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Z-Kubator

What’s next_Project

The incubator programme for entrepreneurial projects

What's next_Project is aimed at ZHdK graduates and research staff who wish to develop projects with an entrepreneurial focus in the arts, design and education. The programme is supported by Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Which kind of projects can be supported?
Innovative projects with a pioneering character that were started as part of a study or research project, are to be further developed with an entrepreneurial strategy and have the potential to achieve a positive impact

The 12-month programme offers the following support:
_Financial support
_Campus Card allowing access to infrastructure in the Toni Campus
_Mentor/s with relevant industry knowledge and experience
_Coaching by subject matter experts
_Peer-to-peer feedback from programme participants
_Programme workshops on topics related to entrepreneurial thinking and action
_Opportunities to network and to showcase projects

For whom?
Applications are open to ZHdK bachelor's and master's graduates from all disciplines up to a maximum of two years after graduation as well as current ZHdK junior researchers wishing to commercialise a research development and/or found an organisation.

Jury 2026

Sandro Alvarez-Hummel, Communications & Crowdfunding Expert, wemakeit and Stiftungslabor
Yves Burgener, Programme Manager Z-Kubator
Jill Kayser, Future Designer & Co-Founder Strobo Futures, What's next_Project Alumna
Philipp Kotsopoulos, Head of Z-Kubator
Nadja Stäubli, CEO & Creative Director Sula

Applications
Applications are closed. The next call for applications will be issued in the spring semester 2026.

Z-Kubator contact
Yves Burgener, +41 43 446 20 87

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Participants 2026

Digital Organ Works Catalogue
Nina Roth, MA Music Performance Orgel, 2025
The Digital Organ Works Catalogue is designed to significantly simplify and support the work of organists and church musicians by providing a digital, easy-to-use, and comprehensive search function for organ works based on detailed criteria. At present, musicians must consult various sources — mostly in paper form — making keyword or advanced searches difficult and very time-consuming. The link in the title is a first prototype by Nina, who is also a data scientist.

More about the Digital Organ Works Catalogue

Image: Screenshot orgelwerke.org. © Nina Roth

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Touriski
Anja Fritschi and Tara Jenkins, both BA Interaction Design, 2025
Touriski is an educational board game that teaches avalanche safety in a playful and interactive way. In light of the growing popularity of backcountry skiing and snow tours, the project addresses the challenge that life-saving knowledge about avalanche prevention is often presented in a dry and hard-to-access manner. Touriski translates complex topics such as risk management, tour planning, and emergency response into a tangible and engaging game experience.

More about Touriski

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Kymu
Elia Salerno and Stepan Vedunov, both BA Interaction Design, 2025
Kymu is a complementary telerehabilitation ecosystem for pediatric neuromuscular physiotherapy that reduces visit burden and boosts adherence and autonomy. Therapists assign personalized home exercises and assessments via a web app. Children use a TV to perform guided sessions and motivating exergames. Kymu captures objective data like range of motion and balance, enabling remote monitoring and personalized care to improve outcomes and quality of life for children with neuromuscular conditions.

More about Kymu