|
|
|
|
|
| April 22, 2026 |
| Expanding a Proven Model into a New Innovation Landscape |
We are excited to share that we have launched the call for applications for the first edition of our Academia-Industry Training Nepal program. Applications for AIT Nepal 2026/27 are accepted until May 31, 2026 (Swiss-based applicants) and May 10, 2026 (Nepali applicants).
Over the past decade, the AIT India program has become a cornerstone of our efforts to support early-stage, science-based startups in building international perspectives. It has grown into a dynamic platform where founders test their ideas beyond their home markets, learn from peers, and build networks that continue to matter long after the program ends. With the launch of AIT Nepal, we are taking this proven approach into a new and highly promising context.
AIT Nepal is more than a geographic expansion, however. It is an opportunity to co-create a program tailored to a unique ecosystem, to foster new collaborations, and to strengthen the broader relationship between Switzerland and Nepal across science, technology, and innovation. For this special edition of our newsletter, our communications manager, Nicole Minder, spoke with Cécile Rivière from the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, and Sandra Nonella and me from the Leading House at ZHAW about why Nepal, what participants can expect, and what we hope this new chapter of AIT will set in motion.
Swiss-based founders interested in joining the program can find detailed information on the Leading House website. Nepali founders can refer to this info page. More information on the AIT India program can also be found on the Leading House website.
Warm regards,
Amanda Strub
Manager, Swiss Leading House South Asia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| AIT Nepal in Conversation |
The AIT Nepal program fosters the development of sciencepreneurs by equipping them with the necessary tools and expertise. AIT Nepal provides the support they need to navigate the innovation ecosystems in both Nepal and Switzerland, bringing their solutions closer to market readiness.
Interview: Nicole Minder, Swiss Leading House South Asia
The AIT India program has shown the value of connecting early-stage, science-based startups with international innovation ecosystems. From the perspective of the Swiss Leading House South Asia, why was expanding the AIT model to Nepal the right next step?
Amanda Strub, Manager of the Leading House South Asia, overall strategic lead: Over the past decade, we have gained extensive experience in designing and running a successful bilateral program for early-stage startup founders. The program has proven highly valuable in helping startups gain early exposure to different ecosystems, build networks, and connect with peers across borders, as well as with stakeholders who can support them in their next steps.
This experience has given us the confidence that the Academia-Industry Training can generate value for sciencepreneurs beyond a single country context. Expanding this approach to Nepal is not simply a matter of replicating an existing model in a new country. Instead, it is about shaping a context-specific program in a setting that offers tangible value for Swiss science-based startups. Nepal stood out as a setting where innovation is closely tied to real-world constraints, offering a meaningful environment for testing, learning, and collaboration. The program creates opportunities to engage with early-stage Nepali entrepreneurs who bring practical problem-solving skills and valuable insights into user needs and implementation in a very different context.
By bringing founders from Switzerland and Nepal together, the program creates a space for meaningful exchange, new perspectives, and collaboration that benefit both ecosystems. Tackling global challenges requires cross-border and cross-disciplinary cooperation – and AIT Nepal is designed to foster exactly that.
From the perspective of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, why is Nepal a strong place for this pilot and how does a program like AIT contribute to the broader Switzerland-Nepal collaboration?
Cécile Rivière, First Secretary at the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, managing the AIT Nepal program from the Nepali side: Nepal is an emerging market where solutions must work across diverse geographies, income levels, and cultural divides. That pressure fosters ingenuity: Nepali entrepreneurs are resilient and practised in frugal innovation, making the country a compelling environment for testing ideas against real constraints.
For Swiss early-stage founders, Nepal offers a fast-moving market where Swiss expertise is valued and collaboration is actively sought. The conditions are well suited for prototyping and piloting, with feedback loops that are quick and grounded.
AIT Nepal fits naturally into the broader bilateral relationship between Switzerland and Nepal, which ranges from development cooperation to science diplomacy. By bringing together public institutions, the private sector, and academia, the program demonstrates what this partnership can achieve when Swiss technological and scientific strengths meet Nepali entrepreneurial energy.
For participants, what will the AIT Nepal Swiss Week offer in practice? What kinds of experiences or opportunities can they expect?
Sandra Nonella, Head ZHAW International Affairs Unit, managing the AIT Nepal program from the Swiss side: The Swiss Week is designed as a hands-on, immersive experience that goes beyond traditional learning or training formats. Participants can expect a structured program combining expert-led sessions, storytelling workshops, and visits to both established Swiss companies and innovative startups. This provides direct exposure to Switzerland’s unique market dynamics and innovation ecosystem, as well as sector-specific best practices.
Equally important is the emphasis on peer learning and networking. Participants will exchange ideas, reflect on their own challenges and opportunities, and gain new perspectives from founders working in very different contexts. The goal is for them to leave with actionable insights that can support innovation and strategic growth in their own work.
Are there elements of the program in Nepal that you can already share? And what can participants gain from engaging with the Swiss and Nepali startup ecosystems?
Cécile Rivière: The Nepal program will combine hands-on sessions, group work, and networking with relevant ecosystem actors. The aim is to provide the participants with an opportunity to explore new markets, refine their innovations, and instill peer support in their entrepreneurial journey.
Peer exchange and peer learning are often decisive in broadening an entrepreneur’s horizon. We hope Nepali startups will be inspired by exposure to a more mature ecosystem and encouraged to root their solutions in science and deep tech, becoming true sciencepreneurs. Swiss-based founders, in turn, will gain a clearer understanding of local needs and realities, and of how to expand into emerging markets that remain relatively uncrowded – particularly in sectors such as cybersecurity, agritech, and fintech.
Beyond the immediate experience, where do you see the longer-term value of AIT Nepal for the participating startups?
Amanda Strub: From AIT India we know that for many founders the program is their first step toward building international connections. It helps them understand how to approach entering a new market, what to pay attention to, and where to find support. The expert sessions on storytelling, the basics of VC funding, other funding schemes, and more provide them with valuable knowledge they can build on in subsequent programs, such as Innosuisse’s market entry program.
The long-term value also lies in the personal experience: the relationships formed, the confidence gained, and the understanding of how powerful networks and peer learning can be. AIT creates a space for open exchange, curiosity, and mutual support – something early-stage founders often lack amid the pressure of day-to-day operations. These connections frequently last well beyond the program and continue to support founders in their entrepreneurial journey.
Cécile, Sandra, and Amanda thank you for the interview!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
