Swiss Accelerator: 129 start-ups and SMEs in the second round

With the Swiss Accelerator, Innosuisse launched a competitive funding offer in April as a transitional measure for Horizon Europe, as Swiss start-ups and SMEs currently do not have access to the Accelerator Grants of the European Innovation Council (EIC).

The short applications were evaluated by three independent experts. The 129 selected companies can now submit a complete application which will address all necessary research and development activities, business development, and the applicant company’s financial situation in detail.

The 129 innovation projects in the second round are thematically structured as follows:

A total funding budget of CHF 86 million is available for this Swiss Accelerator call for projects 2022. As a third and final step, around 50 selected companies will give an application presentation. After that, the Innovation Council of Innosuisse will make a final decision on the funding.

The Swiss accelerator is a transitional measure for Horizon Europe. This measure is based on an emergency clause in the revised Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA). In this context, Innosuisse funds very innovative projects with direct contributions to Swiss start-ups and SMEs.

From 2023, the Swiss Accelerator will only be open to companies that are already established in the market. Before entering the market, start-up companies can submit a start-up innovation project – a new program to be launched next year which also allows Innosuisse to fund start-ups directly. Innosuisse is likely to issue calls for projects for the Swiss Accelerator until Switzerland is again associated with the European Union’s Framework Research Programme. As soon as Swiss SMEs and start-ups can apply again for the EU’s EIC grants, the Swiss Accelerator will be discontinued.

(Press release / SK)
Picture: Fotolia / sdecoret