Future of Health Grant 2027
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Quick Answer
Equity-free grants of CHF 10,000 to CHF 50,000 (about ₹11.5 lakh to ₹57.5 lakh) for digital health startups, open to non-Swiss startups planning a pilot or launch in Switzerland.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- EPFL Innovation Park
- Application deadline
- 69d — 15 Jan 2027
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Future of Health Grant 2027 is a funding programme for digital health startups, founded in 2022 by EPFL Innovation Park and the Swiss health insurer CSS. It gives equity-free grants of CHF 10,000 to CHF 50,000 (about ₹11.5 lakh to ₹57.5 lakh), together with coaching, mentoring and specialist support. It is built mainly for startups based in Switzerland, but incorporated startups from outside Switzerland, including India, may apply if their solution suits the Swiss healthcare system and they have a concrete plan to grow in Switzerland. The page asks for applications by 15 January 2027.
What the program offers
There are three levels, and you apply for the one that fits your maturity. Level 1, "Ignition", is CHF 10,000 (about ₹11.5 lakh) with a 3-month programme to launch a venture idea, with 5 projects a year. Level 2, "POC", is CHF 30,000 (about ₹34.5 lakh) with a 6-month programme to develop a product or prototype and a proof of concept, with 5 startups a year. Level 3, "Validation", is CHF 50,000 (about ₹57.5 lakh) with a 12-month programme for user validation or clinical trials with healthcare professionals, with 3 startups a year.
All grants carry no equity and no interest. A startup can move up through the levels over time, for up to CHF 90,000 in total. Beyond money, the programme provides professional health innovation coaches, mentors from the healthcare industry, and paid specialists who can join your team, which the programme calls "CxO as a Service". Support is structured through regular meetings, clear milestones and continuous guidance.
Who can apply
Startups or projects based in Switzerland, whether incorporated or not, and active in digital health, are eligible. Incorporated startups from outside Switzerland are also welcome to apply if their solution is applicable to the Swiss healthcare system and they have a concrete plan to develop their business in Switzerland, for example a pilot project or market entry.
For an Indian founder this means you need a registered company, a product that can work within Swiss healthcare, and a real plan for Switzerland, such as a hospital or insurer pilot. It suits an Indian digital health startup that already intends to enter the Swiss market. It does not suit a startup with no link to Switzerland, a company outside digital health, or one that is not incorporated, since only Swiss-based projects are accepted unincorporated.
How to apply
Choose the level that best matches your maturity. Then submit an application through the online portal linked from the "Apply Now" button on the Future of Health website. The page does not list the questions or documents in the form. A practical tip: if you are outside Switzerland, make the Swiss plan the centre of your answer, explaining who in Switzerland you will pilot with and why your solution fits Swiss care.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The page describes no selection process, scoring criteria or interview rounds, and gives no result date. It does say the programme runs two cohorts a year. The page lists a fall 2026 cohort with applications closing on 31 July 2026 and a start in September 2026, while a banner asks for applications by 15 January 2027 for the following cohort. The page does not explain how these dates relate, so check the portal for the exact timing before applying.
About EPFL Innovation Park and CSS
EPFL Innovation Park is an innovation hub in Lausanne, Switzerland, linked to the technical university EPFL. CSS is a Swiss health insurer. Together they founded the Future of Health Grant in 2022, with many supporting partners including hospitals, insurers and industry companies.
Things to check before you apply
- The grant amounts are in Swiss francs, so the rupee value will move with exchange rates.
- A concrete Swiss plan is required for non-Swiss startups. A general interest in Europe is not enough.
- The source does not say whether you must be in Switzerland during the programme, or how the money is paid.
- The source does not state an application fee.
- Check the portal for the exact deadline for your cohort.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Level 1 pays CHF 10,000 (about ₹11.5 lakh) with a 3-month program, Level 2 CHF 30,000 (about ₹34.5 lakh) with 6 months, and Level 3 CHF 50,000 (about ₹57.5 lakh) with 12 months. Every grant comes with no equity and no interest, and startups can progress through the levels for up to CHF 90,000 in total. Each level includes structured meetings and milestones, health-innovation coaches, industry mentors and paid specialists who join the team as CxO as a Service.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The source describes no selection process, scoring criteria or interview rounds. The programme runs two cohorts a year, and the page asks for applications by 15 January 2027 for the next one.
Application Process
- 1
Apply online
Choose a level and submit the application.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Future of Health Grant?
Startups or projects based in Switzerland that are active in digital health can apply, whether incorporated or not. Incorporated startups from outside Switzerland can apply if their solution applies to the Swiss healthcare system and they have a concrete plan to grow in Switzerland.
Can Indian startups apply for the Future of Health Grant?
Yes, if the startup is incorporated, its solution suits the Swiss healthcare system, and it has a concrete plan to develop its business in Switzerland, for example a pilot project or market entry. A startup with no Swiss plan is not a fit.
How much is the Future of Health Grant?
It depends on the level: CHF 10,000 (about ₹11.5 lakh) for Ignition, CHF 30,000 (about ₹34.5 lakh) for POC and CHF 50,000 (about ₹57.5 lakh) for Validation. A startup can move up the levels for up to CHF 90,000 in total.
How is the grant paid?
The source does not say how or when the money is paid. It states that the grants come with no equity and no interest.
What is the deadline for the Future of Health Grant, and what if it has passed?
The page asks for applications by 15 January 2027. It also shows an earlier fall 2026 cohort that closed on 31 July 2026 and does not explain how the dates relate, so check the portal. The programme runs two cohorts a year, so a missed date usually means the next cohort.
Is the Future of Health Grant a grant or equity?
It is a grant with no equity and no interest, so you keep your ownership. Some support, called CxO as a Service, involves paid specialists who work in your team.
Which level should I apply for?
Choose the one that matches your maturity. Ignition is for launching a venture idea, POC for building a prototype and proof of concept, and Validation for user validation or clinical trials with healthcare professionals.
What documents are needed to apply?
The source does not list the documents or questions in the application form. You apply through the online portal linked from the Apply Now button. If you are outside Switzerland, be ready to explain how your solution fits Swiss healthcare and your Swiss plan.
Do I have to be in Switzerland?
Swiss-based startups are eligible directly. Non-Swiss startups must have a concrete plan to develop in Switzerland, but the source does not say whether you must be physically present during the programme.
Is it free to apply, and when are results announced?
The source mentions no application fee. It does not give a result date or describe how decisions are made.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
