Switzerland Innovation launches its first call for projects
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The current pandemic is also having a severe impact on Switzerland as a business location. That is why it is particularly important to invest in innovation now. With this in mind, “Switzerland Innovation” Foundation is launching its first major call for proposals together with renowned partners from the Swiss economy. Funding will be provided for innovation projects that address the most pressing problems of our time.
Health, climate protection or sustainable growth – these and other fundamental economic, environmental, and societal topics of the UN Agenda 2030 are the starting point for the first call for proposals of “Switzerland Innovation”. “Innovation is the cornerstone of our country's economic success and prosperity,” says Ruedi Noser, President of the Foundation Board of “Switzerland Innovation”. “Especially now, in times of Corona, one must think long-term and invest in promis-ing innovation projects”.
From project to realization – new initiative makes it possible
The “Switzerland Innovation Tech4Impact” Initiative aims to help pioneering innovation projects achieve a breakthrough by addressing one of the six highlighted UN Sustainable Development Goals. In order to qualify for a grant, the proposed project must be based on an advanced tech-nology that will reach maturity and application within the next three years.
The “SI Tech4Impact” initiative will award 5 to 7 selected projects with a one-year project grant of up to CHF 100,000 each. The grants are financed by the following innovation partners: ABB, Credit Suisse, Die Mobiliar, Economiesuisse, Interpharma, Schindler, Swiss Re Foundation, Swisscom, UBS and Zurich Insurance. The operational implementation is carried out in cooper-ation with the Tech4Impact Initiative of the EPFL.
Project teams from all areas are addressed
The program is open to project teams from Swiss universities, research institutions or universities of applied sciences, but also to start-ups or SMEs with an innovation project in collaboration with a research partner. One of the conditions is that the projects must have a location or a strong relationship with one of the five parks of “Switzerland Innovation”.
The first call for proposals of “SI Tech4Impact” starts on 18 May and ends on 31 July 2020. More information is available at: https://sitech4impact.ch/
About Switzerland Innovation
Switzerland Innovation is a network of five innovation parks across Switzerland based on a joint initiative of public institutions, academia, and the private sector with a statutory mandate from the Swiss government. Switzerland Innovation forms an ecosystem that allows universities and innovative companies to collaborate and use their knowledge and research results for the devel-opment of new marketable products and services.