Published on 26 March 2025

Innosuisse Trade Fair Support

The Innosuisse Trade Fair Support scheme offers you the opportunity to present your innovations at leading international trade fairs. Whether you’re trying to enter new markets, build relationships with potential customers or attract international attention, this is your opportunity to gain visibility and take advantage of new business opportunities.

This support offer is exclusively for start-up companies that are participating in Start-up Coaching or have obtained their Innosuisse Certificate within the last 36 months.

We have partnered with Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) to bring you this exclusive offer. As a leading organisation in the promotion of Swiss exports, S-GE boasts considerable expertise on the subject of internationalisation and an extensive global network, providing your start-up company with the support and connections needed to thrive at an international level.

Innosuisse Lead Fairs

Join the official Swiss delegation at the shortlisted Innosuisse Lead Fairs and connect with key players in the world of innovation through exclusive events, networking opportunities, and side events. By exhibiting at the SWISSTECH or SWISS pavilion, you gain visibility alongside other Swiss innovators at the most renowned international trade fairs. Here, are the Innosuisse Lead Fairs you can participate in:

• Consumer Electronics Show (CES): 6 to 9 January 2026, Las Vegas
• E-World: 10 to 12 February 2026, Essen
• Viva Technology: 17 to 20 June 2026, Paris
• BIO International: 22 to 25 June 2026, San Diego
• BIO Europe: 9 to 11 November 2026, Cologne
• Medica: 16 to 19 November 2026, Düsseldorf
• SLUSH: 18 to 19 November 2026, Helsinki

• How to participate

  To be eligible to participate in the Innosuisse Lead Fairs, you must meet the following criteria (Art. 35 of the Innosuisse Funding Ordinance):

  • Your application to participate in Start-up Coaching has been approved or you have obtained your Innosuisse Certificate within the last 36 months;
  • You want to discover suitable target markets to increase added value for Switzerland;
  • You have a solid internationalisation strategy and strong potential to conquer new markets and create value.

• Services provided

  You will be offered a number of services to support your participation in the Innosuisse Lead Fairs:

  • Logistical support for seamless preparation, participation and follow-up;
  • Personalised advice on trade fairs and targeted networking;
  • Promotion and visibility under the Swiss brand at the show;
  • Funding of up to 70% of expenses related to the trade fair (excluding travel and accommodation costs);
  • Personalised business support services.

• To apply

  Start-up companies participating in Start-up Coaching receive an invitation by e-mail from the Innosuisse Secretariat approximately six months before each Innosuisse Lead Fair. This invitation includes a form giving you the opportunity to apply to participate in this support offer and reserve your spot at a big international trade fair.

• Evaluation criteria

  Your application undergoes a thorough evaluation and is then compared with other applications. The following criteria are key for the evaluation (Art. 35 of the Innosuisse Funding Ordinance):

  • Potential to achieve the objectives set for the Innosuisse Trade Fair Support offer;
  • Degree of development of your start-up company in terms of achieving the objectives you aim at fulfilling by participating;
  • Suitability of the international trade fair to meet the objectives defined for the support offer.

Pick Your Fair

Are you planning to participate in an international trade fair that is not on the list of Innosuisse Lead Fairs? Our «Pick Your Fair» support offer is made for you. Innosuisse offers you the chance to participate individually in any international trade fair in order to present your start-up company. Support includes assistance with preparation and funding (to cover the direct costs of the fair).

• How to participate

  To be eligible to participate in the Pick Your Fair offer, you must meet the following criteria (Art. 35 of the Innosuisse Funding Ordinance):

  • Your application to participate in Start-up Coaching has been approved or you have obtained your Innosuisse Certificate within the last 36 months;
  • You want to discover target markets to increase added value in Switzerland;
  • You have a solid internationalisation strategy and strong potential to conquer new markets and create value.

• Requirements relating to trade fair selection

  • The selected international trade fair must take place abroad and bring the right target audience to the right market;
  • You must be physically present there as an exhibitor (stand, booth or space);
  • The cost of participation in the trade fair must be at least CHF 2,000.

• Cost coverage

  Innosuisse will cover the direct costs of participating in the trade fair, such as:

  • Booth space and construction;
  • Furniture, Internet, lighting, graphics, exhibitor tickets, cleaning and additional packages;

  Please note: the costs must be confirmed prior to the trade fair in order to be included in the application. Furthermore, the support granted cannot be increased after the funding decision has been made and any additional costs will not be covered.

  Which costs are not covered?

  All personal expenses relating to accommodation, travel costs and additional costs for PR, marketing materials (roll-up banners, flyers) or prototypes, etc.

  What are the costs to the applicants?

  A coordination fee of CHF 500 is required for each application approved. This fee is either deducted from the funding amount or charged separately.

• Submission deadlines

  We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible, taking into account the following deadlines:

• To apply

  Do you meet all the conditions? Submit your application using the application form. Once the application has been submitted, Innosuisse will start the evaluation process. Be sure to include details of your participation in the trade fair, the total costs and services included and the size of the exhibition space (preferably in square metres).

• Evaluation criteria

  Your application will be subject to a thorough evaluation and compared with other applications. The following criteria are key for the evaluation (Art. 35 of the Innosuisse Funding Ordinance):

  • Potential to achieve the objectives set for the Innosuisse Trade Fair Support offer;
  • Degree of development of your start-up company in terms of achieving the objectives you aim at fulfilling by participating;
  • Suitability of the international trade fair to achieve the objectives defined for the support offer.

  The essential points are summarised in the following checklist:

  • Checklist Innosuisse Trade Fair Support

    PDF254.53 kB24 March 2025

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