Contrinex, Xemperia and ROMAG aquacare win the IFF 2024-2025 innovation awards

The 2024-2025 Innovation Fribourg Freiburg (IFF) Awards, organized by the canton of Fribourg and Banque Cantonale de Fribourg (BCF), celebrated the region’s most innovative companies.

Previously known as the Innovation Award of the Canton of Fribourg, the IFF Award was established in 1991 by Fribourg’s economic development agency (PromFR) to honor local entrepreneurial excellence. Over fifty companies have benefited from this platform, gaining visibility and support for their innovative projects. The awards aim to promote Fribourg as a welcoming innovation hub, attracting talent and investment to the region.

IFF Enterprise Award: Contrinex

Contrinex, based in Corminboeuf, received the IFF Enterprise Award for its groundbreaking 3D Smart Camera, a solution designed to enhance industrial vision technology. This intelligent camera, which allows real-time image analysis, can be configured using a mobile app, making it accessible for use even without specialized technical knowledge. The camera provides binary results to assess object conformity, supporting diverse industrial needs in quality control, defect detection, and sensitive area monitoring.

Daniel Wenger, BCF’s CEO, awarded Contrinex a CHF 10,000 prize, highlighting how this technology exemplifies Industry 4.0 innovation. The development of the 3D Smart Camera opens new avenues for Contrinex’s growth, potentially leading to the establishment of a dedicated business unit and expansion of its camera line to support various industrial applications.

IFF Start-up Award: Xemperia

Xemperia, a spin-off from the University of Fribourg, was awarded the IFF Start-up Award for its innovative blood test for breast cancer detection. This test identifies biomarkers within immune cells altered in the presence of cancer cells, offering a non-invasive, precise, and accessible alternative to mammography. Particularly beneficial for women under 50 who are often excluded from traditional screening, the test uses PCR technology and only requires a blood sample, eliminating exposure to X-rays.

Selected through a combined process involving jury and public votes, Xemperia won the CHF 30,000 prize presented by Olivier Curty, the State Councillor and IFF jury president. The public’s involvement—two-thirds of the vote—was a key factor in Xemperia’s win, showcasing the community’s enthusiasm for accessible health innovations.

IFF Sustainability Award: ROMAG aquacare

ROMAG aquacare, based in Guin, won the IFF Sustainability Prize for its PowerFlow system, which autonomously monitors water quality while generating its own power. This system is especially valuable in remote locations with limited energy sources, as its integrated turbine powers sensors that measure parameters such as turbidity, pH, and conductivity. Real-time data transmission enables remote monitoring and timely intervention when necessary, ensuring reliable drinking water quality in isolated areas.

The award was presented by Christophe Emmenegger, Director of the Fribourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and it emphasizes the system’s role at the intersection of bioeconomy and Industry 4.0.

The IFF Award’s legacy

The IFF Awards continue to recognize and celebrate Fribourg’s diverse entrepreneurial landscape, showcasing projects in technology, healthcare and renewable energy. Daniel Wenger of BCF expressed his pride in the canton’s economic fabric: “Innovation drives an entire economic chain, in which BCF plays a key role. Ultimately, innovation has a positive impact that goes beyond the company and benefits society as a whole”.

Olivier Curty emphasized the value of such initiatives: “By supporting innovation, we drive value creation in our companies and strengthen the competitiveness of our economy. This award promotes Fribourg as a land of innovation, encouraging talent and investment that benefits the entire canton.

Reflecting on the event, PromFR director Jerry Krattiger compared the ceremony to “a glass of fine champagne—young, fresh, and sparkling,” celebrating companies that bring new energy, bold ideas, and innovation to Fribourg’s economy.