The canton of Vaud is one of the main centers for research and innovation in Switzerland, with the largest academic and technology campus in the country and several research centers as well as internationally known industries, particularly in life sciences, micro-nanotechnologies, ICTs and cleantech. The Office for Economic Affairs and Innovation (SPEI) is the official public organization that supports companies located within the canton of Vaud, especially those involved in sectors of advanced technology and industry. Indeed, SPEI advises entrepreneurs and puts them in contact with organizations that are appropriate to their specific needs. SPEI can also provide direct financial support.

Innovaud is the entry door to innovation in the Canton of Vaud. It offers free of charge support to startups, scale-ups and SMEs focusing on technology-based innovations. Support includes financing, access to innovation parks, coaching, promotion and networking. Innovaud helps innovative companies in Life Science, Information and Communication Technology, Precision Industry and Cleantech. Innovaud is an initiative of the State of Vaud. It is carried by the Department of Economy, Innovation and Sport (DEIS) as well as the Department of Education, Youth and Culture (DFJC). In 2016, Innovaud created the Scale Up Vaud program and label, which aims to encourage and reinforce innovative companies in phase of high growth that are based in the Canton of Vaud. Today, 25 companies are part of the Scale Up Vaud program. Altogether, these companies generated 2360 jobs worldwide, out of which 1400 are based in Switzerland. www.innovaud.ch / www.scale-up-vaud.ch

Bryan, Garnier & Co is a European, full service growth-focused independent investment banking partnership founded in 1996. The firm provides equity research, sales and trading, private and public capital raising as well as M&A services to growth companies and their investors. It focuses on key growth sectors of the economy including Technology, Media & Telecoms, Healthcare, Smart Industries & Energy, Consumer, Brands & Retail and Business Services. Bryan, Garnier & Co is a fully registered broker dealer authorised and regulated by the FCA in Europe and the FINRA in the U.S. Bryan, Garnier & Co is headquartered in London, with additional offices in Paris, Munich and New York. The firm is a member of the London Stock Exchange and Euronext.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's legacy closely traces the birth and evolution of Silicon Valley. For nearly six decades, the firm has represented the technology pioneers associated with virtually every milestone innovation. Today, Wilson Sonsini is synonymous with ushering promising, innovative companies through their business life cycle. And as their clients have grown, so has the firm. They now represent many of the largest companies in the world, and thousands of the smallest ones, too. Since its inception, Wilson Sonsini has maintained an active role in Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem by continuing the work they do with top innovators and entrepreneurs, and the funding sources that support them. Their position as the leading provider of legal services to technology and life sciences clients was earned by representing the disruptive, market-creating companies that influenced every milestone marking an evolution in technology - from the semiconductor, computer, and software pioneers of the 1970s and 1980s to today's life sciences, internet, and social media innovators.

Boston Scientific Europe is the European branch of Boston Scientific Corporation, with offices in 19 countries and a market presence in 52 countries. We transform lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 30 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our products and technologies are used to diagnose or treat a wide range of medical conditions, including heart, digestive, pulmonary, vascular, urological, women's health, and chronic pain conditions. We demonstrate continued commitment to meaningful clinical science by conducting carefully designed clinical studies and by sponsoring studies that seek tailored therapy options to optimize patient outcomes.

EIC ScalingUp is a project dedicated to creating a model for European deep tech companies which received funding by the European Innovation Council (EIC) to scale beyond Series B/C and to connect with strategic investors and partners. In the first phase of the project the best performing 50 European deep tech growth companies were chosen by a Selection Committee of experienced investors voted for those with the highest growth and financial potential in the key domains - Digital, Heath, Sustainability. As a next step, more than 30 out of the TOP50 companies continued their participation in the 1-year long EIC Growth Club. Tech Tour is the EIC ScalingUp project coordinator.

Medtronic is the world’s largest medical technology company, offering an unprecedented breadth and depth of innovative therapies to fulfill our Mission of alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life. Last year, more than 9 million people benefited from our medical therapies, which treat cardiac and vascular diseases, diabetes, and neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/.

MSD Global Health Innovation Fund (MSD GHI) is evolving corporate healthcare venture capital globally by utilizing their healthcare ecosystem strategy. This investment strategy connects innovative companies with complementary technologies to develop integrated healthcare solutions. MSD GHI has $500M under management and provides growth capital to emerging healthcare technology companies worldwide while leveraging the vast R&D-based, global resources of MSD. With a vision that data will be the currency in healthcare, GHI invests broadly in digital health. GHI invests in platform companies with proven technologies or business models where MSD’s expertise and perspectives can accelerate revenue growth and enhance value creation. Since late 2010, MSD GHI has made over 50 investments in Digital Health companies.