Western Switzerland innovators PeriVision, Bioscibex and Carewell receive support from FIT

The Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT) has awarded funding to promising Western Switzerland start-ups PeriVision, Bioscibex, and Carewell, to accelerate their development in healthtech and biotechnology.

Western Switzerland continues to foster cutting-edge innovation in healthcare and biotechnology, with start-ups playing a crucial role in addressing key industry challenges. From AI-powered vision diagnostics to next-generation biopharmaceutical production and digital solutions for healthcare staffing, emerging companies are developing transformative technologies. With the support of the Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT), these start-ups are accelerating their growth, bringing impactful solutions to market, and strengthening the region’s position as a global leader in healthtech and biotech innovation.

PeriVision: AI-driven vision testing for faster diagnoses

Ophthalmology faces increasing challenges as age-related eye diseases rise while the number of specialists remains insufficient. Traditional vision tests are time-consuming, costly, and prone to inaccuracies, contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

PeriVision has developed a virtual reality headset equipped with artificial intelligence-driven software, which delivers more accurate vision tests in a fraction of the time. The system enhances patient throughput by 30%, improving both diagnostics and early disease detection.

With a CHF 300,000 Tech Growth loan, PeriVision will expand its customer base and develop new functionalities, including advanced diagnostic and predictive algorithms.

Bioscibex: transforming biopharmaceutical production

Biopharmaceuticals are revolutionizing cancer and autoimmune disease treatments, but high production costs remain a barrier to accessibility. The traditional drug manufacturing process is complex, involving seven sequential steps that drive up costs and increase contamination risks.

Bioscibex has developed an innovative bioreactor that reduces these steps to just two, significantly cutting production time and costs. The company’s scalable technology allows cell expansion from 30 mL to 30 L in a single process, making it one of the most efficient bioreactors on the market.

FIT’s CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan will support the development of a beta prototype, which is set to be tested by customers by mid-2025.

Carewell: a digital solution for Switzerland’s healthcare workforce crisis

Switzerland is experiencing a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, with 12,000 vacancies and absence rates reaching 20%. Meanwhile, over 60,000 former healthcare professionals remain outside the workforce due to a lack of flexible employment opportunities.

Carewell’s digital platform addresses this gap by connecting hospitals and care facilities with qualified professionals seeking flexible roles. Using AI-powered job matching, the platform streamlines recruitment while improving staff retention and job satisfaction.

Following a CHF 20,000 grant in 2024, FIT has provided a CHF 50,000 Digital Seed loan to help Carewell expand its platform, enhance marketing efforts, and onboard more freelance healthcare professionals.

By supporting PeriVision, Bioscibex, and Carewell, FIT reinforces Western Switzerland’s role as a leader in healthcare and biotech innovation. These start-ups are set to enhance diagnostics, lower drug production costs, and address workforce shortages, contributing to a more efficient and accessible healthcare system.