Innovation mentors

As a doctor of engineering, Walter Ammann has over 40 years of professional experience in dealing with research and development in various fields – both as a research manager on the industrial side and as a director of research institutes. Since the 1980s he has carried out numerous R&D projects in both functions – as a research and industrial partner – with the support of Innosuisse and its predecessor organisations. He therefore knows the way Innosuisse’s research funding is carried out and its advantages from all perspectives. In his current role as an Innosuisse mentor, he seeks to draw on this knowledge and experience. Bringing SMEs and research partners together in a targeted manner and supporting them in the implementation of new products and services are therefore major concerns and incentives for his mentoring activities. With targeted questions and advice on business ideas, business models, or the research questions that are still pending, and with critical reviews of the project proposal, he seeks to support the project team and help make the project proposal a success.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Ingenieurswissenschaften/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

After studying mechanical engineering at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Markus Baertschi set up his own engineering company for warehouse technology & automation (now Gilgen Logistik).

As a professor for SCM, factory planning and Industry 4.0 at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and ETH Zurich, he subsequently gained extensive experience in the preparation and submission of Innosuisse project applications, through which he gained detailed knowledge of the Swiss research landscape (ETH, Empa, universities of applied sciences).

As an entrepreneur and trainer, Markus Baertschi is familiar with the demands and requirements of industry, and through his research activities, those of science. In the future, he will pass on this experience as an Innosuisse innovation mentor, helping SMEs on their way to their own science-based innovation project.

• ICT, IoT, virtual reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences, Biotech, Medtech
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management

Hanspeter Bär (El. Engineer ETH, Dr. sc. techn.) spent his business life in two international Swiss companies, Zellweger Uster AG, and Huber+Suhner AG, in different positions, such as research&development manager, sales&marketing manager, and division manager. Since his retirement, he is acting part time as Innovation Mentor, accredited by Innosuisse (former CTI).

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Ingenieurswissenschaften/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services
• Health(-care)
• Aerospace/Automotive

As Director of the ProKilowatt Office under mandate of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and former Deputy to the Director of the energy research centre CREM, Grégoire Blanc is an expert for energy-related projects (> 100 applications per year). He benefits from privileged contacts with the main research centres and funding bodies in Switzerland and has contributed to the creation of several start-ups. Grégoire is also a coach with the Foundation for Innovation TheArk in Valais. He has several years of experience in R&D aquisition in the automotive industry in Germany, India and Sweden.

Company webpage

• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Ingenieurswissenschaften/
  
• Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Service

"Born in Lugano in 1967, Stefano Colombo graduated at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in Electrical Engineering. In Alpiq from 2004 to 2014 as Head of Alpiq Energia Italia today he is partner of STAN2SERVICES Srl and active in some Board of Directors and Associations. During his time within Alpiq’s Group he held several positions as President of the Board and Member of the Board in companies in Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. Prior to 2004, Stefano Colombo has developed a professional background, strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills in important multinational companies in Switzerland and abroad: CEO of Azienda Elettrica di Massagno SA; General Manager in Houston (USA) for Brugg Kabel AG and Emil Haefely & CO Area Sales Manager. Stefano brings successful track record and intercultural managerial experience in leading small to big business organizations into success. He speaks Italian, German, English and French.

Company webpage

• Ingenieurswissenschaften/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management

Dario Corica works at Fondazione Agire, the innovation agency of Canton Ticino, as Innovation Manager. He has ten years of industrial experience in research and development for medical products and production processes. After completing his study in materials science at the ETHZ, he dedicated himself to the development of processes for the deposition of thin films for photovoltaic applications at an ETHZ laboratory. For more than 4 years he worked at an Aargau-based SME in the coatings and medtech sector. He had various roles such as process development and validation, production and quality support, analysis laboratory manager. Afterwards he deepened his expertise in the medical field at a leading company in the field of vascular intervention in the canton of Zurich. Here first as an R&D engineer and then as project manager, he is involved in interdisciplinary and international projects such as process qualification, medical device certification and risk analysis.

