On the 4th of December in Bern, the Swiss 3RCC hosted the 3Rs Innovation Challenge, bringing together Early Career Researchers from across Switzerland for a full day of creative problem-solving, cross-disciplinary exchange, and hands-on 3Rs innovation.

Participants were placed into mixed teams combining laboratory scientists, social scientists, and researchers from diverse fields. Guided by mentors, each group explored real challenges in implementing the 3Rs and worked through structured ideation, collaboration, and project-building exercises.

By the end of the day, teams pitched their proposals for new 3Rs solutions, ranging from technical innovations to improved practices and communication strategies – and received feedback from experts. Proposed ideas included non-invasive disease monitoring via breathomics, expertise-sharing for increased organoid-based research, an open-source remote monitoring system to ensure animal welfare and creative approaches to reduce the need of anesthesia in imaging.

Beyond the project ideas themselves, the event helped researchers deepen their understanding of the 3Rs in their own work, learn from other disciplines, and gain practical skills in teamwork, creative thinking and designing implementable solutions.

We thank all participants and mentors for their contributions and look forward to seeing how these emerging ideas can support responsible, innovative research in Switzerland.