SME Impulse Program for Innovation Projects

At the beginning of 2021 Innosuisse launched two new funding initiatives. Annalise Eggimann, Director of Innosuisse, is pleased with the start: "The past year has already shown us that Swiss companies push ahead with their innovations, especially in times of crisis. I am pleased to see that this will to innovate is continuing this year." This is also urgently needed, affirms Eggimann, because the crisis in connection with the Covid 19 pandemic has massively accelerated the need for structural changes and, in particular, for the digitization of the economy.

Positive interim balance

After only six months, it is already clear that the impulse program is meeting with a great need among Swiss companies. With the program, the federal government wants to stimulate science-based innovation projects of SMEs with up to 500 full-time positions in a targeted manner in times of the Covid 19 pandemic. In the first half of 2021, he said, Innosuisse's Innovation Council approved 72 impulse innovation projects totaling 33.1 million Swiss francs. Demand has so far been particularly strong for the first special measure, which provides for a reduction in the SMEs' own contribution as implementation partners from 50% to 30%, as well as the possible waiver of the cash contribution, the Swiss Agency for Innovation Promotion writes. The spectrum of projects funded here is diverse, it says. For example, in the area of social sciences and business management, Innosuisse is supporting the development of a "Sharing Potential Accelerator," which uses analyses to identify individual items that are temporarily unused and then attempts to rent them out. The "VocalHUM" project in the ICT field is developing an intelligent system that improves communication between caregivers and bedridden patients by increasing their speech intelligibility in real time.

226 million francs reserved for impulse program

According to information, companies have so far shown less demand for the second measure. With this, Innosuisse aims to support innovation projects by SMEs that address pandemic-related structural change or that have the potential for disruptive or radical innovation. In addition, these innovation projects must require the specific knowledge of a specialized third-party provider, according to the statement.

The submission of innovation projects under the impulse program is still possible until the end of 2022. A total of 226 million has been reserved for funding under the Impulse Program.

78 pre-proposals submitted for flagship projects

Also the Flagship Initiative is meeting with great interest, as Innosuisse emphasizes. This program was launched in January 2021 to provide impetus for systemic innovation in view of the current economic and social challenges facing Switzerland. As part of the first call for proposals, 43 pre-proposals were submitted for the first thematic priority "Managing the acceleration of the digital transformation induced by Covid-19" and 35 for the second thematic priority "Improving resilience and sustainability and reducing the vulnerability of society, infrastructure and processes." He said that after an initial evaluation, the Innovation Council recommended 33 consortia to submit a full proposal by August 13, 2021. The final decision will be made at the beginning of October. After that, the first flagships could be launched.

Regular promotional business is on track

The regular funding business also continues at a very good level in the first half of 2021, according to Innosuisse. Current figures on national and international innovation projects, the start-up coaching program and the mentoring offer can be found in the figures sheet.

Click here for Innosuisse funding figures 1st half 2021.