June 26, 2025
When people think of innovation in Switzerland, they often look to Zurich, Lausanne or Basel. But just beyond these major centers, the Jura is quietly becoming one of the country’s most agile, supportive hubs for startups and SMEs—particularly those in medtech, cleantech, robotics and industrial transformation.
The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – Jura, located in Courroux, is at the core of this growth. It’s more than a location – it’s a functional ecosystem built to help innovative companies grow from prototype to pilot and beyond.
Infrastructure with impact
Switzerland Innovation Park Jura is designed to meet the needs of companies building innovative real-world technologies. Startups benefit from flexible coworking and office space, a fully equipped prototyping lab, and direct access to research institutions and industrial partners. The atmosphere encourages collaboration between founders, engineers, and experts, all within a community that values progress and practical outcomes. Through curated events and tailored programs, the park helps transform innovative ideas into tested, scalable solutions.
Innovation Pour Tous: the Jura ecosystem in action
Innovation Pour Tous, held in May 2025, was a hands-on demonstration of what’s possible when an entire region supports experimentation.
Families gathered at Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area for a dynamic day of discovery, designed especially for kids aged 8 to 14. The event offered hands-on experiences that brought science, technology, and innovation to life in fun and creative ways.
Throughout the afternoon, children explored interactive stations, from meeting robots and building mini wind turbines to experimenting with digital tools and uncovering the secrets of biogas. They crafted gear-shaped keychains, learned how the brain works, and guessed the energy use of everyday appliances, all while having fun and learning something new.
The event turned curiosity into excitement and showed how innovation can inspire the next generation.
For example, HUMARD’s robotics team presented autonomous units and robotic assistants that blend AI with mechanical precision, showcasing how industry and technology can converge to solve real problems.
These projects didn’t just attract interest – they started conversations about the future of applied innovation in the Jura. Events like this are only possible when the right talent, infrastructure, and institutional support align. In the Jura, that alignment is already in place.
From innovation to entrepreneurship
The second day of the event shifted the focus to the business side of innovation, giving participants practical tools to turn ideas into sustainable ventures. A key highlight was an in-depth session on the Business Model Canvas by our resident Creapole, a strategic framework that helps entrepreneurs map out and visualize the essential components of their business, from customer segments and value propositions to revenue streams, key resources, and cost structures. By using this tool, participants learned how to better understand their target markets, refine their offerings, and align operations with their overall strategy.
Local founders joined the discussion to share personal stories about growing their ventures within the park’s innovation ecosystem. They spoke candidly about challenges they faced, whether securing early-stage funding, managing team dynamics, or forming partnerships that fueled their next stage of growth. The sessions were open, honest, and rooted in hands-on experience, offering attendees real-world insights they could immediately apply to their own projects. The atmosphere encouraged dialogue, learning, and connection,creating a valuable bridge between theory and practice for anyone building something new.
Accelerators that drive momentum
Innovation in the Jura is actively supported through programs that move companies forward. The i4Challenge gives startups working in industrial transformation the chance to pilot their solutions in operational environments and gain visibility with decision-makers in the Basel Area and beyond. Meanwhile, DayOne provides a structured launchpad for medtech and digital health ventures, connecting founders with researchers, clinicians, and expert mentors.
Both accelerators are non-dilutive and designed to help founders accelerate development without giving up equity. They’re built to turn validated ideas into scalable businesses.
Why the Jura? A high-value environment for building
Startups operating from the Jura benefit from more than access to coworking spaces and private offices. The region offers lower operating costs, direct access to a skilled workforce, and a collaborative innovation culture. Institutional relationships are strong, public policy supports R&D activity, and early-stage companies regularly interact with SMEs and corporates on shared challenges and opportunities.
What makes the Jura unique is its scale. Startups aren’t lost in a crowd—they’re connected, visible, and supported by a regional network that values long-term growth.
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has strengthened its presence in the Jura, reinforcing the region’s positioning as a leader in applied innovation. By establishing closer collaborations in medtech, healthtech, and industrial transformation, EPFL creates new opportunities for startups to work with world-class researchers and benefit from academic partnerships.
This adds another layer of credibility to the region’s innovation ecosystem and connects early-stage ventures to cutting-edge thinking and talent.
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