Solothurn, June 11, 2026 – Five young entrepreneurs were honored with a coveted W.A. de Vigier Award on June 10. Selected from more than 200 applicants, they were recognized at the Annual Award Ceremony in Solothurn for their innovation, entrepreneurial drive, and potential to create lasting impact.

How can surgeons monitor healing in real time? How can sensitive biological materials be transported more safely? What comes after silicon in semiconductor manufacturing? How can malnutrition be identified before it leads to complications? And what if professional dental care could come to the patient instead of the other way around?

The five winners of the 2026 W.A. de Vigier Awards are building solutions to exactly these challenges. “It’s a privilege to get to be part of the journey of a group of such truly great personalities. To witness this entrepreneurial drive is inspiring and it’s very meaningful to add additional fuel to it at this early point on their journey,” says Céline Bedu, COO of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation.

From over 200 submitted projects, the jury first selected the Top 50 and then a Top 15 in February, each of whom then underwent an in-depth interview process with the Foundation Board. Five entrepreneurs received a W.A. de Vigier Award worth CHF 120 000 each, the remaining five finalists were granted a Recognition Prize of CHF 20 000. Thanks to the generous support of funding partner FERS, the total sum of prize money amounts to CHF 700 000.

The following five finalists each received a recognition award of CHF 20,000: 80SBio AG (CEO Arka Banerjee), Iron Energy AG (CEO Samuel Heiniger), Windworks SA (CEO Sébastien Le Fouest), UpGrid AG (CEO Hagen Lihl), Qendra AG (CEO Martin Stadler).

The five winners in alphabetical order

Gwenael Hannema / OrthoSens SA / Biel (BE)
Sensors that track healing after orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic recovery is often monitored through occasional X-rays and patient self-reports, which can detect complications too late. OrthoSens turns standard orthopedic implants into connected devices that measure healing in real time. A tiny battery-free sensor inside the implant is powered by an external wearable and streams data on load, micro-motion risk, and bone fusion to the SensApp. Surgeons and physiotherapists can track recovery through clear dashboards, while patients follow progress at home, enabling earlier interventions and reducing avoidable imaging, hospital visits, and revision surgeries.

Seoho Jung / Chiral Nano AG / Dübendorf (ZH)
Post-silicon semiconductors with nanomaterials
The semiconductor industry is approaching the physical limits of silicon while demand for computing power continues to grow. Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes promise faster and more energy-efficient transistors, but existing production methods cannot scale to industrial manufacturing. Chiral Nano develops equipment that integrates nanomaterials into chips with high precision. Its patented process grows high-quality nanomaterials, selects the best structures using automated microscopy and AI, and transfers them robotically onto wafers. This enables semiconductor manufacturers to build post-silicon chips for future technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

Giancarlo Mattiello / Cria Technologies SA / Plan-les-Ouates (GE)
High-vacuum containers for reliable transport of sensitive biological materials
Modern therapies such as cell and gene treatments, IVF samples, stem cells, and advanced diagnostics require extremely stable temperature conditions during transport. Yet many shipments still rely on dry ice, which is difficult to handle and prone to temperature fluctuations that can compromise valuable therapies. Crìa Technologies develops high-vacuum insulated containers that dramatically reduce heat transfer. Its first product, Crìa Go, is shoulder-carriable, cabin-compatible, and operates with reusable ice packs instead of dry ice. It offers cryogenic-level performance while remaining simple to ship with standard couriers.

Robert Schreiber / Alpinasana AG / Zurich (ZH)
Early detection and targeted nutrition to combat malnutrition
Malnutrition is a widespread but often overlooked problem in healthcare: up to 30% of hospital patients and more than half of elderly people are affected, leading to serious health complications and high healthcare costs. Alpinasana addresses this challenge with a combined digital and nutritional approach. Its AI-based system analyzes meal trays in hospitals to identify patients at risk of malnutrition at an early stage. These patients can then receive specially developed medical nutrition products designed to provide balanced nutrition and encourage regular use through good taste and variety. By helping caregivers detect and address malnutrition earlier, Alpinasana aims to improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.

Arthur Sebesteny / Dental Robotics GmbH / Gossliwil (SO)
Portable system for preventive dental care anywhere
Oral diseases affect more than 3.5 billion people worldwide and are linked to serious chronic conditions, yet preventive dental care is often difficult to access. Many patients avoid regular visits due to travel, waiting times, or fear of clinical environments. Dental Robotics addresses this challenge with an ultra-portable 3-in-1 dental hygiene system and digital platform that enables professional care outside traditional clinics. Hygienists can deliver preventive treatments in homes, workplaces, and care facilities. By bringing dental care closer to patients, Dental Robotics aims to improve access, encourage regular check-ups, and support better long-term oral and overall health.

About the W.A. de Vigier Awards

The W.A. de Vigier Award is the oldest award for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland and also one of the most highly endowed Swiss startup prizes. Over the past 39 years, the foundation has distributed CHF 15.6 million of seed money to over 160 young ventures. The results are flourishing startups, successful IPOs, multiple company exits and above all, many newly created jobs.

Thanks to the continued support of our funding partner FERS, the total prize money will reach up to
CHF 700,000 this year, further strengthening the award’s impact on Switzerland’s startup ecosystem.

The following aspects are relevant for the evaluation of the projects: The entrepreneurial personality, the degree of innovation, the value for society as a whole, the technical and financial viability, market prospects and the potential for job creation.