society. In both cases, CSEM is committed to accelerating the time-to-market of the products.

Gait UP: The company is a spin-off of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the EPF Lausanne (EPFL). Gait UP analyses gait disorders using wireless body-worn sensors, algorithms and biomechanical know-how. With the support of CSEM, the company is developing and validating new algorithms specifically targeted at gait disorders in people who have suffered a stroke or ligament injury, or who have Parkinson's disease.

Definition 12: The company specializes in speech disorders. It develops a tailor-made app for people suffering from aphasia (speech disorder due to brain injury). The app can be used for rehabilitation at home. With playful exercises and personal feedback, it aims to support an efficient language relearning process. Thanks to artificial intelligence and the support of CSEM, Definition 12 is developing a broad-based solution that translates therapists' facial expressions into multiple languages and dialects.

Application deadline

SMEs wishing to participate in the CSEM Digital Journey can submit their application by 6 September 2021 submit. The five finalists will be selected in October and the winners of the 2021 edition will be announced in November, at an event organised in parallel with the "Swiss Digital Day".

Registration for the competition: Digital Journey

The jury

- President: Bahaa Roustom, Head of Corporate Business Development
- Silvio Bonaccio, ETHZ, overall management ETH transfer
- Nicolas Bürer, CEO Digital Switzerland
- Ursula Oesterle, EPFL, Vice President for Innovation
- Raphaël Rollier, Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo, Head of Innovation and Product Management
- Robert Rudolph, Swissmem, Member of the Executive Board, Head of Digitalization and Innovation Division
- Christian Wasserfallen, National Councillor