Cohort 2019/20

Problem

Rethink human-robot collaboration to improve efficiency without compromising safety, and redesign how cobots and humans communicate.

What they built

COEX is a modular system that makes operator and cobot aware of each other's position and movements. Neither has to adapt to the other; both share a language of interaction.

Impact

Operators know they have been detected and what the cobot will do next, so they work faster and feel safer around it.

Problem

People want to live more sustainably but are stuck in habits. Entrepreneurs with sustainable ideas struggle to find funding and demand in Switzerland.

What they built

Compass gives users a personalised view of their behaviour and lets them support entrepreneurs' projects with the cheers they collect. Realised projects create new alternatives for everyone.

Impact

A compass for individuals and a funding platform for entrepreneurs. PostFinance takes a lead in driving sustainable behaviour among young people.

Problem

Many people, especially Millennials, dread the dentist, postpone appointments and do not know how to care for their teeth. The brief asked for prevention.

What they built

Daisy combines a device, an app and contact with dentists. A self check-up monitors general oral health and the risk of caries and gum disease, with personalised tips.

Impact

Patients control their oral health and avoid the fear of unexpected diagnoses and painful procedures.

Problem

Rheumatic diseases affect 2-3% of people, yet patients wait about six months for a specialist. GPs lack a direct line to hospital specialists.

What they built

Daodad lets doctors search specialists by advanced criteria and request an urgent slot or peer-to-peer consultation, designed with doctors and with a focus on data privacy.

Impact

Waiting time drops from almost six months to under a week. The platform works for all doctors and pathologies.

Problem

Hotel minibars run continuously because they are not tied to key-card power control. Across all rooms, that consumes a lot of energy.

What they built

Frio uses Kaimen's micro-cooling technology to shrink the exterior by 100 mm at equal volume. A digital system lets staff monitor power consumption and savings across rooms.

Impact

Integrated with property management systems, Frio switches fridges on and off with check-in and check-out, saving space, energy and manual effort.

Problem

Oncology and multiple sclerosis patients struggle with fatigue, an unpredictable exhaustion that disrupts daily life and makes it hard for others to support them.

What they built

Fuel reads physiological signals such as eye blinking and heart rate to recognise and predict fatigue and its triggers. An app for patients and caregivers helps plan what matters most.

Impact

Patients manage fatigue proactively and caregivers get tailored advice. The sponsor can open new partnerships with patient associations and scientific societies.

Problem

How might people with narcolepsy predict and manage their condition? Behaviour change is central, but each person's symptoms and lifestyle factors interact differently.

What they built

Habitual lets users track their specific symptoms at a time of day that suits their energy. Over time, the data shows correlations with medication, lifestyle and sleep.

Impact

Users adapt routines based on their own patterns. A customisable report supports better conversations between patient and practitioner.

Problem

Remote machine monitoring at BMW remains largely manual. Understanding downtimes usually requires physical inspection, so planners travel frequently to plants.

What they built

IRIS installs cameras and environmental sensors on a machine within minutes. Incidents are sequenced and visualised in a cloud dashboard on a tablet for evidence-based decisions.

Impact

About 50% less troubleshooting time and lower travel costs across BMW's global network, with an ROI above 100% and break-even within a year.

Problem

Identify the problems small-scale, multi-variety farmers face and develop a user-centred solution that reduces pain points and maximises productivity.

What they built

A mobile robot monitors crop health and conditions with cameras and sensors. The app shows crops and data, schedules tasks, forecasts weather and reveals patterns over time.

Impact

Precise data for smarter farming decisions, better use of land and time, and higher yields.

Problem

How might a flexible, different offer improve access to higher education, given the need for degrees and the changes of the fourth industrial revolution?

What they built

Lerny offers short digital courses for practical and job skills, with an accompaniment programme, sponsorship, an academic guide called Ally and social and networking features.

Impact

Higher education for people in Latin America who lack access today. Javeriana is taking the platform further in its project plan.

Problem

Students expect a modern university, while staff with high student ratios and administrative loads are wary of new tools and processes.

What they built

ModuleM gathers expected completion times, overall workload and feedback from students and lecturers and turns them into a visual course overview that reveals imbalances.

Impact

Less admin for lecturers, clearer expectations for students and fewer complaints, with over-assessment made visible.

Problem

Industrial parks in China collect factory wastewater in one pool, ignoring synergy effects, while illegal discharge pollutes rivers and lakes.

What they built

Shouhu analyses properties such as pH, temperature and chemical oxygen demand and recommends how operators should classify and combine wastewater to save costs and energy.

Impact

Operators save additives and energy and gain flexibility. GF gains valuable data for better data-driven treatment models.

Problem

Portuguese citizens are not ready for mandatory biowaste sorting from 2023. They lack knowledge and motivation, and existing solutions are few and outdated.

What they built

UiN gives citizens tags for bins fitted with electronics. Sorting earns points to exchange for grocery discounts or cinema tickets, alongside a community tab and sorting tips.

Impact

Higher sorting rates in the first years of the new system. Lipor's partnerships with local businesses stimulate their growth.

Problem

Catheter users cannot tell how full their bag is during the day. The resulting anxiety and dependence on others lower quality of life.

What they built

Volyymi attaches to existing catheter bags, measures urine volume and hydration, and sends real-time data to an app with personalised fullness and hydration alerts.

Impact

Users regain independence and drink enough without fear of overflow, which supports the immune system and reduces urinary tract infections.