The Future of Health Grant and the SFITS Join Forces to Accelerate Digital Innovation in Surgical and Interventional Medicine

 The Future of Health Grant program, a digital health acceleration initiative co-founded by CSS and the EPFL Innovation Park, is proud to welcome a new partner to its network: the Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery (SFITS).

Located on the campus of the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), the SFITS is a world-class innovation and training hub dedicated to advancing interventional medicine. It offers startups and clinical innovators access to cutting-edge facilities, including simulation labs, operating rooms, and 2D/3D imagery —all within a rich academic hospital environment. The SFITS is uniquely positioned to accelerate the development, testing, and adoption of solutions that improve surgical practice, training, and patient outcomes.
This collaboration builds on a shared commitment to supporting practical, impactful innovation. The partnership between the SFITS and the Future of Health Grant has already borne fruit: two promising startups in the program—Digehealth and Clee Medical—have benefited from access to the SFITS clinical ecosystem.
Digehealth is developing a wearable AI device to monitor bowel activity in patients at risk of intestinal obstruction after a surgery, while Clee Medical is building ultra-high-resolution navigation tools for neurosurgery. Both companies exemplify how digital health can drive advances in surgical and interventional care, and both will continue their journey with SFITS and FoHG in the coming months.
The aim of this new partnership is clear: to encourage more early-stage digital health startups working on surgical and interventional solutions to apply to the Future of Health Grant and benefit from both programs’ complementary strengths. From access to simulation and clinical feedback at the SFITS, to structured milestone-based support, non-dilutive funding, and a national innovation network through FoHG—this partnership offers an end-to-end launchpad for healthcare startups ready to make a difference.
Together, we are building bridges between early innovation and real-world clinical impact—making the future of health a reality.
⏳ Startups interested in joining the next FoHG cohort can apply until July 31, 2025 at future-of-health.org

Future of Health Grant – in brief

Launched in 2022 by CSS and the EPFL Innovation Park, this program, which supports innovations in digital health, is distinguished by its practical approach. Each start-up benefits from tailored coaching and monitoring, enabling it to move forward as quickly as possible while optimizing its resources. Around 15 start-ups are chosen each year to receive support totaling up to CHF 90,000 without any dilution of ownership. The FoHG draws on the expertise of its founders and its unique network of partners composed of key players in the Swiss healthcare industry. This ecosystem stimulates the exchange of knowledge and experiences that is essential to agile, collaborative innovation. At present, the partners are: confinis, CSEM, Elca, HE-ARC, Hôpital de la Tour, Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé la Source, Microsoft, Pfizer, Réseau Delta, Takeda, Unisanté, and Vaudoise Assurance.

Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery (SFITS) – in brief

Launched in 2024, the SFITS Innovation Program drives two initiatives to support and accelerate the emergence and development of new interventional and surgical techniques and technologies. The Corporate R&D Program supports Medtech companies and R&D departments, eager to continue research and development of innovative solutions and to test and improve in a clinical setting, thanks to the SFITS real-life conditions and specific capabilities. The Startup Accelerator Program is designed to bring together the entrepreneurial, medical, industrial, and financial communities, creating a dynamic ecosystem where innovation can thrive. It represents a significant opportunity for startups in the surgical and interventional technology space, providing the resources, connections, and expertise needed to bring innovative solutions to the market.