Impulse programme Swiss Innovation Power

This impulse programme was completed at the end of 2022.

The objective of the impulse programme Swiss Innovation Power was to stimulate the innovation activities, to maintain the innovative strength and secure the long-term competitiveness of small to medium-sized companies in Switzerland in view of the current Covid-19 pandemic. Within the scope of this impulse programme, the contributions of the implementation partners could be reduced in comparison to the standard innovation projects. Applicants could chose either measure 1 or measure 2 for new projects submitted in 2021 and 2022. The Federal Council decided to launch this impulse programme through Innosuisse on 11 November 2020.

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 or another commercial 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 since 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

Objective
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. For the waiver of the cash contribution, the implementation partner must show that the economic consequences of the pandemic is affecting his business (e.g. turnover, profit, cash flow) and that the waiver of the cash contribution is necessary to start the 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 in justified cases.

Measure 2: Supporting structural change, disruptive or radical innovation

Objective
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 in justified cases.
  

Fact sheet, FAQ and webinar

You will find more details in the fact sheet (PDF, 369 kB, 11.01.2021). In the FAQ document (PDF, 135 kB, 15.01.2021), the most important questions about the new impulse programme are answered.

A webinar on the Impulse programme took place on 16 December. Watch the video in the replay (password: Inno4Suisse) and take a look at the presentation (PDF, 1 MB, 13.01.2021).