FEMSPIN Report: Spin-Offs and Start-Ups of Female Academics at Swiss Universities: Activities and Support

Abstract

This report aims to encourage reflection, exchange, and knowledge building on female academic entrepreneurship in Switzerland. It presents new data on spin-off and start-up activities by female academics at Swiss universities and research institutes. The survey highlights that female academics are still rarely involved in the commercialization of knowledge from R&D in Switzerland. More than that, most of Swiss universities and research institutes offer support for academic entrepreneurship in general, but few specifically target their support at female academics. The authors make clear, that activities are needed to support spin-off and start-up creation in all fields of research with a particular focus on women. A close collaboration between gender equality, knowledge transfer, and innovation is essential to close the existing gender gap in academic entrepreneurship.