A consortium of Zurich SMEs wins the 1st CSEM Digital Journey

The goal: to develop a low-cost digital interface to optimize the production and consumption of renewable energies in buildings. This innovation project convinced the jury of the first CSEM Digital Journey, and therefore succeeded in meeting this challenge aimed at Swiss industrial SMEs. It was submitted by a consortium of Zurich-based companies Soleco, Vela Solaris et Geminise which will benefit from CSEM’s expertise, worth CHF 100,000 in developing their project.

Combining commercial perspectives and rapid development

The commercial and social aspects of this idea, combined with its rapid feasibility, were decisive factors in the choice of the jury, which had to choose from seven projects. The other finalists were Cleanfizz (GE), Eyeware (VS), Microsens (VD) and Ventura (NE), from French-speaking Switzerland, and the Zurich-based Dicronis et Swissphone.

“All the projects reflected an excellent balance between a promising solution to a market need and the use of CSEM’s digital expertise,” commented Raphaël Rollier, a jury member and responsible for digitalization at Swisscom, citing the example of sophisticated algorithmic development for preventive maintenance applications.

“We are delighted that the project that best matched the established criteria was submitted jointly by two SMEs and a start-up,” adds Georges Kotrotsios, a member of CSEM management and president of the jury. “This formula enables us to leverage the potential for cooperation between these two categories of company.”

New competition scheduled for 2019

A new competition is already scheduled for 2019, and the Director of Digital Switzerland, Nicolas Bürer, welcomes this development. As a member of the jury, he considers this challenge to be “unique and essential, as it offers an opportunity to ambitious and visionary SMEs to benefit from CSEM’s cutting-edge technologies.”