Innovation mentoring

Benefit from the support of one of our mentors to evaluate the potential of your idea and assess whether it can be transformed into a national or international innovation project. Mentoring is free of charge. There are two types of vouchers that give you access to advice from a mentor to help you develop your project.

This support offer is aimed at:

all Swiss organisations with fewer than 250 full-time equivalents, in particular SMEs, start-ups, public authorities or non-profit organisations.

Discover the offer

You represent an SME or any other organisation with fewer than 250 full-time equivalents, and you wish to launch an innovative product, process or service. To bring this innovation to fruition, you would like to work with a research partner and are looking for someone to help you develop your application and get your project off the ground. Our mentors are there to support you in this process.

Mentors are not involved in the process of evaluating innovation project applications, it is therefore not required to present your idea in the form of a pitch or turn it into a commercial presentation. This support offer will help you find the right project partners and source the support you need, or understand why taking a different approach may be more conducive to your goal.

Application for support from a mentor

The mentoring process consists of two steps:

• Step 1: Initial assessment

  Worth up to CHF 1,000 (maximum 5 hours of work), the Initial assessment voucher enables you to determine whether your innovative idea has the potential to be implemented as an innovation project. The voucher is valid for 2 months from the date of submission - it cannot be put on hold or extended. Your mentor will explain the process of putting together your application or show you other suitable support offers.

  If you would like to receive a voucher, log on to our application platform and start an application for a mentoring voucher.

• Step 2: Project initiation or revision

  Worth up to CHF 6,000 (maximum 30 hours of work), the Project initiation or revision voucher enables you to develop your idea so you can submit an application for an Innovation project. Your mentor will explain how to structure your application or to help you rework your application if you wish to resubmit.

  If you would like to receive a voucher, log on to our application platform and start an application for a mentoring voucher.

• Conditions for receiving a voucher

  • Your SME or organisation is based in Switzerland.
  • Your SME or organisation has fewer than 250 full-time equivalents at the time you submit your mentoring application.
  • Your SME or organisation is not part of a larger organisation (e.g. group of companies) which has more than 250 full-time equivalents.
  • Your SME or organisation is seeking the support of an Innosuisse mentor for the first time as part of this project.
  • Your SME or organisation is not being advised by somebody else for this project at the same time as the Innosuisse mentoring offer (for example, by another regional or cantonal body).

Innosuisse mentors

The mentors all have professional experience in different business areas. They have worked for several years in leading positions in research and development or product management, or have extensive experience of implementing product, service and process development strategies.

Take a look at their profiles in the table below and choose the mentor that suits your needs on the application platform.

Further Information

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