Vesalius Innovation Award

To apply for VIA 2025, you’ll need to fill our form with key details about your startup – including your startup name, team contact, postal address, a brief description of your idea, your team’s strengths, and how your solution fits our focus areas. You’ll also need to upload a pitch deck (PDF or PPT).
 It doesn’t have to be long – but it should clearly show what your solution is, who it’s for, and why it matters. All other information is submitted directly through the application form – no additional documents needed.

After the mentoring phase, all startups are asked to submit a recorded video pitch. This pitch serves as substantial basis for the jury to evaluate progress and determine the VIA finalists. In some cases, finalists may also be invited to a second live online pitching session, allowing for real-time Q&A with the jury. If such a session is planned, all shortlisted startups will be informed well in advance. This additional step ensures that the jury can make an informed and fair decision, based on each startup’s development during the mentoring phase.


The best 10 start-ups get the opportunity to pitch for 5 minutes in front of our highly experienced jury, followed by a Q&A session. The event is not public.

It starts with the application phase (starting on May 5), followed by a jury selection of a shortlist, who pitch live at an online event in late summer. Based on this, five finalists are selected and enter a mentoring phase during the fall. Afterwards, they submit a video pitch or may be invited to a second live pitch event. The jury then makes the final decision. The process concludes with the award ceremony in December.

The Vesalius Innovation Award award ceremony is an annual event that celebrates the achievement of the award recipients. It's being held on December 9, 2025, at BMA House in London.

Yes, we do. Check out Karger's innovation page and contact us directly via email.

Mentoring will be provided by selected mentors, among others also from Startup Academy Basel, and Karger employees. Since each startup faces different challenges, mentoring will be adapted to meet specific needs.

You will find the information about our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy on our website.

Upon application, you are required to accept our Terms and Conditions. If selected as one of the best five startups, you may be required to sign further documents.

Karger intends to support the startups to attend the final event. The extent of this support will be decided on an individual basis. Mentoring and support will be provided mainly in a digital format.

We will notify the winning companies by email in September.

Early-stage startups with a focus on publishing and science communications. The startup should not be older than five years. The company does not necessarily have to be already registered, but this should be in planning. The team must include at least one person aged 18 or older.

Applications for the Vesalius Innovation Award 2025 open on May 5, 2025 and will remain open for three months. We would like your pitch deck to be short and catchy rather than long and detailed. This also means that the number of slides should not exceed 10-15. Your pitch deck should be in English.

We welcome startups working in science communication, especially those addressing one or more of our 2025 focus areas: research integrity, responsible use of AI
and sustainable knowledge transfer.

Finalists will be offered a mentoring and will be invited to pitch live at the Vesalius Innovation Award Ceremony, taking place on December 9, 2025, during the STM Innovations Fair in London.
More details on selection and mentoring will be shared throughout the process.

‍

The selection of the five leading startups will be done by a team of selected and experienced Karger employees and jury members. The final decision will be made by the jury.

Yes, of course! We will be very active on social media and various media channels. Additionally, we are planning follow-up stories about the winners.

Data received will be used exclusively for processing the award. Access will only be granted to selected Karger employees and members of the jury. We will not forward your data to third parties without formal permission.