2024 ETH Pioneer Fellowship Program For International Students
The ETH Pioneer Fellowship enables entrepreneurial ETH students and researchers in developing their research-based technologies into marketable products and services to launch a successful ETH Spin-off company.
Pioneer Fellows receive up to CHF 150’000 for 18 months (12 months for a team of 2 Fellows). In addition, they get coaching, entrepreneurial training, support by your host Professor, access to ETH infrastructure and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Summary
- Host Country: Switzerland
- Study Abroad: Study in Europe
- Category: Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | 150,000 CHF grant
Details:
Fellowships are granted through a competitive selection, prioritizing the most promising and entrepreneurial candidates. If rejected, re-application is not permitted.
Pioneer Fellows are granted up to CHF 150,000 over 18 months (12 months for a duo). Moreover, they benefit from coaching, entrepreneurial education, assistance from their host Professor, and access to ETH’s resources and entrepreneurial network.
Requirements:
- Candidates must have a master’s or doctoral degree from ETH Zurich.
- A team of 1-2 entrepreneurs who want to commercialize the results of their research (master’s or doctoral thesis or postdoctoral research) at ETH.
- A promising business case
- A project where the company is not yet involved.
- The project and the team are fully supported by the host professor at ETH.
Duration and Reward
- Fellows receive up to CHF 150’000 for 18 months
- Beyond stipends, the fellowship should cover the majority of your project’s expenses
- They receive coaching, training in entrepreneurship, assistance from their host Professor, and entry to ETH’s infrastructure and the entrepreneurial environment.
Required Documents
- A concise project overview outlining planned activities, market context, and potential for innovation.
- A comprehensive account of the concept built upon the research outcomes of an ETH Zurich Master’s or Doctoral thesis.
- Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest (if any) to both candidates and the host professor.
- A signed letter of support from the host professor, explaining why and how s/he wishes to support the candidate and how s/he evaluates the proposed project idea. Describing infrastructure made accessible.
- 2 minute long presentation video of project and motivation.
Method of Application
The Pioneer Fellowship Application must be submitted through the web-based submission system. The platform can be accessed with your nethz username and password.
Each Pioneer Fellowship application comprises a cover sheet and several attachments to be supplied as separate electronic documents. The cover sheet contains basic information that is entered via a web-based interface, within which the cover sheet can also be generated.
