Western Switzerland steps up support for AI-driven innovation

Two Vaud-based start-ups have been selected in the second call for projects under the partnership between the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) and the canton of Vaud, while Neurosoft Bioelectronics has secured computing access to one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers.

Supported by CHF 7.5 million in funding for the 2024–2028 period, the SDSC–canton of Vaud collaboration finances a one-year technical support program for companies and institutions embedding AI into Vaud’s economy. Four projects were selected from 57 submissions in the second call, two of which come from start-ups.

Bewe Lab SA, based in Epalinges, has developed an app that estimates compulsive cravings based on reaction times, with applications in treating obesity and addiction, and will work with the SDSC to refine its data analysis. Perivision SA, also in Epalinges, has built a platform using virtual reality glasses to measure the impact of glaucoma on visual fields, and will use patient data from Inselspital, Bern’s University Hospital, to sharpen its predictive models. The other two selected projects involve Bobst, which will develop predictive maintenance tools, and the cantonal administration, which is creating a system for interactive access to parliamentary interventions. The next call for projects will launch in September 2026, with CHF 1.5 million in annual funding available.

Separately, Neurosoft Bioelectronics has been awarded a computational support grant by the Swiss AI Initiative to access Alps, the supercomputer operated by CSCS and currently ranked 8th globally. Powered entirely by hydropower and built on NVIDIA Grace Hopper architecture, Alps is one of Europe’s flagship platforms for large-scale AI training. Neurosoft will use the computing capacity to train neural decoding models built on data acquired through its proprietary soft electrodes, a step toward generalizable models of brain function with therapeutic applications.

Together, these developments reflect the depth of Western Switzerland’s AI and data science ecosystem. Learn more about artificial intelligence in Western Switzerland here.