Welcome to the Propelling Grant, your gateway to transforming groundbreaking academic research into impactful societal innovations.
At the Innovation Office, we are committed to supporting researchers like you in bringing your discoveries and ideas to life.
The Propelling Grant is designed to support your journey from academia to entrepreneurship, providing you with the resources and funding needed to succeed.
Numbers
since 2018
115
Number of applicants
26
Projects Funded
12'714'578
CHF
Post-Propelling Grant
Funding raised
12
Startups Founded
The Propelling Grant is designed to assist you, researchers affiliated with the University of Basel, in transforming your discoveries into start-ups.
The funding (up to 50,000 CHF per project) can be used to:
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Refine your business case, for example by accessing market analysis reports
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Validate your product-market fit, for example by engaging with customers to understand their needs
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Map out the regulatory pathway
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Support your intellectual property and licensing strategy
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De-risk your technology by reaching specific scientific milestones (achievable in max. 6 months, e.g., finalise prototype, in vivo validation)
Important: You should be able to justify how the funding will bring your project closer toward investor and market readiness.
The Propelling Program Workplan
The Propelling Program Workplan
Investor Relations
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Participate in targeted investor events.
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Support in preparing investor-ready materials and pitches.
Visibility
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Promotion through official communication channels.
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“Propelling Grant” stamp and "University of Basel Startup" logo (upon incorporation) for branding and recognition purposes.
Workshops
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Access to Entrepreneurs-in-Residence to work through your current challenges.
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Bespoke support through a dedicate innovation manager.
Office Space
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Free use of the Innovation Garage’s address for company incorporation (available for up to 6 months after receiving the grant).
Additional support provided by the Innovation Office to Propelling Grant winners:
The Propelling Program Workplan
Visibility
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Participation in high-profile visibility events.
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Promotion through official communication channels.
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"University of Basel Startup" logo for branding and recognition purposes.
Office Space
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Free access to the Innovation Garage`s co-working space and meeting rooms.
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Free use of the Innovation Garage`s address for company incorporation
(available for up to 18 months after receiving the grant.
Investor Relations
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Facilitated introductions to relevant investors and funding networks.
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Support in preparing investor-ready materials and pitches.
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Access to investor-focused events and pitch sessions.
Workshops
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Access to thematic workshops tailored for early-stage startups, designed to help you identify and navigate key challenges in translating scientific research into market-ready solutions.
Application deadline - March 08th 2026 at midnight
Applicants must have active affiliation with the University of Basel:
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PhD candidates
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Postdocs
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Research assistants
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Professors
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University employees
Ensure affiliation is current at time of submission and for the entire time of the Propelling Grant.
If you are solely affiliated with the University Hospital Basel (USB) or the University Children’s Hospital of Basel (UKBB), you are not eligible.
Eligible projects include those that have already validated their concept or technology, as well as those that have developed their first prototype.
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The grant provides up to 50,000 CHF for a period of up to six months as non-dilutive funding. You are free to propose how you will use the funds as part of the evaluation process. However, your proposed budget should not mainly cover basic research, experiments and consumables. You will be expected to justify how the funding will bring your project closer toward investor and market readiness.
Depending on the maturity of your project, the Evaluation Board may require you to allocate part of the funds to a specific coaching, decided on a case-by-case basis.
Awardees are required to have regular exchanges with the Innovation Office to discuss progresses and next steps.
To apply, complete a brief online form and upload two documents:
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Propelling Grant Application Form (Word document).
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Propelling Grant Slide Deck (PowerPoint template).
Please ensure that all submitted information is non-confidential.
For more details, refer to the Evaluation Process & Timeline document. While timelines might vary due to administrative processes, selected applicants will be invited for an in-person pitch/interview with the Evaluation Board.
