SWISS INNOVATION CHALLENGE MALAYSIA 2025

The Swiss Innovation Challenge (SIC) is a prestige programme with an integrated competition for the support and advancement of innovation in Switzerland and the ASEAN countries. The support offered, comprises specific training and personal coaching and access to the Swiss Innovation Challenge Network in ASEAN and Switzerland. 

The Challenge addresses companies, start-ups and individuals who wish to introduce and implement an innovation or who have undertaken an innovative step with-in the last few years. This could be a new business idea, product innovation, service innovation, organisational innovation, management innovation or business model innovation. 

Owns by University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). SIC has been extended to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In Malaysia, it was organised since 2017. 

Divided into three stages. Each stage is followed by a selection round (pitch). Winning company will represent the country to pitch in Switzerland and enjoy a trip to understand the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem in Switzerland. 

📌 To foster a cultural shift towards innovation that values creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.

📌 To promote innovation potentials from the ASEAN countries.

📌 To provide opportunity for participant group to pitch a new business idea, product innovation, service innovation,
      organisational innovation, management innovation or business model innovation.

📌 To establish international networking.

📌 To enhance ecosystem and sustainability of innovation and startups through research evidence.

🎯 TARGETS

📍 To encourage and increase number of innovative ideas.
📍 To increase number of start-up companies.
📍 To strengthen data base of innovations.
📍 To promote and enhance the culture of innovation, startup and entrepreneurship.

📜 THE HISTORY

📍 Malaysia:

• Cultivating the innovation culture at both tertiary and public levels

• 2017 – 47 applicants

• 2022 – 110 applicants

• 2024 – 438 applicants

📍 Switzerland:

• Increase in number of innovations and startups since 2010.

• Research impact – in strengthening ecosystem and sustainability of entrepreneurship and startups.

• Several publications related to innovation sustainability, ESG, entrepreneurship, etc.

The multifaceted benefits of SIC extending beyond the immediate solutions generated to impact individuals, organizations, and society at large. 

💡 To increase number of innovations.

💡 To increase number of potential startups.

💡 To pitch for potential local and international funding.

💡 To accelerate number of sustainable startup entrepreneurs that contributing to economic growth and job creation.

💡 To widen the innovation and startup network.

💡 To increase number of research and publications on ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups.

Fee per participant group: Commercialisation Potential (RM250.00); Development (RM250.00); Ideation (RM150.00);
Payment：
Payment methods as follows (you need to state your name and IC no. in their system):

1. Bank Transfer

1.1 Interbank fund transfer (Interbank GIRO/IBG or Instant transfer/IBFT) via internet banking.

1.2 Cash payment at any Bank Muamalat counters.

1.3 Interbank GIRO/IBG over the counter at any banks.

1.4 Cheque payment.

Payment must be made to our Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad account number 1211-0000-2197-18 and made payable to HICOM University College Sdn Bhd. Kindly include the remark as SIC 2025.

OR

2. JomPAY using current/saving accounts or credit card
▪ Biller code : 29090
▪ Payment alert to: finance@dhu.edu.my
▪ Ref 1: SIC 2025
▪ Ref 2: Your  name and telephone no