Pioneer Fellowship 2024 | ETH Pioneer Fellowship Program for International Students:
Applications are welcomed for the Pioneer Fellowship 2024 in Switzerland. The pioneer fellowship 2024 is fully-funded for students worldwide. International students around the world are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to secure a fully-funded fellowship in Zurich, Switzerland. Fellows luncheons last 10 to 18 months and masters, doctoral and postdoctoral students are eligible to apply.
In the academic year 2024-25, The fully-funded fellowship award is being granted worldwide to all students. The Selection Process is competitive and ensure that the finest applications with the greatest potential and the most entrepreneurial candidates are awarded fellowships. Applicants are not allowed to re-apply if they have been denied.
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Pioneer Fellowship 2024 Details:
- Provided by: ETH Zurich
- Duration: 10-18 months
- Fellowship coverage: Fully Funded
- Eligible nationality: All Nationalities
- Award country: Switzerland
- Last Date: 1 March 2024
Financial Benefits in Switzerland ETH Pioneer Fellowship 2024 | ETH Pioneer Fellowship Program:
The Pioneer Fellowship 2024 in Switzerland ETH Pioneer Fellowship Program will assume all the covered costs. If accepted, the candidate will receive a fixed grant of 150,000 CHF, covering the salary of the candidate and any project-related costs . Pioneer Fellowship Program salary levels are determined according to the level of education of the candidate and other projected costs.
Moreover, as scientific employees, Pioneer Fellows will be employed on a grant The fellowship grant will be provided in the amount of 150,000 CHF, regardless of the number of fellowship holders and the level of education. No other research funds or funds from professorships may be used to supplement funding. Most extra external funds may be used in conjunction with the fellowship, including prize money and Innosuisse funds. However, the fellowship grant may not be used in conjunction with private grants that include a working relationship grant, such as the BRIDGE Proof of Concept grant.
Other Expenses Covered:
In addition to salaries, the fellowship will finance most aspects of your project, including:
General Expenses:
- Equipment and project-specific consumables/materials
- Measurement costs at facilities like FIRST, ScopeM, EPIC…
- Software licenses for specialized software not yet covered by the Research Group
- Costs of pre-clinical trials
- Outsourcing of activities, such as writing websites, software, market reports, external consultants, etc.
Travel/Field Expenses and Industry Fairs:
- Industry engagement or partnership events (e.g., BioEurope, Hannover Messe)
- Customer visits, presentations to investors, etc. All expenses are explicitly dedicated to the project and not for private purposes. All expense receipts will need to be submitted to the Finance Department to justify your expenses.
Tuition Fees for Certificate of Advanced Studies:
- A tuition fee of CHF 9,200 can be covered by a direct grant from CAS ETH for a single candidate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Technology Ventures (CAS ELTV) as enrollment is mandatory.
- Enrollment of a second candidate is optional if a team of 2 persons applies. If they choose to apply, i.e., Lab will contribute 50% of the tuition fee.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Pioneer Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a master’s or doctoral degree from ETH Zurich.
- Form a team consisting of 1-2 entrepreneurs who aim to commercialize the outcomes of their research (master’s or doctoral thesis or postdoctoral research) at ETH.
- Present a promising business case.
- Propose a project in which the company is not yet involved.
- Receive full support from the host professor at ETH for both the project and the team.
Application Material:
The application for the Pioneer Fellowship must be prepared by the candidate and accompanied by a letter of support from their host professor. The host professor must hold an ETH position for the entire duration of the proposed Pioneer Fellowship and must provide support and infrastructure free of charge within the professorship.
The application shall include the following:
- A brief project summary outlining planned activities, market situation, and innovation potential. This summary should not contain confidential information.
- A detailed description of the idea based on the research results of a master’s or doctoral thesis at ETH Zurich. This description should emphasize innovative aspects, efficiency, and customer benefits of the product or service. It should include evidence of market relevance, a basic business model, initial details on a commercialization strategy, and technical and market analyses. Additionally, information on patent applications and software (IP) available for licensing to fellowships and future spin-offs, as well as milestones and a detailed explanation of expenses, should be provided. Expected results must be clearly defined.
- A detailed list of financial requirements.
- Candidate’s full CV, including a list of relevant publications and a brief outline of their career goals.
- Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest, if applicable, to both candidates and the host professor.
- A signed letter of support from the host professor, explaining why and how they wish to support the candidate and evaluate the proposed project idea. The letter should also describe the infrastructure made accessible.
- A 2-minute presentation video of the project and motivation, to be submitted via Polybox in MP4 format.
Application Deadline:
Applicants can apply for the ETH Pioneer Fellowship Program 2024/25 twice a year. The deadline for the first intake is March 1st, and for the second intake, the deadline is September 1st, annually.
How to Apply for Pioneer Fellowship:
To apply for the Pioneer Fellowship 2024 in Switzerland | ETH Fellowship Program, candidates must utilize the Online Application Portal. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Pioneer Fellowship web-based system. For detailed application instructions and access to the application portal, visit the official advertisement link provided below:
[Apply Link]
[Official Link]