Startups supported by Swiss Innovation agency Innosuisse will soon be able to go to Japan or South Korea to develop their business internationally thanks to the two new camps being opened this year to meet growing demand.
These destinations were chosen in particular because of the potential of the Asian market and the appeal of their markets for Swiss startups.
This expansion has come about because demand for “Internationalisation Camps” has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Furthermore, expanding the offer of camps to new Asian markets is a necessary step in order to meet the demand from startups in the Innosuisse coaching programme.
The World Bank forecasts that Asian markets in general will show significant growth despite the global pandemic.
As with previous camp expansions, the new sites will be introduced as part of a three-year pilot project.
Two years after their introduction, they will be evaluated, and the Innosuisse Innovation Council will decide whether they should be continued.
Twelve camps are currently available, offering these companies the opportunity to test or even establish themselves in new markets such as New York, Rio de Janeiro and London.
“There is strong demand from Swiss entrepreneurs for these destinations. In addition, there is a free trade agreement and cooperation in research, education and innovation between these destinations and Switzerland. This makes them ideal markets,”
said Marcel Hofstetter, Head of the Internationalisation Camp programme at Innosuisse.