Strong Swiss franc: special CTI measures for SMEs

According to the conditions for regular CTI funding for R&D projects, businesses have to bear at least 50 per cent of the total project costs, of which 10 per cent of the value of the approved federal grant is to be put forward in cash towards work conducted by the research partner. Due to falling export margins this requirement acts as a disincentive to businesses otherwise keen to innovate.

To provide some relief to the export industry, the CTI will waive the requirement for a cash contribution for funding applications submitted and approved between August and November. Those businesses specifically benefitting from the measure are SMEs strongly dependent on exports, either directly or indirectly as a supplier to exporting businesses. During the specified period, the CTI will assume the research partners' full salary and material costs at the regular rates. As such the conditions for the research partners will be the same as for regular funding. In exchange the firms are expected to increase their participation in the project.

Those businesses benefitting from the dispensation of the cash contribution are SMEs with up to 249 employees and an export share of at least 50 per cent. Funding applications can be submitted to the CTI as usual during the specified period. Applications will be assessed according to the usual quality criteria (research and innovation content and market potential), and to see if they qualify for dispensation from the cash contribution requirement.

At the end of September, Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann will review the effectiveness of the measure and decide how to proceed.

Information on the special measures will be published on the CTI website (www.kti.admin.ch) from 21 July.