Innovation projects: Impulse programme Innovation Strength

The objective of the impulse programme Innovation Strength Switzerland is to stimulate the innovation activities, to maintain the innovative strength and secure the long-term competitiveness of small to medium-sized companies and organisations in Switzerland in view of the current Covid-19 pandemic. Within the scope of this impulse programme, the contributions of the implementation partners can be reduced in comparison to the standard innovation projects. Applicants can chose either measure 1 or measure 2 for new projects submitted in 2021 and 2022.

New innovation projects within the framework of the impulse programme can be submitted online to Innosuisse from the beginning of January 2021.

General prerequisites

The following conditions apply to science-based innovation projects within the framework of the impulse programme:

• The impulse programme is open to research and implementation partners that fulfil the funding requirements for innovation projects.
• As implementation partner, your Swiss company, start-up, NGO or any other private or public organisation has 500 full-time equivalents (FTE) at most.
• In your application, you can apply for either measure 1 or measure 2.
• The measures can be applied for only for new innovation projects from the beginning of January 2021. The measures do not apply retroactively to projects that are ongoing or were submitted in 2020.

Measure 1: Stimulating new innovation projects

With this measure, Innosuisse wants to stimulate innovation activities by reducing the contribution of the implementation partner from 50% to 30%, thereby encouraging research and implementation partners to launch innovation projects. The implementation partner must show that the economic consequences of the pandemic is affecting his business (e.g. turnover, profit, cash flow) and that this measure is necessary to start a project.

Funding criteria and conditions
The same conditions as for standard innovation projects apply, except for the following ones:

• Eligible implementation partners have 500 employees (FTE) at most.
• The implementation partners’ own contributions can be limited to a minimum of 30% of the total budget (instead of 50%).
• The cash contribution of the implementation partner can be waived.

Measure 2: Supporting structural change, disruptive or radical innovation

This measure aims to support innovation projects that address structural change, induced or accelerated by the pandemic, or which have the potential for disruptive or radical innovation. Additionally, these innovation projects must require specific know-how that the research and implementation partners do not have. Innosuisse can fund this work, which is provided by a third party. The contribution of the implementation partners can be lowered to a minimum of 20% and the third party’s services will be compensated by Innosuisse and paid through the research partner.

Funding criteria and conditions
The same conditions as for standard innovation projects apply, except for the following ones:

• Eligible projects are contributing to manage structural change, in particular by developing new business models or implementing radical or disruptive innovations.
• Eligible implementation partners have 500 employees (FTE) at most.
• The participation in the project of a specialised consulting or engineering service provider is mandatory, its participation in the project can be of maximum 30% of the total budget.
• The implementation partner’s own contribution can be limited to a minimum of 20% of the total budget (instead of 50%).
• The cash contribution of the implementation partner can be waived.

Submission

You can submit innovation projects utilising the measure 1 or 2 of the impulse programme from the beginning of January 2021 on the Innosuisse submission platform

Funding budget

Innosuisse has a total of CHF 226 million at its disposal for innovation projects within the framework of the impulse programme.

Innosuisse organises a webinar on the impulse programme on 16 December 2020: register now

More Information:

• Source: Impulse programme Innovation Strength Switzerland
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Innosuisse Analytics Tool

EPFL contact: [email protected]