CERN and UNIGE spin-offs awarded FIF Funding

The FONGIT Innovation Fund has awarded funding to three cutting-edge tech projects: CHF 100,000 seed loans for returning winners Planeto and HekeTiss, and a CHF 50,000 grant for newcomer LightEye.

Planeto, a spin-off from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), is revolutionizing the clean energy sector with a software tool that digitalizes the design of sustainable district heating and cooling (DHC) networks for buildings and cities. This award-winning start-up has developed innovative software in collaboration with UNIGE to address clean energy and sustainable urban planning. After winning a FIF Grant of CHF 50,000 in 2022, Planeto has now received a Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 to continue advancing its impactful work.

HekeTiss, another UNIGE and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) spin-off, is enhancing the quality of life for patients with chronic wounds through patented stem cell technology. The start-up has developed trophiPatch, an innovative treatment for chronic wounds that dissolves naturally on the patient’s wound, promoting the healing process. This patch utilizes living stem cells with enhanced regenerative properties, thanks to a patented technology developed in collaboration with UNIGE. HekeTiss has secured a Seed Loan of CHF 100,000, building on their previous FIF Grant of CHF 50,000 awarded in 2022.

LightEye, a CERN spin-off, is improving aviation safety with its more affordable and lightweight LiDAR technology. This start-up, led by Georgios Stoikos, a PhD candidate in Quantum Optics at UNIGE, has developed LiDAR technology capable of measuring wind speeds within a 10km range, helping pilots detect sudden atmospheric changes. The FIF has awarded CHF 50,000 to support LightEye in developing their cutting-edge laser technology.

The FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF) fosters innovation and the scale-up of promising companies from the canton of Geneva that are working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Supported by the State of Geneva, the Fondation Genevoise pour l’Innovation Technologique (FONGIT), the Geneva Chamber of Commerce (CCIG), the United Nations International Trade Center (ITC), and the United Nations Environment Agency, the FIF supports start-ups and scale-ups at different stages with grants, seed loans, and growth loans.