Accelerate Your Research Toward Clinical Impact
The School of Life Sciences, in collaboration with the Vice Presidency for Innovation and Impact (VPI), is launching a new grant through its Innovate4Life program: the Innogrant for Biotherapeutics (i4L).
This new fellowship supports scientists who are ready to translate EPFL-based research into impactful clinical solutions for the society. This one-year program provides funding, mentorship, and strategic resources to help transform your health innovation from proof-of-concept to clinical validation and potential startup development. It is designed for researchers working at the intersection of life sciences and medicine.
If your project holds potential for clinical application, the program will help you build momentum toward real-world impact.
Submission Deadline: 31.10.2025 via the Application form
Key Requirements for a Competitive Application
- Clinical Relevance: Your project should address a clearly defined medical need with strong potential for real-world application in therapeutics and/or diagnostics.
- Innovation: What makes your solution novel? How will it improve patient care or clinical workflows?
- Execution Potential: Do you have a credible path toward 1) clinical validation and future trials, and 2) marketing?
- Dedication: You must be fully committed to the project, making it your primary focus throughout the fellowship.
Resources and Support provided
As a EPFL sciencepreneur, you will receive:
- Financial Support: One year of salary funding to fully focus on your project.
- Expert Mentorship: Guidance from clinical, regulatory and venture specialists.
- Collaborative Opportunities: Access to clinical partners and industrial collaborators.
- Additional Resources: Assistance with clinical testing, early-stage fundraising and spinoff development.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be affiliated with an EPFL host laboratory.
- Be developing a life sciences innovation with direct clinical relevance.
- Have a demonstrated proof-of-concept and initial validation.
- Provide evidence of clinical interest (e.g., feedback from clinicians or healthcare institutions).
- Present a clear, actionable roadmap for the upcoming years, including steps toward clinical validation and future marketing.
Evaluation Process
The selection process aims to identify translational projects with strong clinical potential. It consists of two stages:
- Application: Fill-in the application form, highlighting clinical relevance, innovation and key milestones.
- Panel Hearing: Shortlisted candidates will present their project and answer questions from a multidisciplinary evaluation panel.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Clinical Translation Potential: Feasibility of progressing toward clinical validation or implementation, and potential for future marketing.
- Scientific Originality: Novelty and innovation of the solution.
- Team Capability and Interdisciplinarity: Complementary expertise and collaboration potential within the team.
- Feasibility: Suitability of the project for a one-year development timeline, including technical and regulatory considerations.
Deadlines and Decision Timeline
- Submission Deadline: 31.10.2025
- Panel Hearings: November 2025
- Final Decision: December 2025
For any queries, please contact: [email protected]
Apply now
Submit your project to take the next step in transforming your research into clinical solutions.