The finalists for the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark 2025 have been announced. Three promising start-ups from the areas of legal technology, smart infrastructure and medical technology have prevailed against a record number of applicants. The winners will be announced on 20 May at Technopark Zurich – with CHF 100,000 in prize money and the chance to make a lasting impact on the Swiss deep tech landscape.
Zurich, 8 April 2025 – The future is being rewritten right now – and these three startups are at the forefront. Zürcher Kantonalbank and Technopark Zurich present the finalists of the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark 2025. This year, innovations from Lausanne and the Zurich region are in the spotlight: a legal tech start-up that is turning the legal sector upside down, a sensor-based solution for smart infrastructure and a visionary medtech are competing for the title. Every year, the award honors young companies that are shaping their industries with groundbreaking deep tech solutions.
Interest in the Pionierpreis has never been higher: 54 applications were received for the 2025 edition. After an intensive selection process, the jury has now selected these three finalists (in alphabetical order):
Ex Nunc Intelligence
Ex Nunc Intelligence develops AI-supported software that simplifies access to and management of legal knowledge for professionals and laypeople alike. The legal tech was founded in September 2023 by lawyer Kyriaki Bongard and economist Zoé Berry – both founders are specialists in tax and finance. By combining various advanced AI models with an intelligent data architecture, Ex Nunc Intelligence’s platform is constantly evolving and continuously integrating the latest AI developments. The startup’s vision is to build a transformative, network-based legal ecosystem. This enables seamless collaboration between experts and non-specialists and makes it easier to navigate complex legal issues – while at the same time complying with the highest data protection standards.
The jury of the Pionierpreis recognized this innovative approach. Jury member Lothar Thiele was impressed: ‘Ex Nunc Intelligence struck me because the legal tech company’s platform combines different classes of algorithms, data curation methods and multilingual generative AI in an outstanding way. In doing so, the startup is setting a new standard in the provision of actionable legal knowledge for both legal professionals and the broader public.’
Irmos Technologies
Irmos Technologies is revolutionizing infrastructure maintenance planning through the use of customized, cost-effective sensors. The ETH spin-off was founded in February 2023 by Panagiotis Martakis, Christos Lataniotis and Cyprien Hoelzl, PhDs from ETH Zurich, and Yves Reuland, who earned his doctorate at EPFL. The startup made the leap from research to market within a year. Its advanced software translates vibrations into key damage indicators and axle loads for bridges and other structures, providing real-time, actionable insights into a structure’s condition and actual traffic impacts. Using artificial intelligence, Irmos Technologies helps infrastructure owners ensure that interventions are both timely and cost-effective.
Jury member Michelle Tschumi summed up the startup’s strengths as follows: ‘Irmos convinces with the outstanding technological know-how of its team, which is deeply rooted in research and has a remarkable expertise in structural monitoring of complex infrastructures. I am particularly impressed by their intelligent combination of low-cost sensors and powerful algorithms that enable precise and predictive maintenance.’
Nanoflex Robotics
Nanoflex uses magnetic fields to precisely guide the tips of endovascular instruments. The technology gives neuroradiologists precise control during the intervention. With a user-friendly control console, doctors can change the shape of the instrument tip and move it in any direction, making endovascular interventions much easier and safer. The ETH Zurich spin-off’s technology also enables a secure connection for remote thrombectomies – regardless of geographical barriers – where only the patient and the magnetic field need to be in the same place. Transportation and waiting times for endovascular treatments are drastically reduced, and life-saving procedures can be performed more quickly. Founded in 2021 by Matt Curran, Dr. Christophe Chautems and Prof. Bradley Nelson, the medtech startup also enables remote-controlled treatment in smaller or rural hospitals.
‘Nanoflex Robotics unlocks the potential of telemedicine by enabling remote physicians to treat more patients with thrombectomy faster and more efficiently. I was immediately fascinated by the innovative potential of this project.’ said Emanuela Keller, a member of the Pionierpreis jury.
About ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark
The ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark is awarded annually by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) and Technopark Zurich and is recognized as the most important award for deep-tech startups in Switzerland. For more than 20 years, the Pionierpreis has honored projects whose innovative implementation is about to enter the market – with special recognition given to the commitment and willingness to take risks of startup founders. The award ceremony will take place on 20 May 2025 at Technopark Zurich. The Pionierpreis, which is endowed with CHF 100,000, honors the winners as well as the nominated finalists with prize money of CHF 10,000 each. For the second time, an audience award will also be presented on the evening of the award ceremony. As one of the most important innovation prizes in Switzerland, it not only helps young companies to gain further capital but also offers them a recognized platform to present themselves to a broad public.
Zürich – The panel of judges has made its shortlist: From 45 applications, eleven start-ups are still in the running for the Pionierpreis 2024 – an initiative by Zürcher Kantonalbank and Technopark Zürich – which will be presented on 7 May at Technopark Zürich.
The start-up Decentriq from Zurich uses data protection technology and artificial intelligence to create completely new opportunities for collaboration between companies. The start-up won over the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark jury with its “clean room for data” and can look forward to CHF 100,000 in prize money.
The finalists for the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark are Avelo, Decentriq and Stimit. The winning team will receive CHF 100,000 in funding at the award ceremony at Technopark Zurich on 7 May.