HIP Initiative

Human-IST Institute and Swiss Post

Since 2017, Swiss Post and the Human-IST Institute at the University of Fribourg have collaborated on a wide range of research projects. In 2024, the HIP Initiative was launched to further strengthen this partnership and foster innovative research.

Coordinated by the Human-IST Institute, the initiative builds strong and resilient bridges between the two institutions. It enables researchers across the University of Fribourg to engage with Swiss Post in innovation, applied research, and continuing education. Project development is supported through annual funding, in-kind contributions from Swiss Post, and facilitated collaboration by efficiently matching researchers with Swiss Post experts and vice versa.

The HIP Initiative promotes a mutually beneficial relationship. Researchers can test and challenge their work through real-world use cases, access domain experts, and explore organizational processes to investigate and validate research questions. In turn, Swiss Post benefits from the interdisciplinary academic expertise available across the university’s faculties. Together, this creates a unique opportunity to generate tangible societal impact.

Academic freedom in teaching and research is fully guaranteed in accordance with the guidelines of the University of Fribourg. Swiss Post does not influence the methods, conduct, or outcomes of any research or teaching activities.

Yearly Call for Projects

The HIP Initiative supports new collaborations through an annual call for projects, allocating CHF 100,000 to selected proposals. This funding is designed to kickstart promising ideas, demonstrate feasibility, and establish mutual interest. It also enables researchers to generate preliminary results that can serve as a foundation for securing larger external funding after the one-year support period.