Spin-off recognition and licensing
Spin-off consulting
Entrepreneurs can contact ETH Entrepreneurship for consulting services. We offer information on funding, spin-off label application, courses, events and more. We put together an FAQ with many topics for founders, have a look: FAQs for founding a start-up at ETH
Spin-off Label Recognition
"ETH spin-off" is a label which the Vice-President of Knowlegde Transfer and Corporate Relations awards. Start-ups with an affiliation to ETH Zurich can apply for the label.
Criteria
Start-up founders can apply for the spin-off label when the requirements are met. Criteria are among others:
- The start-up commercializes technology, software or knowhow from ETH Zurich.
- At least one founder is affiliated to ETH Zurich (e.g. former ETH employee or ETH Alumnus).
- The business case should be sound and have an impact on the Swiss economy.
Benefits
An officially recognized ETH spin-off has access to the ETH spin-off community. The community connects entrepreneurs to a wide network of relevant stakeholders in the regional start-up ecosystem. Moreover, for a limited duration ETH spin-offs benefit from favorable conditions, i.e. renting offices, lab space and specialized equipment.
Common licensing principles for spin-offs within the ETH Domain
The licensing principles for spin-offs identify common practices and principles across the ETH Domain Institutions. They ouline the commonalities, but do not restrict the Institutions to autonomously take decisions that might deviate from these principles.
Application process
- Start-ups get in touch with the respective ETH Entrepreneurship manager and schedule a meeting.
- Start-ups send their application to the spin-off licensing managers of ETH transfer.
protected page Template - Application for spin-off label
- If a start-up also applies for its domicile at ETH Zurich or with Wyss, please contact the licensing managers directly.
Licensing
If a start-up would like to commercialize a technology from ETH Zurich, depending on the case, a licensing agreement is required.
- Patented inventions from ETH Zurich require a license. ETH transfer and the start-up negotiate the licensing contract.
- Software: If the software was developed at ETH Zurich, the start-up needs to sign a licensing contract with ETH transfer.
- Knowhow and data: This is case dependent. Consulting with ETH transfer will clarify the situation.
