KNOVA – 5 years of open innovation in action
© 2025 EPFL
For companies looking to stay ahead, innovation isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a core part of their business strategy. The challenge, however, remains: "How can we tap into the latest technologies and access the brightest minds?" The solution lies in academia. And that's where KNOVA comes into play.
Launched five years ago, KNOVA is dedicated to building lasting partnership between academia and industry. The program is a one-stop shop to help companies get the support they need to navigate and profit from EPFL’s rich and diverse ecosystem of laboratories and startups, alongside with companies and research institutes that are part of the network. Thanks to the help of the personalised guidance of their account managers, businesses can easily navigate the large and complex academic environment. They work together to uncover potential new partnerships and quickly connect with the right entities.
KNOVA also plays another important role; it offers significant value to EPFL researchers and startups looking to grow. It helps them determine whether their research has strong market potential and aligns with industry needs. Through KNOVA, budding innovators gain insights into market fit, connect with key industry players, and receive direct feedback from potential customers, offering invaluable opportunities for testing and refining their ideas.
A diverse lineup with a single purpose
The diverse range of companies involved in the programme means there is the chance for participants and researchers alike to extend their network, exchange ideas, and learn new approaches to everyday challenges.
This focus on mutual success and KNOVA’s growing reputation as a hub for diverse cross-sector collaboration is reflected in the diverse group of companies which make up this year’s cohort. The 2025 participants include companies spanning industries from luxury goods to pharma, from construction to high-tech manufacturing. Household names such as LVMH and Novartis have signed up for another year of KNOVA alongside innovative and agile SMEs, like LEMO. They are joined by KNOVA veterans Bouygues, Bulgari, Comadur, Losinger, Ruag, Sipchem Innovent
Fostering a culture of collaboration
For many companies, KNOVA has become an essential part of their innovation strategy. Something LEMO – something LEMO, a global leader in interconnect solutions manufacturing based in Ecublens– can attest to.
KNOVA has become a strong partner in helping LEMO innovate. The connections we’ve made have enabled us to launch several new collaborative projects. We’re excited to take advantage of the size and diversity found within EPFL and in 2025, we look forward to building on the positive dynamic created over the last few years of this important relationship.
Dr. Hicham Majd, Associate Director and GDPD Innovation Lead from Novartis agrees:
KNOVA offers a robust ecosystem for innovation,” they said. “Renewing the contract with KNOVA gives us the opportunity to continue working with a team of highly skilled and passionate professionals, in a collaborative environment, to fosters innovation and continuous learning which aligns perfectly with our company’s aspiration. KNOVA's influence has been transformative, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that continues to propel our company forward.
Building long-lasting partnerships for innovation
While returning companies like LEMO and Novartis are keen to build on their ongoing collaborations s, new entrants bring fresh energy and new opportunities. This year, KNOVA welcomes an exciting mix of first-time participants to the group. New to the programme in 2025 are Swarovski, Daiichi Sankyo and Humard Automation. For these companies, the experience is not just about results, but about exploring and learning from this community they’ve found as confirms Asaël Droz, CTO and Board Member at Humard Automation
Our goal is to stay at the cutting edge of technology. KNOVA offers a platform to exchange ideas, spark innovation, and tackle shared challenges. We value open communication with academic partners, especially EPFL, and look forward to joining events, conferences, and seminars to strengthen connections and stay ahead of emerging technologies.
At the heart of KNOVA’s success is the philosophy of long-term partnerships and trust. This is something Sanja Kordic, Head of EPFL Industry Liaison Office is keen to highlight.
For a collaboration to be truly successful, it must be built on mutual benefit and aligned goals. We know there’s a significant advantage in connecting academia’s expertise with industry’s real-world challenges.,” she continues. “And this partnership needs to be built over time. Only through a trusting relationship can both parties uncover valuable insights. Academia gains industry context and impactful solutions, while our industry partners can tap into cutting-edge research, technological advancements, world-class talent and access to one of the richest innovation ecosystems. It’s this spirit of collaboration that drives innovation.
If you’re a business who would like to explore the potential of the EPFL ecosystem and the advantages of a long-term relationship through KNOVA, get in touch with the team: knova@epfl.ch
Similarly, if you’re an EPFL researcher or startup looking to find collaboration opportunities with any of our 2025 members please get in touch with us: knova@epfl.ch