Ongoing Flagships
In 2021, Innosuisse launched the Flagship Initiative. Through this funding initiative, the Swiss Innovation Agency aims to boost systemic and transdisciplinary innovations that are central to the economic and societal challenges in Switzerland.
Discover more about the ongoing Flagship projects:
Topic call for projects 2024:
- Artificial intelligence in life sciences with a focus on human health
In Switzerland, type-2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most prominent non-communicable diseases. It causes serious health issues and substantial healthcare costs. Preventing T2D will reduce the health and economic burdens on the Swiss healthcare system and population. The flagship Swiss Precision Digital Therapeutics for the Prevention of Type-2 Diabetes aims to tackle three systemic challenges: (1) limited long-term engagement with lifestyle interventions, reducing the impact of preventive care; (2) the absence of sustainable business models for T2D prevention among healthcare, health insurance and technology providers; (3) insufficient leveraging of each individual’s health and lifestyle data to enable AI-driven diabetes detection and personalised, preventive interventions.
To solve these challenges and induce a systemic change in T2D prevention, EMPA set up a multidisciplinary consortium with partners in digital health interventions, wearable body monitoring, health insurance, dietary support, food retail and food processing. The consortium also includes hospitals, a Swiss Innovation Park and a cantonal government. These innovations can significantly reduce the health and economic burden of T2D in Switzerland and lower the socioeconomic inequalities in health.Host: Empa
Academic partners: ETHZ, UNISG, UZH, BFH, OST, UNIBE
Involved implementation partners: 12The flagship ORION is developing a smart, AI-powered “microfactory” designed to create personalised cancer treatments. Using tumour-specific inputs, such as patient data and tissue, the ORION microfactory will autonomously produce tumour models by continuously adjusting their cellular composition and microenvironment to closely mirror well-characterised tumour samples from patients.
Model optimisation will be driven by a combination of closed-loop feedback from integrated sensors and discrete measurements, such as sequencing. The most accurate models will be validated using past treatment data, then expanded and tested against selected therapeutic agents. To ensure safety, ORION will assess potential toxic effects on organ models including liver, lung, and kidney.
ORION will support drug discovery and help identify effective therapies for clinical trials. In the long term, it could guide personalised treatments in clinical settings and enable the creation of digital tumour twins to simulate treatment responses. This project has the potential to revolutionise cancer research and treatment by making precision medicine more adaptive, scalable and data driven.Host: HE-Arc
Academic partners: ETHZ, UNIBE, FHNW, CSEM, SIPB
Involved implementation partners: 18The National AI Initiative for Precision Oncology (NAIPO) aims to transform cancer care in Switzerland with help of artificial intelligence. Bringing together a large transdisciplinary team of leading Swiss institutions from academia, healthcare and industry, the project will develop a secure, federated infrastructure that ensures the protection of sensitive patient data while enabling AI-driven research and discoveries. By integrating advanced AI models into every stage of the patient journey – from diagnosis to treatment – NAIPO enables more personalised, equitable and effective care. The initiative explores cutting-edge technologies, including AI foundation models, AI agents and privacy-preserving algorithms, and applies them in real-world clinical settings. With strong engagement from hospitals and industry, NAIPO will accelerate innovation, improve patient outcomes and help establish Switzerland as a global leader in medical AI.
Host: EPFL
Academic partners: ETHZ, UNIBAS, UNIGE, UZH, BFH, FHNW, UNIBE
Involved implementation partners: 21The cautious projections of a double-to-triple increase of dementia cases in Switzerland by 2050 amount to an estimated CHF 25.4 billion p.a. in healthcare costs. Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates that 45% of dementia risk is linked to modifiable lifestyle factors. This calls for efficient and cost-saving preventive strategies.
The Swiss BrAIn Health Flagship will develop an augmented intelligence system for personalised dementia risk reduction, targeting individuals with subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) – early indicators in the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. This system complements human expertise with AI capabilities, integrating clinical evaluation with continuous lifestyle assessment via digital wearables.
Building on the integration of brain health trajectories derived from Swiss longitudinal epidemiological data with clinical expertise, the system generates individually tailored dementia risk profiles identifying modifiable factors (e.g. cardio-vascular risk, physical inactivity, depression). Digital therapeutic interventions support patient adherence while enabling continuous, out-of-hospital monitoring and coaching.Host: University of Bern
Academic partners: ETHZ, EPFL, CHUV, HSLU, HEG-VS, Insel Gruppe AG
Involved implementation partners: 14
Topic call for projects 2023:
- Disruptive solutions for the transition towards a net zero world
The aim of the Circulus project is to transform the Swiss machinery, electrical engineering and metals (MEM) industry across companies into a circular system in which every waste product becomes an input for the next life cycle. This means that no material extracted from nature is lost after the product’s utilisation phase; instead, everything is reused for either the same purpose or a different one. Care is taken to ensure that the products and their components become circular in line with economic and environmental sustainability goals. Ultimately, the aim is to support the entire MEM industry in its transformation into a net zero industry. This is for the benefit of our planet, our people and the long-term sustainability of our companies.
