Swiss start-ups received CHF 2.6 billion in funding last year, 35% less than the previous year. Start-ups in the ICT and Fintech sectors had the hardest time raising funds.EPFL, HEIG-VD, UNIL and the Canton de Vaud unveil the [seal] Program, aimed at stimulating inter-university collaboration and accelerating the transfer of knowledge in digital trust and cybersecurity to the socio-economic arena.This cybersecurity and digital trust support program for SMEs will run from March 2024 to February 2025 (approx. 1 day/month). Registration deadline: February 16! An initiative subsidized by the Canton.Vaud’s economy should benefit from the global normalization expected in 2025, but there are still many risk factors, especially in a tense global geopolitical situation. The canton’s GDP is set to rise from 1.4% in 2024 to 2.0% in 2025 according to the latest forecasts from the Commission Conjoncture vaudoise, a partnership between the State of Vaud (SPEI), the CVCI, BCV and the canton’s main industry associations.Apply before February 28! This program, supported by the State of Vaud, is aimed at start-ups from pre-seed to Series A. The Early-Stage Accelerator program is committed to supporting startups dedicated to innovation and sustainability. With 720 alumni since 2016, MassChallenge’s Swiss hub offers access to over 15 industry leaders, a comprehensive Curriculum, the chance to meet over 400 mentors and win prizes ranging from $10,000 to $200,000.Espace Ballon will open its doors on January 21, 2024, offering a permanent, high-quality tourist attraction in the heart of the Alpine hot-air balloon capital. This innovative venue will enable the public to test a gondola simulating a flight over a 3D-modelled Pays d’Enhaut, to immerse themselves in a 4D experience of a balloon flight through the seasons thanks to a 60m2 spherical screen, or to discover an exhibition on the history of human flight.The inter-cantonal association AgroImpact represents an alliance between farmers, chambers of agriculture, producer groups, researchers, industrialists and environmentalists. Its aim? To finance and implement effective measures for more sustainable agriculture, and to promote the efforts of farming businesses in order to accelerate the reduction of the carbon footprint of agriculture in French-speaking Switzerland.“Quand l’Art Rencontre la Technologie” (QART) is a call for projects launched in the form of a challenge to encourage the emergence of new initiatives. The aim? To support a selection of projects combining Art and Technology over a 4-month period, enabling the creation of prototypes. This year, 130 projects applied. 5 were selected.