2. Summary
Strategy The Ark
3 fields, 6 locations
The Ark technological sites
The Ark organization
The Ark services
The Ark on Techno-Pôle/TechnoArk
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
3. Economic structure of Valais
Craft & Industries
42.7% jobs
47.6 %
Energy
2 % jobs
Services
8.6 %
29.1 % 29 % jobs
2.1 % 12.6 %
Agriculture Tourism
7.6 % jobs 18.7 % jobs
* Indicator : GDP
Source DEVS 2003
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
4. Swiss Start-up TOP 100 - 2012
Other 1
Basel 2
Geneva 4
Bern 5
Valais
6
Vaud 26
Zurich 51
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
5. Strategy of the Ark
« to build the technological Valais of the future »
Promoting Bringing together
innovation competences
Supporting
Strengthening Economic
competitiveness growth
The Foundation has been created in 2004 by the state of Valais
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
6. 3 fields and 6 technological sites
Life Science
ICT
Engineering Science (Energy)
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
7. 6 technological sites in Valais
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
8. Life Science - BioArk - Monthey
• Dedicated to life sciences;
• 2’500m2 (labs and offices);
• 4 start-ups;
• 4 SME;
• 80 people/jobs
• Extension BioArk 2 (4’500m2)
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
9. Life Science - PhytoArk – Conthey/Sion
• Dedicated to alpine plants (extracts);
• 1’500 m2;
• R&D: Technological platform: 400 m2;
• Incubator: 6 incubator modules (52m2 each);
• SME: Industrial platform: 570 m2;
• Operational since January 2013;
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
10. ICT - IdeArk - Martigny
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
11. ICT - IdeArk Martigny
Dedicated to ICT (Human Machine Interaction);
Total surface 2000m2;
1 R&D institution => Idiap;
Incubator: 3 start-ups;
10 SMEs;
150 people/jobs
New building MyPark/IdeArk;
6’000m2 (2015)
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
12. ICT - IdeArk/MyPark – New Building
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
13. ICT - Techno-pôle/TechnoArk - Sierre
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
14. The Ark Services
Bridging the gap between R&D
and Industry (Tech Push model)
Supporting start-ups
Innovation for SME (Market pull
model)
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
15. Organisation The Ark
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
16. The Ark - Techno-pôle/TechnoArk
Contributing to the site management;
Marketing & Communication (The Ark);
Marketing & Communication support (site);
Managing the incubator located on the the site;
Valorizating the R&D results of the institutes (PUSH);
Icare Institute;
Computer Sciences Institute, HES-SO;
Institute for Management & Entrepreneurship, HES-
SO;
Icare
Support innovation in SME (PULL)
Projects involving SMEs and institutes
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
17. Thank you for your attention
Fondation The Ark
Bâtiment de Courten www.theark.ch
Place St-Théodule blog.theark.ch
1950 Sion info@theark.ch
18. The Ark Business Model
Services management
Accelerator Incubator
Innovation Marketing
General Services
Sites management
TeleArk BlueArk
Funding sources TechnoArk PhytoArk
IdeArk BioArk
Confederation,
State of Valais,
regions, communities
European Union
Private
Licences/patents The Ark’s funds
Return of subsidies
Scouting or pilot project
Long term results
Building and realization of « business
Projects Creation of wealth and
innovation » projects
employment
Start-up incubation or development
Creation of new
incubation
companies
Others specific projects
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
19. The Ark Incubator - Business Model
Supporting start-up projects;
4 Phases process
Selection (2-3 weeks);
Pre-incubation (max. 12 months);
Starting incubation (12-18 months);
Development incubation ( max.12 months);
Package offered
Coaching;
Fully equiped offices (or labs for life sciences);
Third-party services ;
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
20. The Ark Incubator - Business Model
Package amount defined according to the s’up
needs (budget);
The amount consumed is credited (no cash out);
After 3 years the start-up has to reimburse:
50% of the amount in cas of success;
nothing in case of failure;
100% in case of leaving the canton
Since 2004: 80% survival rate;
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch
21. Techno-pôle/TechnoArk – Business Model
Private/Public Partnership (PPP);
Private owned company (Techno-pôle SA) in
charge of:
Funding;
Construction;
Real estate aspects;
Public owned entity (TechnoArk SA) in charge of:
Site management;
Marketing
The Foundation for Innovation in the Valais www.theark.ch – info@theark.ch