University of Lausanne

Investment thesis

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) exists to advance frontier research and train the next generation of scholars across life sciences, medicine, social sciences, and digital technologies, while actively fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer to society. [1]

• Strategic agenda: UNIL operates over 210 research and teaching units, employing approximately 5,000 researchers to drive national and international scientific progress, with a strong institutional emphasis on interdisciplinarity. [1]
• Interdisciplinary focus: The university actively promotes cross-faculty collaboration, exemplified by partnerships like the Unil-CHUV collaboration exploring the role of adipose tissue in pain sensitivity. [1]
• Knowledge transfer: UNIL encourages the circulation of knowledge through public activities, media publications, and the creation of the Grange, a theatre and laboratory for artist-researcher collaboration on campus. [1]
• Educational pipeline: With 15 Bachelor, 42 Master, and 31 Doctoral programmes, UNIL serves as a primary talent pipeline for advanced research and specialized sectors. [1]

Credibility: The university's homepage details its 210 research units, 5,000 researchers, and specific interdisciplinary projects like the Unil-CHUV adipose tissue study, confirming its research-driven mission and knowledge transfer activities.

Interconnection: UNIL’s role as a primary educator and researcher defines its eligibility criteria, which are primarily restricted to academic and research consortia rather than standalone commercial startups.

Value add

• Research infrastructure: Access to 210 research and teaching units, laboratories, and the Grange theatre and laboratory for artist-researcher collaboration. [1]
• Academic network: Collaboration with CHUV and EPFL forms a vast campus network, providing extensive research and teaching partnerships. [2]
• Talent pipeline: 15 Bachelor, 42 Master, and 31 Doctoral programmes serve as a primary source for advanced research talent. [1]
• Knowledge transfer: Public activities, media publications, and events facilitate the circulation of knowledge to society. [1]

Fit verdict: UNIL is a primary academic and research partner for foundational research and talent development, not a direct commercial funder for startups.

Founder diligence script:

• Does my project align with UNIL's interdisciplinary research units and academic mission?
• Can I form a consortium with CHUV or EPFL to access campus network resources?
• What are the specific admission deadlines for doctoral or continuous training programmes?
• How does UNIL's knowledge transfer activity support public engagement for my research?

Credibility: The university's homepage details its 210 research units, 5,000 researchers, and specific collaborations like Unil-CHUV, confirming the academic value-add.

Interconnection: UNIL's value-add is primarily academic and educational, designed to support research and training rather than commercial product development.

Portfolio focus

• Life sciences and medicine: Research includes studies on adipose tissue and pain sensitivity, conducted in collaboration with CHUV. [1]
• Environmental studies: Research explores the environmental impact of teleworking, published in PLOS Climate. [1]
• Digital technologies: Collaboration with MIPT and the University of Nebraska on ferroelectric non-volatile memory elements. [3]
• Social sciences: Research on crime, justice, and public administration is supported by the FDCA faculty. [1]

Credibility: The university's homepage details its 210 research units, 5,000 researchers, and specific projects like the Unil-CHUV adipose tissue study and the PLOS Climate teleworking study, confirming the portfolio focus.

Interconnection: UNIL's portfolio focus is primarily academic and research-driven, designed to support scientific progress rather than commercial product development.