Company webpage

• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Ingenieurswissenschaften/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Health(-care)

Leendert den Haan, MSc. Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft (NL), knows from his own experience the innovation obstacles faced by SMEs and is familiar with Open Innovation as an effective approach to solutions. Appropriate to this was his independent work in the field of innovation management. He can demonstrate broad expertise and professional experience in additive manufacturing, plastics technology and lightweight construction, among other things. After 25 years of industrial activity in Switzerland with an international clientele in almost all sectors, he has been working as a technology and innovation expert for the Hightech Zentrum Aargau since 2014, and as an innovation mentor for Innosuisse since 2019. Well over 150 companies have been directly supported by him in concrete innovation projects, many of them within the framework of funding projects with renowned universities. In cross-border work, he has initiated and is in charge of two Interreg projects in the border region of Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein.

Company webpage

• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management

Beat Dobmann, dipl. Masch.-Ing. ETH and lic. oec. HSG, worked for many years in large, internationally active Swiss industrial companies in development, sales, customer service, IT and management. He is familiar with the pressure to constantly reinvent as a company through product innovations in order at least temporarily to escape price competition. He is used to making decisions that achieve a balance between the conflicting priorities of project risks, time to market and product quality.
The core areas of his current consulting activities include innovation management, strategy development, digitalisation, executive coaching and start-up support. He is a consortium member of the NTN Innovation Booster Sustainability and chairman of the board of a technology start-up. Until the end of 2021, he chaired Swiss Engineering, Switzerland's largest professional association for engineers and architects. He has a sustainable network covering many associations, all Swiss universities and many companies.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

Nicknamed “little genius” by the New York Times, Frédéric Dreyer is a Doctor of Science from EPFL and holds master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Environment, as well as an Executive MBA from HEC Geneva.

With solid experience of more than ten years in the industry, the former director of the research and development department of Panerai (Richemont Group) has contributed to major innovations in microtechnology. At the age of 39, he has filed more than 20 patents on technological applications, physico-chemical effects and mechanical watchmaking.

Previously Director of the Office for Promotion of Industries and Technologies (OPI), he was in charge of innovative projects such as the European feasibility study into drone taxis in Geneva, and Echosmile, the autonomous on-demand shuttles for industrial areas.

His technical sensitivity and understanding of the industry enable him to support companies on their 4.0 transformation in an ever-changing ecosystem. He is currently a mentor for start-ups and SMEs, accredited by Innosuisse at federal level. He is also active as Innovation and Ecosystem Manager at EPFL within the ENAC faculty, Co-founder of Swissinspect SARL and Founder / Vice-president of the FUSTIC association at EPFL.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management

Markus Ehrat studied and received his doctorate in natural sciences at ETH Zurich. He then researched novel, highly sensitive bioassay systems in the US before beginning work in the chemical industry in Basel. As project, group and department head, he was involved in researching novel analytical technologies, in particular for applications in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and diagnostic sectors. With part of his team he founded a spin-off company of which he was CEO. After its acquisition by a large corporation, he continued to serve as head of the acquired unit and as a member of the company’s Executive Committee. The R&D tasks required an active patenting and scientific publishing strategy, combined with the transfer of research results into quality-controlled production and the establishment of a sales structure. Markus is a long-time expert for B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses at FHNW and a lecturer for a master’s course at the ZHAW. As Head IM, he and his two colleagues in central and western Switzerland made a significant contribution to the development of CTI innovation mentoring from 2012 onwards. He has since supported over 200 project proposals in the fields of engineering, music, social sciences and natural sciences. Now he is looking forward to your next challenge, true to the motto: the impossible is often what has never been attempted.

Company webpage

• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Music and Art

Brendan Hughes holds an Electronic Engineering degree and an MBA from IMD Lausanne. His experience covers hardware and software design, marketing and sales of high-tech and industrial products and services at SMEs and multinationals. He has held managerial positions with P&L responsibility in sectors including telecoms, the electrical industry, life sciences and the mechanical engineering industry, with sales in Switzerland and abroad.

