June 24, 2022 | Boston & New York

Switzerland’s Cyber Startup Challenge is returning for a third edition this year, with a focus on the topics of network discovery and the security of IoT devices. With the support of Swissnex, the challenge’s organizer, the Cyber-Defence Campus (CYD) of armasuisse Science and Technology, part of the Swiss Department of Defense, Civil Protection, and Sports (DDPS), is looking for innovative technologies that can have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of the Swiss Armed Forces.

Startups active in the fields of network discovery and the security of IoT devices are encouraged to register and apply by August 31, 2022. The three startups with the most promising solutions will have the opportunity to pitch their idea during the Cyber Defence Conference on October 26, 2022, in Bern, Switzerland. A jury consisting of experts and stakeholders of the DDPS will select the final winner of the Cyber Startup Challenge, which will be awarded a contract of up to CHF 100,000 to integrate a proof of concept (POC) of its technology within the DDPS environment.

The Cyber Startup Challenge acts as a vehicle for the CYD to explore the startup technology landscape around certain focus areas and bring innovative technologies to the DDPS. The submitted solutions do not need to be fully mature yet, but a convincing POC should be implementable within a year and with less than CHF 100,000.