Host: ZHAW
Academic partners: FHGR, SIPB
Involved implementation partners: 5In a context marked both by the need to save available land and by the urgency of the ecological transition, the SwissRenov project is pursuing two complementary objectives: to devise a method for developing brownfield sites that respects the principles of the circular economy in terms of construction, and to economically develop all the brownfield sites in the canton of Jura.
The first objective is based on a partnership with the owners of three major brownfield sites in the Jura. The second objective is to draw up an inventory of brownfield sites, identify the obstacles to their economic development, understand what is needed in terms of real estate and land resources, and then design interfaces to facilitate the matching of supply and demand for space.Host: HE-Arc
Academic partners: HEIG-VD, HEIA-FR, HEPIA-GE, UNINE, FHNW, UNIBAS, BFH
Involved implementation partners: 22Energy storage is critical to transitioning to 100% electricity production from renewables. Energy storage use cases are diverse and depend on the operators, who will invest in them according to their needs and business models. Although energy storage might develop spontaneously, there is no guarantee that spontaneous development will be functional to achieve 100% renewable production. For example, batteries alone might not provide sufficient storage capacity to offset seasonal renewable variations, power-to-gas might not offer enough ramping for fast grid balancing, and poorly located energy storage might not support photovoltaic integration in distribution grids. STORE reviews the mainstream energy storage use cases and provides operators with the tools to plan and operate storage resources. In its systemic approach spirit, STORE explores how these use cases will contribute to an energy storage infrastructure to achieve 100% renewable production and supply security in Switzerland.
Host: HEIS-VS
Academic partners: EPFL,
ETHZ, BFH
Involved implementation partners: 13The Innosuisse Flagship project ‘Regenerative Construction «Think Earth»’ is expanding traditional building techniques and experience with wood and earth-based materials in a resource-saving and circular way. The project is presented in three major stages, incorporating ten dependent sub-projects working across a broad range of scales: from material science and processes to full-scale structural engineering prototypes and architectural case studies and standards.
The combination of wood and earth as complementary building materials (1+1=3), in conjunction with efficient and scalable construction methods, promises to make a significant contribution to climate-neutral and living., regenerative building.Host: ETH Zürich
Academic partners: HSLU, OST, BFH, Empa
Involved implementation partners: 51The GreenHub project aims to demonstrate how Switzerland’s energy self-sufficiency can be increased. This is to be achieved through the intelligent use of synergies between different technologies, such as the conversion of locally generated heat, CO2 and electricity into chemically storable energy sources. The objective is to close the winter electricity gap of 9 TWh and thus maintain a robust year-round energy supply for Switzerland. This is being demonstrated at regional level through the establishment of a Green Energy Hub.
The Horgen waste incineration plant serves as a real laboratory and is substantially involved in the project as an implementation partner. A significant part of the research results from the four-year project will be tested in Horgen using prototypes in real operation and examined for their scalability for other waste recycling and industrial plants. During the duration of the project, guided tours will also be offered on site to give interested members of the public an insight into the research results and the potential of Green Energy Hubs for a sustainable energy supply.Host: OST
Academic partners: HEIG-VD, SUPSI, ZHAW, EPFL, HSLU, UNIBE
Involved implementation partners: 9The substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energies requires a massive expansion of seasonal energy storage. Seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) can make an important contribution here. So far, its potential has been overlooked, although it could make a significant contribution to reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports, maximizing the integration of renewable energies and waste heat, reducing peak demand and closing the electricity gap in winter. The SwissSTES flagship project addresses this by holistically exploring STES opportunities such as cavities, aquifers and underground reservoirs. It offers new technologies and an action and implementation plan for Switzerland and brings together stakeholders to establish STES as a sustainable and scalable concept. IN collaboration with industry, it develops new products, business ecosystems, legal framework and sociopolitical measures. Regional case studies pave the way for nationwide pilot and demonstration projects.
Host: ZHAW
Academic partners: OST, HSLU, UNIBE, UNIGE, UNISG
Involved implementation partners: 26SWIRCULAR is conducted by a consortium of Swiss research institutions and industry partners, united by a common goal: to reshape the Swiss construction industry through the adoption of circular practices. The consortium represents a wide range of expertise and covers all life cycle phases, ensuring that circular construction innovations are effectively developed for successful implementation.