In 2010 Brendan founded InnoBiz, committing himself to helping SMEs, start-ups and organisations in turning innovative ideas into competitive products, processes and services. Extensive experience as an Innosuisse innovation mentor guarantees his familiarity with Swiss research institutions and funding opportunities. Numerous SMEs and organisations have benefited by finding their ideal research partners, developing their business plan and patent strategy.successful project funding applications for a wide range of business sectors and innovations have been submitted. Run your ideas by Brendan!

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services
• Architecture, Design

Fabian Käser is a graduate of the Henry B. Meier School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen with 20 years of experience in research (both as an R&D and implementation partner), facilitation, management and strategy in various sectors and functions. The focus of his current activities is in the areas of B2B cooperation, technology transfer and SME business development. Mother tongue Swiss German, fluent in French and English, written and spoken. Service and target-group-oriented in the interests of mutual benefit, entrepreneurial attitude.
Topics such as stakeholder management, project management, needs analysis, conception and planning, branding and positioning, business transformation, diversification, business development and strategic partnerships along the value chain, empowerment of people and organisations are of great personal importance. Mentor, coach, sparring partner.

Company webpage

• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
• Aerospace/Automotive
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
• Energy & Environment
• Health(-care)
• Social Sciences and Business Management

Since 2013 Philippe Nasch has been advising industrial companies in setting up their innovation projects in collaboration with universities. He has 10 years of experience in academic research and 15 years in industrial R&D, acquired in the manufacturing of production equipment and special machines for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. He has to his credit more than half a dozen patents and more than 40 technical and scientific publications. His experience places him in an ideal position at the interface between academia and industry, between applied research and the market, i.e. where innovation takes place. He studied physics at the University of Lausanne and completed a PhD in the USA. In 2012, he obtained an eMBA in technology management from EPFL and won second prize in the biennial Venture Competition with a business plan for a bioinformatics start-up.

Company webpage

• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
• Foodtech/Nutrition
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
• Tourism & Services
• Music and Art

After completing his studies, Daniel Portmann (Dipl. Betriebs- und Produktionsingenieur ETH) first worked for one of the large international management consultancies. He then headed a mechanical engineering company in the fine wire sector as managing director for seven years. After branching out as a personnel consultant / recruiter for engineers, he worked as an innovation coach for ITZ InnovationsTransfer ZentralSchweiz for over 13 years. He is currently working an energy consultant at OekoWatt AG, where he supports companies in the analysis and implementation of energy-saving measures. He is also a member of the board of directors of the organic butcher’s Uelihof AG in Lucerne.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

Marco Romanelli completed his first degree in electrical engineering at ETH Zurich. His professional career began at ABB in the design of control systems for synchronous generators. After a second degree in business administration at the University of St. Gallen, he worked for Belimo Automation AG (HLK Antriebstechnologie) in the finance department. After three years he was able to take over responsibility for the development of the new business area “window ventilation systems” as managing director. His career then led him into the field of nanotechnology, in which he was CEO of NanoScan AG, a spin-off from the University of Basel. After this spin-off was successfully sold abroad, he took over the position as project manager and consultant at COGIT AG. The main focus of his consulting activities was knowledge and technology transfer. In particular, he worked on the development of the nanotechnology network i-net Basel Nano, carried out nano-scouting activities throughout Switzerland and, as project manager, supervised two “Innovation Platforms” for NTN Innovative Surfaces. Since 2017 he has been working as a technology and innovation expert for the Hightech Zentrum Aargau and since 2019 he has been an innovation mentor for Innosuisse.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management

As an engineer, business developer and entrepreneur, Ralph speaks technology and business. Ralph is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs who are redefining the status quo and developing smart solutions to complex challenges.

With his independent perspective he helps innovators bullet-proof their innovation and business strategy, connect them with leading researchers, identify the ideal funding instrument and craft compelling project proposals which ultimately benefit their business success.

Ralph knows the needs of innovative businesses and start-ups from his own experience. His experience in bringing innovations to the market helps him manoeuvre entrepreneurs around the pitfalls he encountered. His background in engineering and research prepared him for quickly understanding complex ideas. Ralph works across industries (IT, health, sustainability, education, engineering).

