Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency

Innosuisse helps SMEs to gain easy access to the expertise of research institutions. In doing so, it is particularly keen to support projects that boast exceptionally high innovation potential. The aim is to encourage SMEs to take calculated risks and approach challenges in new ways as well as to offer them new prospects by promoting innovative business models and forming international partnerships. Further improvements to the start-up eco systems are also in the pipeline. 

Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

The mission of the Federal Office for the Environment is to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources including soil, water, air, quietness and forests. It is responsible for the protection against natural hazards, safeguarding the environment and human health against excessive impacts, and conserving biodiversity and landscape quality. It is also responsible for international environmental policy.

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE is the country's competence centre for issues relating to energy supply and energy use at the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.The SFOE:

• Creates the prerequisites for a sufficient, crisis-proof, broad-based, economic and sustainable energy supply
• Ensures the maintenance of high safety standards in the production, transport and utilisation of energy
• Creates the necessary conditions for efficient electricity and gas markets and an adapted infrastructure
• Actively promotes efficient energy use, an increase in the share of renewable energy and a reduction in CO2 emissions
• Promotes and coordinates national energy research and supports the development of new markets for sustainable energy use and supply

Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF

Mandated by the federal government, the Swiss National Science Foundation supports basic science in all academic disciplines, from history to medicine and the engineering sciences. The SNSF is Switzerland’s foremost research funding organisation and supports approximately 8,500 researchers every year.

In close collaboration with higher education institutions and other partners, the SNSF strives to create optimal conditions for the development and international integration of Swiss research. It pays particular attention to the promotion of young researchers. In addition, it accepts evaluation mandates to ensure that large Swiss research initiatives funded by third parties deliver the highest scientific quality.

Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research – Supply of Electricity SCCER-SoE

The aim of SCCER-SoE is to carry out innovative and sustainable research in the areas of geo-energy and hydropower.

The SCCER-SoE researches, develops, and tests new technologies and optimizes existing infrastructures for energy production in the future. Working in close cooperation with the industry, the SCCER-SoE creates innovative research units, establishes technology platforms, invests in laboratories, and coordinates national as well as international research projects. These are financed by a number of different sources.

In 2017, the second phase of the SCCER-SoE started and will last until 2020. During this time, the SCCER-SoE expands its focus on seven pilot and demonstration projects, conducted with industry partners, to validate the technologies and proposed solutions.