EPFL works with a variety of universities, businesses and other organizations, serving as a research partner, supplier, sponsor and more. The EPFL brand holds considerable value, and many organizations are proud to display it – in either logo or text format – as testimony to their association with the School. However, in some cases, the type of partnership with our School is not described clearly or our logo is used incorrectly.
In this page we describe some common situations and explain how they should be handled in accordance with our brand identity guidelines.
When EPFL is a customer
Many suppliers are proud to count EPFL as a customer. But we must find the right balance between transparency and discretion. As a public university, we generally cannot prohibit a supplier from including our name in its list of customers. However, we can insist that our name not be used to promote a business.
The EPFL logo can be displayed in the “customers” section of a company’s website or brochure. But EPFL must never be described as the company’s “partner” or “sponsor,” and EPFL testimonials cannot be provided to businesses.
In the specific case of an in-kind transaction, the vice presidency in charge of purchasing and Mediacom will agree on the value of the transaction and exactly what it will entail before the agreement is entered into. When the agreement is performed (e.g., when EPFL provides a testimonial for a video or when the company holds an on-campus event), the following statement must be displayed: “Provided as part of an in-kind transaction.”
Examples
EPFL is listed in the “customers” section of this supplier’s website (alongside other organizations), and the type of services provided are clear.
In this LinkedIn post, an EPFL employee provides a video testimonial (not shown) for a business – something that is permitted only with the prior approval of Mediacom and the purchasing department.
When EPFL is a partner or co-founder
EPFL often teams up with universities, businesses and research institutes to sponsor events and other initiatives. These collaborative efforts are useful on several levels: they help us drive innovation in teaching and research and bolster our School’s positive impact on society.
However, it is important that people understand EPFL’s role in such initiatives, including the relationships between the organizations and the scope of each collaboration. Adequate details should therefore be provided.
The word “partner” is too generic and should generally be avoided. Ideally, EPFL’s role should be specified in the text (or added to the logo, in line with the brand identity guidelines). See the list in Section 1.7 for ideas. Once EPFL’s involvement in the initiative has ended, our School must be removed from the list of partners unless the period of involvement is clearly indicated.
Here, the role of EPFL and other organizations is stated clearly.
EPFL’s startup support programs
The support our School provides to budding entrepreneurs and especially startups extends to the area of marketing. Young businesses with the EPFL label have a clear advantage. But we must monitor how this label is used. A 500-person company can no longer be considered a startup and therefore loses the right to call itself an EPFL partner. By the same token, a business that merely rents an office at Innovation Park cannot claim to be an “EPFL startup.”
Startups that benefit from an EPFL support program or an EPFL service can indicate the kind of support they received in their communications, using statements such as “with the support of the EPFL Startup Launchpad” (text format) or “EPFL Blaze Accelerator” ou “Innogrant”.
Startups that are spun off an EPFL research lab can likewise mention that in their communications. But they need to make a distinction between the research carried out under the EPFL name (and for which they can benefit from our School’s communications support) and the company’s own marketing activities. If an article or social media post promoting a startup is published via EPFL’s communication channels, then the article or post should explicitly and clearly state that it is part of EPFL’s support for startups (see our Open Communication Guidelines).
Interested startups should view our Guidelines for Startups at EPFL, including the section titled “Use of EPFL name and resources.”
If you are not sure whether a startup can call itself an EPFL startup, here are two lists that can help:
A misleading marketing email sent by a business. Just because it has hired EPFL graduates does not mean it can claim to be “supported by” EPFL.
When EPFL is a funding recipient
Our School receives funding from businesses, foundations and philanthropic organizations to finance research chairs, centers and other activities. In these cases, the funding agreement should spell out the terms for using the brands of EPFL and the funding provider on marketing materials and other communications.
Other types of support
EPFL professors and researchers have the academic freedom to provide testimonials and statements based on their own reputation.
A company cannot claim to be supported by EPFL just because it employs EPFL graduates, takes part in an EPFL event or has a discussion with an EPFL professor.
EPFL cannot be listed as an event partner just because an EPFL professor or representative speaks at the event.