Revision of the RIPA enters into force

The revised Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA) enters into force. Thanks to the changes, Innosuisse has more flexibility in how it allocates the division between the own contributions of the companies involved in innovation projects with implementation partners, for example, and Innosuisse’s funding contribution. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefit from this in particular.

New faces on the Board of Directors and in the pool of experts

There are 89 new experts working for Innosuisse. These experts assess submitted applications for national, international and start-up innovation projects. At the same time, Aude Pugin, CEO of APCO Technologies, and Sergio Ermotti, Group CEO of UBS, take up positions on the Board of Directors of Innosuisse.

BRIDGE Discovery supports 16 projects

Innosuisse and the SNSF are jointly funding projects by experienced researchers with high economic and social potential for the sixth time. 16 projects are approved for a total amount of CHF 18 million. In one of these funded projects, researchers from the ZHAW and the University of Zurich are developing a transdisciplinary framework for assessing impairment before a person can apply for disability insurance benefits. This should make the assessment clearer and more efficient.

High level of interest in international innovation projects

Following the calls for innovation projects with Brazil and South Korea in February, the first joint call with Innovate UK for British-Swiss projects is launched in March. There is huge interest in bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom, as shown by the high number of applications received by the summer. A particularly large number of applications are in the field of life sciences.

53 Swiss Accelerator projects approved

The Swiss Accelerator is a transitional measure for Horizon Europe and supports SMEs and start-ups in Switzerland. In 2023, Innosuisse funds 53 Swiss Accelerator projects from a wide range of economic sectors. The total funding granted amounts to CHF 112 million.

Finding project partners in the United Kingdom

Project partners from the United Kingdom and Switzerland can find one another via a digital platform. There are 73 Swiss and 70 British organisations taking part in the networking opportunity for bilateral cooperation in innovation projects. At Innosuisse, the «Matchmaking and Internationalisation Advice» team is responsible for the digital matchmaking.

Relations with South Korea strengthened

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin visits South Korea as part of the Swiss-Korean Innovation Week. 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of good diplomatic relations between Switzerland and South Korea. As part of the Swiss delegation, representatives of Innosuisse are also strengthening existing relations with Korean funding agency KIAT.

17 start-ups presented with a Scale-up Award

17 participants in the Scale-up Coaching programme move on to the second phase. They are supported by Innosuisse coaches to further accelerate their growth in Switzerland and gain a foothold in new markets abroad. The award winners include, for example, the start-up Positrigo, which is developing a new diagnostic technology for dementia, as well as the start-up MPower, which aims to revolutionise access to energy in developing countries by providing small and medium-sized solar energy infrastructures.

Switzerland takes on Eureka presidency

In July 2025, Switzerland will take over the presidency of the Eureka intergovernmental innovation initiative. In so doing, it is actively shaping innovation cooperation in Europe and worldwide. Innosuisse is organising the Swiss presidency of the Eureka initiative on behalf of the Federal Council. The initiative aims to strengthen competitiveness and create jobs through partnership-based cooperation, in particular by promoting cross-border innovation projects.

Well-coordinated funding programmes from the SNSF and Innosuisse

The SNSF and Innosuisse have developed a well-coordinated support offer in Switzerland’s complex start-up ecosystem. It covers the entire innovation chain – from basic knowledge right through to the founding of companies. This was confirmed by an external impact study on the SNSF and Innosuisse. It is also gratifying to note that the start-ups see the funding organisations as important drivers for their incorporation and that they attribute a high degree of relevance to Innosuisse.

175 years of the Federal Constitution

Switzerland as it is today celebrates its 175th birthday in 2023. Innosuisse presents funded innovations on the Government District Open Days. Public interest and turnout are overwhelming.

Innosuisse prepares future collaborations

In the summer, Innosuisse and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection agree on a collaboration for Swiss-German innovation projects as part of the IraSME programme. Innosuisse initiates Eureka calls for projects in the field of food technologies with Sweden, Israel and Singapore. In the field of quantum computing, calls for projects are drawn up together with Scandinavian countries, as well as with Germany, Israel and South Korea.

Education, research and innovation for the Switzerland of tomorrow

In its statement on the Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (ERI) 2025–2028, Innosuisse makes it clear that Switzerland, as a high-wage and high-cost country, can only maintain its leading position in the international marketplace if it continues to give priority to education, research and innovation and ensures adequate funding.

Start-up training courses now open for applications

Innosuisse aims to promote innovative entrepreneurship in Switzerland with its start-up training programme. In various training modules, awareness is raised on the topic among interested individuals throughout Switzerland, who are given the tools they need to set up and develop their start-up company. The training courses are subject to public procurement law and are therefore regularly put out to tender. Innosuisse is drawing on the opportunity of a public procurement procedure to partially redesign the start-up training modules.

8 new Innovation Boosters approved

Innosuisse selects eight new Innovation Boosters. The new initiatives cover a wide range of topics: from artificial intelligence to agriculture, and right through to lifestyle – an entirely new funding topic. Work is scheduled to begin from the start of 2024.

8 new flagships to begin in 2024

In 2023, Innosuisse approves eight new flagships in the area of «disruptive solutions for the transition to a net-zero world». These will develop new, transdisciplinary solutions in thematic areas such as new materials and processes, eco-design and energy efficiency. The «Circulus» flagship, for example, will focus on the sustainable and circular supply chain for the MEM industry, while the «Green Energy Hub» will deal with integrated seasonal energy storage at a local level.

373 applications for the Swiss Accelerator

Innosuisse launches the second call for applications for the Swiss Accelerator in August 2023. 373 Swiss SMEs and start-ups that have already entered the market submit a short application by October. The Swiss Accelerator is a transitional measure due to the non-association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation. SMEs and start-ups receive direct financial support from Innosuisse for their project with above-average innovation potential.

Over 600 participants at the Quantum Industry Day

The conference on research and development in the field of quantum technology draws a high level of interest. The Enterprise Europe Network Switzerland, led by Innosuisse, is responsible for recruiting international participants for the Quantum Industry Day and for the digital matchmaking platform. This enables bilateral meetings between the participants during the conference in Lausanne.

Events in Basel and Helsinki

Innosuisse presents itself at many events in autumn. At the SME event with SEF.Growth in Basel, entrepreneurs are able to find out about Innosuisse’s funding opportunities. At SLUSH in Helsinki, 19 Swiss start-ups from the Innosuisse coaching programme present their innovations to an international audience in the Swisstech pavilion. Among them is the start-up b-rayZ. The spin-off from the University Hospital Zurich is developing a unique AI-based platform that supports radiologists in the early detection of breast cancer.

One year of start-up innovation projects

The funding programme for start-up innovation projects has got off to a good start. 208 start-ups that have not yet entered the market have submitted an application for an innovation project. Innosuisse has approved 40 projects by the end of December. One of these is the project by the start-up UniSieve, which is revolutionising heavy industry with its environmentally friendly separation technology at the molecular level. Demand for the new support offer shows that this bridges an important funding gap.

Presidency of Taftie in 2024

Preparations for the presidency of Taftie in 2024 are in full swing. Taftie is the European network of leading national innovation agencies. Innosuisse will be covering the topic of the year «Expanding the horizon: innovation driving economic, social and ecological impact» from various angles at five different events.