Vice Presidency for Innovation (VPI)

The VPI the interface with industrial milieus, in particular through the EPFL Innovation Park, a place of interaction and proximity between companies and the campus.

© EPFL Innovation Park

Introduction

For more than 20 years, EPFL has been a key player in innovation in Switzerland. The Vice Presidency for Innovation is dedicated to this role and, in particular, to the development of platforms for interaction between EPFL researchers and students, and business and industry.

The VPI is in charge of the deployment of the Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL, which is closely linked to the expansion of EPFL’s other campuses. It is the interface with industrial milieus, in particular through the EPFL Innovation Park, a place of interaction and proximity between companies – start-ups and large enterprises – and the campus.

To promote technology transfer and the commercialization of its research, the Vice Presidency for Innovation has put in place a set of instruments and measures to encourage entrepreneurship as well as students’ entrepreneurial spirit.

And finally, the VPI has recently launched a social entrepreneurship initiative to address the most pressing challenges faced by our society. The initiative includes the creation of the Yunus Social Business Center – the only one of its kind in Switzerland. Our partner in this initiative is none other than Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and the father of microfinance.

Organizational structure

Ursula Oesterle © Christophe Senehi / EPFL 2021

Vice President

Ursula Oesterle

Activities of the Vice Presidency for Innovation

Collaboration with industry

EPFL promotes the rapprochement of industry towards cutting-edge research in order to best meet the scientific, technological and societal challenges of the 21st century. The teams of the Vice Presidency for Innovation encourage and support any company interested in collaborating with EPFL.

Entrepreneurship and startups

EPFL considers entrepreneurship as an essential activity for its future research. The Vice Presidency for Innovation supports people interested in creating start-ups with a wide range of tools and support.

Domains of innovation

Distinguished by areas, innovation initiatives serve as a link between EPFL’s research laboratories and industrial and public partners. Their role is to encourage innovation and technology transfer through partnerships with industry or the public sector.

News

Contact

[email protected]
+41 21 693 21 80


Vice Presidency for Innovation (VPI)
EPFL Innovation Park
Building J
1015 Lausanne


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