Climate protection: Innovative SMEs receive funding
Never before have SMEs submitted so many good projects to the Swiss Climate Foundation as this fall. As a result, the foundation is currently able to award funding amounting to almost 2.2 million Swiss francs. Together with the support round last spring, this is one of the highest funding amounts in the foundation's ten-year history, according to the statement.
The Swiss Climate Foundation supports projects by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that contribute to climate protection. Since its establishment in 2008, the foundation has awarded grants totaling 20 million Swiss francs to over 1,400 SMEs in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. And SMEs continue to be innovative when it comes to climate protection: For example, it is not enough for dhp technology AG from Zizers to have developed an award-winning solar folding roof. The folding roofs still rest on steel girders, the production of which consumes a lot of gray energy. The Swiss Climate Foundation is now supporting the development of a CO2-neutral wooden structure. This structure is one of more than 20 innovation projects that SMEs submitted to the Swiss Climate Foundation this fall. The Foundation Board has examined the projects in detail and decided to provide financial support for 15 of them.
"We cannot afford inaction".
Other innovation projects supported by the foundation include a new process for coating surfaces that saves a third of the material required, and a new dehumidification technology that requires only half as much electricity. In addition, the Swiss Climate Foundation also supports three SMEs that save electricity or CO2 in their own operations. "I am always impressed by how much can be achieved for climate protection through innovative products developed in Switzerland and Liechtenstein," says Vincent Eckert, Managing Director of the Swiss Climate Foundation. "We cannot afford inactivity. This was also recently shown by ETH Zurich and MeteoSwiss climate scenarios for Switzerland. That is why I am particularly pleased that we are able to award so many grants in our tenth year."
Foundation from the economy for the economy
Two sides are to benefit from the foundation's support: On the one hand, climate protection, because measurably less CO2 is emitted and electricity is consumed. And on the other hand, the companies that can implement their innovative ideas and thus remain competitive.
The Swiss Climate Foundation is backed by 27 major service companies from Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. They donate money from their rebates of the CO2 tax to the joint foundation. The foundation pools the money and uses it for SME projects.