The structure of the project is a response to the pressing need for a coordinated and standardized transition towards a circular economy in the construction sector, tailored specifically to the Swiss context. SWIRCULAR operates as eight interconnected subprojects, redefining traditional disciplinary boundaries. It bridges diverse fields across the construction value chain, including engineering, law, architecture, and manufacturing, with the aim to fundamentally rethink current practices and introduce new circular approaches on a large scale. This framework enhances collaboration, interoperability, and overall efficiency as key factors for systemic change.
SWIRCULAR is an effective solution proposed to address high risks, costs, fragmentation among stakeholders, and project complexities that are curr10ently hindering the transition.Host: ETH Zürich
Academic partners: ZHAW, BFH, Empa
Involved implementation partners: 24Plastic revolution made in Switzerland! The flagship project "Towards a NetZero Plastics Industry" mobilizes leading research institutions and industry partners to radically reduce CO2 emissions and establish an efficient circular economy for plastics. To achieve this goal, the research focuses on improving materials and processes, increasing the reuse and recycling of plastics, and promoting cooperation among various value chain actors. The initiative makes a significant contribution to the advancement of the Swiss industry and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations, especially in areas of responsible production and consumption (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13). "Towards a NetZero Plastics Industry" demonstrates Switzerland's commitment to a sustainable future and sets new benchmarks for the global plastics industry.
Topics call for projects 2021:
- Coping with COVID-19 induced acceleration of digital transformation
- Improving resilience and sustainability and reducing vulnerability of society, infrastructure and processes
Hands-on training on patients is no longer compatible with today’s requirements and technical possibilities. Most training of this kind had to be discontinued during the pandemic, leading to an almost complete interruption of surgical education. In this Flagship, novel surgical training curricula are defined and innovative training components ranging from online simulation, augmented box trainers and high-end simulators, to augmented reality-enabled open surgery and immersive remote operation room participation, will be developed in order to set new standards both in Switzerland and abroad.
Host: KSSG
Academic partners: CHUV, UZH/Balgrist University, Hospital, ETHZ, ZHAW
Involved implementation partners: 4Decarbonisation of cities and regions is one challenge that needs to be addressed in order to achieve the Net Zero Target by 2050. In an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary setting, the Flagship DeCIRRA addresses the following questions: How might we decarbonise cities and regions? How might we make best use of local resources and existing infrastructure? What role can energy distributors and renewable gases play in the transition towards an energy system without net emissions of CO2?
DeCIRRA is a platform bringing together practitioners from many sectors and will focus on critical aspects of sector coupling and relevant options of the production of renewables gases, including Power-to-Gas. Different Carbon Capture and Storage and biological negative emission options will be compared, as they are necessary for achieving the Net Zero Target.Host: PSI
Academic partners: HSLU,
HES-SO/HEIG-VD, OST, UNILU, ZHAW, ETHZ
Involved implementation partners: 29Communication is an essential requirement for social participation. Digital transformation and the pandemic have increased the digital divide with respect to access to information and communication for persons with disabilities. The aim of this Flagship is to develop ICT that provide access services for these target groups. The Flagship radically changes the production workflows: a human-assisted machine scenario is followed for processes that have hitherto been human-based, and semi-automatic processes are fully automated. It targets text simplification, sign language translation, sign language assessment, audio description and spoken subtitles.
Host: UZH
Academic partners: ICARE, IDIAP, HfH, ZHAW
Involved implementation partners: 6Buildings are a major source of Switzerland’s CO2 emissions. The existing stock will represent the overwhelming part of the sectorial energy demand for several decades to come. The challenges presented by large-scale and efficient retrofits are numerous, interrelated and transdisciplinary. The RENOWAVE Flagship addresses building retrofit in a process of co-construction between researchers from various fields and implementation partners representing the various stakeholders involved in the complex process chain of renovation.
Host: OST
Academic partners: Empa, HES-SO Genève, HES-SO Fribourg, HSLU, UNIGE, UZH, ZHAW
Involved implementation partners: 46Tourism is a global phenomenon: the pandemic hit the sector very hard in Switzerland. The pandemic accelerated the inevitable digital transformation that the sector would have to face in order to optimise local supply offerings and international demand allocation. This Flagship has been designed to proactively respond to the challenges of digital transformation by empowering the travel sector in general with reliable data, new business models, processes and experience as well as tools for designing resilient tourism systems, while fostering the cross-fertilisation of communities of practice.
Host: Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne
Academic partners: HES-SO Valais-Wallis, HSG, HSLU, FHGR, ICARE
Involved implementation partners: 31The pandemic has revealed more than just the need for digital transformation in the health sector in Switzerland. A multitude of technological solutions is coming up against inconsistent data silos, lack of responsibility and inefficient organisations. Using hospitals as an example, this Flagship demonstrates how digital transformation can be implemented with industry partners based on a novel technology, data and knowledge platform. The Flagship aims to use this platform to create a blueprint for the digitalisation of healthcare as a whole.
