The new funding offer: three questions about the start-up innovation projects

What are the start-up innovation projects about?

From 2023, science-based innovation projects by start-ups can be funded directly by Innosuisse. The aim is to support research and development projects with significant innovation potential. These projects must prepare for the start-ups’ first market entry.

The first applications can probably be submitted continuously from the end of the first quarter of 2023 (no calls), and the first projects are expected to start at the end of summer 2023. All information will be available on the Innosuisse website from 2023.

Who can Innosuisse support with this new funding offer and under what conditions?

With the new support offer, Innosuisse can support start-ups based in Switzerland with less than 50 full-time equivalents that were founded less than five years ago (up to 10 years in exceptional cases). The start-up’s market entry must have not taken place yet. Hence, the start-up must not yet offer any products (ready for series production) or services on the market. Start-ups that already have prototypes or testing facilities in operation at customers are also considered to be “before market entry”.

The start-ups receive funding for the implementation of science-based innovation projects with significant innovation potential. These are intended to significantly accelerate the market launch of new products and services.

In the case of these projects, only the start-up is supported. Innosuisse covers a maximum of 70 per cent of the direct project costs.

What is the difference between start-up innovation projects and Swiss Accelerator projects?

The Swiss Accelerator is a transitional measure for Horizon Europe. From 2023, the Swiss Accelerator will only be open to companies that are already established on the market. Start-ups before market entry can submit a start-up innovation project. Innosuisse is likely to issue calls for projects (one call per year) for the Swiss Accelerator until Switzerland is again associated with the European Union’s Framework Research Programme. The support offer of the start-up innovation projects will be continued regardless of a future association.