From research
to real-world possibilities.

CoLab brings together two complementary groups: PhD researchers and postdocs who want to explore the entrepreneurial potential of their research, and students who want to work alongside them on research-driven venture opportunities. Researchers bring their research; students contribute their skills and interests to a team.

CoLab welcomes researchers at different stages, from early-stage PhDs exploring an idea to more advanced researchers with developed results or a prototype. You don’t need a finished research project or a working prototype to take part. The programme helps you explore the next entrepreneurial step from wherever you are.

No. You don’t need to have founded a company. CoLab helps you explore whether your research could become a venture.

No. Our workshops introduce the knowledge and tools you’ll need throughout the programme. We also aim to build teams with complementary skills, including students who bring business or entrepreneurship experience.

Yes. You apply individually, and teams are formed as part of the programme, bringing researchers and students together.

CoLab helps you explore the entrepreneurial potential of research together with a team. Through workshops, mentoring and feedback, you develop a research-to-business concept and present it at the final pitch. You don’t need to have founded a company to participate.

The 2026 cohort brings together 12 teams working on 12 research challenges. Topics range from healthcare and biotechnology to industrial applications, construction materials and cooling technology for AI chips. Each team explores how its research could create value beyond the lab.

The mentoring session on November 17 brings together founders, investors and subject experts. You can get feedback on your venture concept and discuss questions around product-market fit, pitching, financing, law and intellectual property. It is an opportunity to challenge assumptions and identify useful next steps for your team.

Plan for around 5–7 hours per week. Programme meetings take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, generally in the late afternoon or evening. Your team can organise its own additional meetings at any time that works for everyone.

Students can express their interests and submit preferences and rankings for the projects or teams they would like to join. The CoLab organising team makes the final assignments, taking preferences, interests and complementary skills into account. We aim to form balanced teams that create the greatest value for everyone involved; a first-choice placement cannot be guaranteed.

CoLab does not require researchers to transfer or share ownership of their existing intellectual property (IP) with student team members, either during the programme or afterwards. There is also no obligation to continue collaborating after CoLab. Researchers and students can agree how they want to handle IP and any future collaboration, subject to applicable university rules and existing agreements. Rights to new work created together should be clarified separately. The ETH Entrepreneur Club can help you work through questions and support the preparation of IP agreements.

No. Participation in CoLab is free of charge.

Participation in CoLab itself does not give CoLab or ETH equity in your venture or rights to your intellectual property (IP). CoLab is an initiative of the ETH Entrepreneur Club. Separate ETH rules and agreements may apply to your research, employment, use of ETH infrastructure, or the creation of an ETH spin-off. These can include IP ownership, licensing and equity requirements, independently of CoLab participation. Contact ETH transfer to clarify what applies to your project.

Yes. One example is RepliClouds, led by first-edition participant Mayur Sapkal. In our interview, he shares how CoLab helped him take concrete steps towards commercialising his research.