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Foodtech/Nutrition
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
• Aerospace/Automotive
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

Gabriele Schwarz studied Information Management at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and earned her doctorate on the subject of logistics concepts in mechanical and plant engineering. She then worked at the university as a project manager in close collaboration with industry in the field of information, quality and process management, in order to develop automated processes to simplify the handling of administrative tasks with machine tool and plant manufacturers, among others. Later she moved to industry and took a share in an engineering company in Schaffhausen. As a project manager she was involved in engineering projects and with her business partner she realised a technology transfer concept for the Czech Republic and Switzerland to make research findings in mechanical engineering accessible to industries in both countries. In 2012 she founded her own company, Innovista Management, which specialises in training and support for innovation and technology projects.

Gabriele is a long-time expert for bachelor’s and master’s degree theses and is a lecturer for "Digital Innovation" at the University of Zurich, as well as lecturing at various other universities. She has been working as an innovation mentor since 2013 and has assisted with more than 200 project proposals in the fields of ICT, engineering, energy and social sciences, working on a part-time basis.  

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Micro- and Nanotechnology
  
• Material sciences incl. Wood
  
• Civil Engineering/Wood Construction
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

After obtaining a master’s degree at EPFL, Robert van Kommer made a PhD study at the Pervasive & Artificial Intelligence Research Group of the University of Fribourg, which he completed in 2005.

For more than 30 years he has been active in science-based innovations. He has worked at several high-tech Swiss and international companies (e.g. Kudelski Group, Swisscom Innovations, Verisign, Inc.). In these positions, he initiated numerous research projects and academic partnerships. More recently, as a slasher, he created a start-up in the field of data innovation.
Over the years Robert has filed 27 patent families covering the different fields of deep learning, information systems, man-machine interactions including speech recognition, learning dialogue systems and biometrics.

Since 2012, while being located at EPFL Innovation Park, he has been active as an Innovation Mentor with an average of about 40–50 projects per year, and he looks forward to helping you succeed in yours.

Company webpage

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Engineering/Industry 4.0/Additive Manufacturing
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Social Sciences and Business Management
  
• Tourism & Services

As an open innovator from the very beginning, Frank Wolff deals intensively with new methods of innovation development and their application in concrete projects. He is one of the founders and operators of the open innovation platform Crowdwerk.net, which carries the idea of collaborative innovation into various industries and areas with different thematic offshoots.

Frank studied economics with a focus on banking & finance at the University of Basel and then trained as a coach for business excellence. He worked in the financial industry for around 20 years, most recently at a leading Swiss private bank as head of a global development and sales unit and as Head of the Innovation Board. For many years, Frank has been lecturing at various Swiss universities, especially in the areas of digital collaboration and crowdsourcing. As an innovation mentor for Innosuisse and freelance consultant, he supports start-ups, SMEs and other organisations in the initiation, structuring and implementation of complex innovation projects.

Frank spends his free time mainly with his family, with music and social commitments.

Company website

• ICT/IoT/Virtual Reality
  
• Digitalisation/Data Sciences
  
• Aerospace/Automotive
  
• Energy & Environment
  
• Health(-care)
  
• Architecture/Design
  
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management
• Social Sciences and Business Management         
• Tourism & Services
• Music and Art

Petra Wülfroth studied pharmacy at the University of Heidelberg and subsequently completed her doctorate at the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg in the field of cell and tumour biology. As a postdoc, she gained experience in laboratories in the USA, Germany and Italy. For a medium-sized company she set up a cell biology laboratory in Frankfurt and conducted research on diseases in the field of atherosclerosis and CNS. The focus was on methods to replace animal experiments, which are mandatory in drug development, with cell biological models.

Her professional career took her to Japan, where she worked in project management for an international Swiss pharmaceutical company and was a member of a worldwide committee for the evaluation and prioritisation of drug development projects.

After her return from Japan, she founded a consulting company and has since been working as a coach, mentor, juror and expert for biotech companies in drug development. She supports start-up companies in the preparation of development strategies and business plans. Since the beginning of 2019 she has been accredited as an innovation mentor at Innosuisse.

Company webpage

• Lifesciences/Biotech/Medtech
  
• Health(-care)