Host: ZHAW
Academic partners: University Hospital Basel, FHNW, UZH, UNIBAS
Involved implementation partners: 24Cities suffer from too much traffic, leading to air and noise pollution. The increased popularity of e-commerce is intensifying these challenges. The Flagship aims to develop a future urban logistics concept that is sustainable, resilient and city-friendly. It also reduces the need for freight traffic in cities, focusing on deliveries and returns for parcels and other goods while increasing the quality of life for city residents. The Flagship introduces a “co-opetitive” approach, in which competitors naturally cooperate in a smart urban multihub and deliver with a white-label approach. This increases logistics efficiency through the bundling of activities, while reducing costs, vehicle kilometres and CO2 emissions.
Host: ZHAW
Academic partners: HSG, HES-SO
Involved implementation partners: 24This Flagship addresses the feasibility and the enhancement of a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries. Numerous innovations and transdisciplinary collaborations in the different life stages of the batteries need to be developed and implemented to close such a loop. This includes the extension of use in first life applications with better battery life prediction models and removing the barriers to second life usage of EV batteries. The Flagship also addresses the improvement of economic and technical performance of battery recycling, remanufacturing technologies and upcycling, and assesses the viability of recycled materials in the battery cell production process and the sustainability of this process.
Host: BFH
Academic partners: CSEM, Empa, EPFL, OST, SIPBB, HSG
Involved implementation partners: 24While automation continues and skills gaps are growing, value creation in vocational education is increasingly happening outside Switzerland. The Flagship’s vision is therefore a circular economy for skills and competencies. The initiative will enable individuals to obtain fair access to upskilling and reskilling courses and to develop future-proof competence portfolios, give companies a platform to identify and close skills gaps, and provide education providers with sustainable training design concepts and a new course creation access.
Host: HSG
Academic partners: EPFL, ZHAW, SFUVET, UZH
Involved implementation partners: 3The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed not only the vulnerability of society to infections, but also its capacity to respond. The SwissPandemic AMR-Health Economy Awareness Detect Flagship will leverage lessons learned to address the steadily worsening, silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with potentially 10 million deaths per year globally by 2050. The Flagship will assess and use machine learning and artificial intelligence for risk analysis and stratification, together with optimised, timely diagnostics and reporting, as well as increased, direct citizen involvement to improve cost-effective responses to AMR in a wide range of clinical settings. Optimal practices will result in greater systemic resilience to emerging infections.
Host: UNIBAS
Academic partners: UKBB, SUPSI, CHUV, HUG
Involved implementation partners: 4Cities are home to most of the world’s population and major contributors of pollution-related issues to the climate crisis. The Blue City Project is a transdisciplinary consortium aiming to map a city’s multi-layered, interconnected flows and design a responsive, urban “Digital Twin”. Integrating artificial intelligence with data-rich representations, this open platform will assist citizens with evidence-based, collective decisions to improve urban wellbeing, sustainability, resilience, and ecological value. Such a platform could revolutionise industry along the value chains of real estate, design and city management.
Host: EPFL
Academic partners: SUPSI, ETHZ, HES-SO Valais-Wallis
Involved implementation partners: 9Addressing the challenges arising from the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders in an ageing society, the Flagship SWISSNEUROREHAB will develop and validate an effective and efficient model for neurorehabilitation along the continuum of care. This model will specify the clinical, operational and economic needs for the treatment of sensorimotor and cognitive deficits after stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Therapeutic programmes, leveraged by digital therapies, will be validated and incorporated into the clinical routine by Swiss centres of excellence. An intercantonal economic model will validate the reimbursement of the new model within the Swiss healthcare system and estimate the return on investment for healthcare providers and medtech companies.
Host: CHUV
Academic partners: Inselspital, HUG, UZH, EPFL, ETHZ, UNIBE, HES-SO, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, UNIGE, UNIL, HEIG-VD
Involved implementation partners: 13The WISER Flagship proposes a systemic innovation for Switzerland: to become a world leader in environmental accounting. Building on transparency and accountability, as well as Swiss strengths in research excellence, a digital ecosystem will be created in which public and private stakeholders can contribute and share knowledge about greenhouse gases. By making different data sources and frameworks comparable, understandable and verifiable, the Flagship lays the foundations for organisations to take targeted measures to improve their decarbonisation efforts. It provides assessment frameworks and tailored visualisation tools, making it easier to analyse the carbon footprints of supply chains.
Host: Empa
Academic partners: HSG, ZHAW, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, PSI
Involved implementation partners: 10