Contrinex, Xemperia and ROMAG aquacare Win the IFF 2024-2025 Award
On Wednesday evening, the canton of Fribourg celebrated its most innovative companies at the 2024-2025 Fribourg Freiburg Innovation Award (IFF) ceremony. The IFF Enterprise Award went to Contrinex, based in Corminboeuf, while the IFF Start-up Award, decided two-thirds by public vote, was awarded to Xemperia, a spin-off from the University of Fribourg.The IFF Sustainability Award, meanwhile, recognized the innovative project by ROMAG aquacare in Düdingen. The ceremony, featuring the nine finalists, took place at Forum Fribourg and was broadcast live for the first time on La Télé.
The IFF Award 2024-2025 once again pays tribute to the boldness and innovation of Fribourg companies. In a ceremony marked by creativity, the awardees were recognized for their contributions to the development of the regional economy. “By supporting innovation, we stimulate the creation of added value in our companies and enhance the competitiveness of our economy. This prize also promotes Fribourg as an inviting land of innovation, attracting talent and investment that benefit our entire canton,” emphasized Olivier Curty, State Councilor and Jury Chairman.
For Daniel Wenger, Chairman of the Executive Board of Fribourg Cantonal Bank (BCF), innovation is a key driver of the economy. “By rewarding companies with innovative and diversified projects, whether in technology, healthcare, or renewable energy, the IFF Award showcases the richness of our economic fabric, of which we can be very proud. This support for innovation energizes an entire economic chain in which BCF plays a key role. Ultimately, innovation has a positive impact that extends beyond the company and benefits society as a whole.”
In conclusion, Jerry Krattiger, Managing Director of the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA), compared the evening to savoring a fine champagne: “The words that come to mind are: young, fresh, and sparkling. Tonight, we have celebrated companies that bring a breath of fresh air, full of daring and innovation, embodying the vitality of our economy. The winners, like the finalists, clearly demonstrate that our canton knows how to cultivate the energy and ingenuity needed not only to excel but to inspire. Through their projects and ambitions, these talented individuals truly make our economy sparkle!”
IFF Enterprise Award: Contrinex Opens New Horizons for Industrial Vision with Its Smart 3D Camera
Contrinex received the CHF 10,000 IFF Enterprise Award from Daniel Wenger of BCF. Specializing in detection solutions and industrial sensors, this Corminboeuf-based company distinguished itself with its Smart 3D Camera, a remarkable innovation in industrial vision. This smart camera enables real-time image analysis and is configurable via a mobile app, making it accessible even without technical skills. Providing a simple binary result to assess object conformity, it meets various industrial needs, including defect detection, packaging inspection, and monitoring of sensitive areas.
With this recognition, the jury highlights an innovative and practical Industry 4.0 solution to current industry challenges. Thanks to this technology, the Fribourg-based company is opening new horizons, not only for industrial applications but also for its own strategic development. “With the development of the Smart 3D Camera, Contrinex is entering a new era. We are considering creating a dedicated Business Unit and expanding our camera range, while developing algorithms tailored to diverse industrial use cases,” explained Laurent Genilloud, CTO of Contrinex.
IFF Start-up Award: Jury and Public Endorse Xemperia and Its Blood Test for Breast Cancer Screening
The company Xemperia, winner of the IFF Start-up Award, received the highest number of votes in a selection process combining the choices of the jury, accounting for one-third, and the public, accounting for two-thirds. Since the announcement of the finalists on October 2, the public could vote online, while attendees at the November 6 ceremony, as well as those watching the live broadcast on La Télé, also contributed to the final outcome.
Founded in 2023 and based in Bulle, this spin-off from the University of Fribourg has developed an innovative blood test for breast cancer screening, inspired by the natural immune response. This unique test detects biomarkers in immune cells altered by the presence of cancer cells, providing a more accurate, affordable, and accessible alternative to mammography without exposure to X-rays. Based on PCR technology, it requires only a simple blood sample, allowing women under 50—who are often excluded from traditional screenings—to benefit from early detection as well.
The IFF Start-up Award, with an award of CHF 30,000, was presented by State Councilor Olivier Curty, President of the IFF Award jury.
IFF Sustainability Award: ROMAG aquacare Awarded for Its Autonomous Water Quality Monitoring System
New in the 2024-2025 edition: all finalists were evaluated according to strict sustainability criteria, with particularly thorough analysis for the IFF Sustainability Award. In this category, ROMAG aquacare Ltd, based in Düdingen, was awarded for its innovative aquacare PowerFlow system. This device combines autonomous electricity production with continuous water quality monitoring, making it ideal for remote areas such as mountainous regions where energy sources are limited. With its integrated turbine, aquacare PowerFlow generates the energy needed to power sensors measuring essential parameters like turbidity, pH, conductivity, and water flow. The data, transmitted via LoRaWAN or cellular network, enables remote monitoring and rapid intervention in case of anomalies. This system, at the crossroads of bioeconomy and Industry 4.0, ensures impeccable drinking water quality, even in the most isolated locations.
The IFF Sustainability Award was presented by Christophe Emmenegger, Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the canton of Fribourg (CCIF) and jury member. This prize is jointly awarded by the CCIF, the Energy Department, and the Fribourg Development Agency.
The IFF Award: A Long History
This year, the Innovation Award of the canton of Fribourg has been rebranded as the IFF Award (Innovation Fribourg Freiburg). Launched in 1991 by the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA), it is awarded every two years. Since then, more than fifty companies have benefited from this showcase, highlighting Fribourg’s entrepreneurial boldness, creativity and ambition.
The IFF Award is open to Fribourg-based companies and is co-organized by the FDA and the Fribourg Cantonal Bank (BCF). The main cantonal media outlets—La Liberté, La Télé, La Gruyère, Freiburger Nachrichten, Radio Fribourg, and Frapp—are partners of the event.
The IFF Award 2024-2025 awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Forum Fribourg. For the first time, it was broadcast live on La Télé in a bilingual French-German program.
You can find all the information on: www.iffaward.ch.