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What Makes a Strong Proposal
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Clear explanation on how the funding and proposed activities will make the project ready for follow-on investments
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Proof-of-concept data (i.e., the Propelling Grant doesn’t fund exploratory projects at ideation stage)
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Articulate, concise, and compelling narrative
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Realistic execution and implementation plan
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Draft business plan and understanding of the current market
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Willingness to iterate & develop based on feedback
Common Reasons for Rejection
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Weak alignment with the goals of the Propelling Grant
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Vague or unrealistic budgets
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No startup translation plan or intention
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Insufficient data or concept validation
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No market analysis or differentiation
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Incomplete or late submission
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Proposal mostly funds basic research / materials
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Poor writing or lack of clarity
Next Steps
Application deadline
March / September
March / September
Pre-Evaluation
Interviews
April / November
May / December
Winner Annoncement
Onboarding & Kick-off
June / January
Propelling Grant Winners
basiQL
Winner 9th Edition
David Hauser & Fabian Otte from the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel
REsolve
Winner 9th Edition
Kevin Baumann, Lukas Beckert, & Mitchell Bruederlin from the Biozentrum, University of Basel
Musashi Inhibitors
Winner 9th Edition
Andreas Papassotiropoulos, Dominique de Quervain, & Attila Stetak from the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel
SyroX
Winner 8th Edition
Laura De Smalen & Don Benjamin
from the Biozentrum, University of Basel
GlioCART
Winner 8th Edition
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. sc. nat. Gregor Hutter from the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel
Quamplify
Winner 7th Edition
Miguel J. Carballido, Rafael S. Eggli, Taras Patlatiuk from the Department of Physics, University of Basel
Qprobe
Winner 7th Edition
Richard Warburton, Andreas Kuhlmann & Sascha Martin from the Department of Physics, University of Basel
EndoGlow
Winner 7th Edition
Jacopo Millul & Melpomeni Fani from the University of Basel & University Hospital Basel
Povanhu
Winner 5th Edition
Dr. Giorgio Miescher & Dr. Luregn Lenggenhager from the Centre for African Studies, University of Basel
SMART-NOW
Winner 5th Edition
Andreas Papageorgiou, Dr. Donja Brunner, Dr. Eva Unternährer, Madlaina Kapoor from the Psychiatric Clinic, University of Basel
Translation-X
Winner 5th Edition
PhD Özgür Genç from the Biozentrum, University of Basel
Dentexion
Winner 4th Edition
PhD Dennis Madsen from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Basel
hELPS
Winner 3rd Edition
PhD Michael Nash from the Department of Chemistry, University of Basel
Akylox Therapeutics ApS
Winner 3rd Edition
Prof. Dr. Dennis Gillingham & Prof. Dr. Matthias Wymann from the Department of Chemistry & Biomedicine, University of Basel
ID Diagnostics
Winner 2nd Edition
Dr. Gytis Jankevicius & Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hiller from the Biozentrum, University of Basel
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Glycocalyx Therapeutics
Winner 2nd Edition
Dr. Natalia Rodrigues Mantuano, Prof. Dr. med. Dr. sc. nat. Heinz Läubli & Andreas Zingg from the Department of Biomedicine & Universitätsspital Basel, University of Basel
NextImmune
Winner 1st Edition
Dr. med Rajesh Jayachandran from the Biozentrum, University of Basel
Dedomena
Winner 1st Edition
PhD Cédric Duchêne-Lacroix from the Department of Social Sciences, University of Basel
Cancentus
Winner 10th Edition
Prof. Dennis Gillingham, Daniela Carraturo, Prof. Thanos Halazonetis & Giacomo Rosetti from the Department of Mollecular and Cellular Biology, University of Basel
EvoNav
Winner 10th Edition
Prof. Dr. med. Raphael Guzman, Dr. med. Attill Saemann & Jan Stifter from the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Basel
Contacts
Evaluation Board
Daniel Haering
Advisor, Mentor, Coach, Business Angel, Director
Alethia de Leon
Life sciences /Healthcare Board Member, Entrepreneur & Investor
Andre Moeri
Board member at Medgate, Scale-up Coach
Werner Boeing
NED, Advisory Board Member, Mentor
Waltraud Grünbauer
Grünbauer Consulting & Development (Freelance)
Partners
