Cassio-P, NovoViz and Solar Loop reach the final of the 2026 Prix BCN Innovation

The Banque Cantonale Neuchâteloise (BCN) has named three finalists for the 17th edition of the Prix BCN Innovation: Cassio-P, NovoViz and Solar Loop. Selected from 23 applications by a jury chaired by EPFL professor Christophe Ballif, the three start-ups will compete for the CHF 150,000 award, which supports innovative economic and scientific projects in the canton of Neuchâtel and ranks among the most significant of its kind in Switzerland.

Cassio-P, a spin-off of EPFL led by Antoine Delgoffe, designs laser sources able to produce a billion ultra-short, high-intensity light pulses per second. Its miniaturized photonic modules, made reliable through its proprietary “All-Glass” technology, are intended for advanced industrial, medical and scientific equipment.

NovoViz, a Neuchâtel start-up led by Andrada Muntean, develops ultra-sensitive single-photon imaging sensors able to detect the smallest particles of light and process part of the data directly on an embedded chip.

Solar Loop, led by Benjamin Strahm, aims to develop the first Swiss recycling plant for photovoltaic modules, recovering materials from used solar panels and feeding them back into a circular economy.

The three finalists will each have one hour to convince the jury in the final stage of the competition, with the winner announced at the award ceremony on 1 October 2026.