With the Swiss Accelerator, Innosuisse supports projects by Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups after they have entered the market. This competitive funding programme is aimed at individual start-ups and SMEs that are carrying out innovation projects with above-average innovation potential. The aim is to commercialise new and innovative products and services quickly and effectively, which in turn should accelerate the growth of Swiss companies already established on the market.
With the activation of the transitional arrangement as of 1 January 2025, Swiss companies can fully participate as beneficiaries in the EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe. No call for projects under the Swiss Accelerator is currently planned. Further information is available on the SERI website and in the FAQ section.
This opportunity is aimed exclusively at individual Swiss SMEs and start-ups (not consortia):
based in Switzerland (i.e. the company’s headquarters is in Switzerland) and registered in the Swiss registry of commerce;
already established on the market (i.e. already producing and selling a product or service according to the respective specifications);
employing less than 250 full-time equivalents
(for companies that are part of a group, the number of full-time equivalents across the entire group of companies is decisive);
with the ambition to commercialise the project results quickly and effectively and to scale accordingly.
NOTE: Start-ups that have not yet entered the market are not allowed to submit applications for Swiss Accelerator projects.
The Swiss Accelerator is a transitional measure for Horizon Europe.
1. Submit short application
Your SME or start-up is already established on the market and has a highly competitive R&D project in order to develop, commercialise and scale breakthrough innovations. You can apply for direct financial support for your innovation project from the Swiss Accelerator programme.
Applications to the Swiss Accelerator are made via a three-stage process:
You will be invited to submit a full application based on Innosuisse’s evaluation of your short application.
Based on the evaluation of your full application, you will be invited to present your application to Innosuisse. The Innovation Council then makes the final funding decision.
Your company submits an application for an individual project. Projects by consortia or university research groups are not supported. Your SME or start-up must satisfy the following requirements.
Your SME or start-up:
must be based in Switzerland (i.e. the company’s headquarters is in Switzerland) and registered in the Swiss registry of commerce;
is already established on the market (i.e. already producing and selling a product or service according to the respective specifications);
has less than 250 full-time equivalents at the time the application is submitted
(for companies that are part of a group, the number of full-time equivalents across the entire group of companies is decisive);
aims to commercialise the project results quickly and effectively and to scale accordingly;
NOTE: Start-ups that have not yet entered the market are not allowed to submit applications for Swiss Accelerator projects. They are welcome to apply for the start-up innovation projects funding offer.
Non-commercially active associations and foundations as well as public organisations are not considered SMEs or start-ups for the purposes of the Swiss Accelerator.
Your short application summarises all the key aspects of your innovation project that make it promising. In the application you are asked to:
describe your innovation and explain how it differs from previous and existing solutions;
present the development status of your innovation and the associated business;
provide a rough outline of the project applied for (in particular relating to duration, costs, team, activities, risks, etc.);
describe the target market and the competitors for your innovation;
summarise the business model;
outline the strategy for marketing and scaling the innovation;
demonstrate the impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;
describe the added value that your innovation generates for the Swiss economy and/or society;
explain the intellectual property requirements in relation to your innovation;
provide a rough breakdown of your company’s financial situation.
You can submit your application in English or in a national language.
Innosuisse supports projects with above-average innovation and disruption potential from SMEs and start-ups with the aim of quickly and effectively implementing the project results.
The funding is intended to make a substantial contribution to projects that require high-risk capital to take important development steps. The Swiss Accelerator is aimed only at SMEs and start-ups that are already established on the market.
The funding from Innosuisse is a maximum of 70 percent of the eligible project costs. The company bears 30 percent of the costs itself. Innosuisse funding amounts to a maximum of 2.5 million Swiss francs per application.
For detailed information (e.g. regarding eligible costs), please consult the legal basis:
Your short application will be evaluated by three experts based on the following criteria. These evaluation criteria are closely related to the EIC Accelerator Grant Funding and take the Innosuisse criteria for project funding into account. These criteria also apply to your full application in the second phase of the evaluation process.
Level of innovation: The innovation has a high degree of novelty compared to currently available solutions and has disruption potential.
Scalability: The innovation project exhibits the potential for a scalable product or service. The goal is to achieve rapid and effective implementation of the project results and scalability.
Maturity: The innovation is already close to market launch or application, i.e. it is based on a technology that has been sufficiently validated in a relevant environment in order to assess the potential and evaluate the risk.
Intellectual property: The company owns the necessary intellectual property rights and freedom to operate (FTO).
Value creation in Switzerland: There is potential for effective implementation of the project results and, in turn, increased value creation for the Swiss economy or society.
Project planning: There is a clear and realistic implementation plan with defined milestones, work packages, deliverables and resources.
Team: The team has the capacity and skills to implement and bring the innovation to market, or has or will have access to all critical skills.
Sustainability: The innovation project promotes sustainability or it provides for appropriate measures to counteract any harmful effects.
Financial capacity: At the time of submission, the company has the financial capacity to make the planned contribution (at least 30% of the total eligible costs).
Cost-benefit ratio: This is a high-risk, high-benefit project. Without the funding contribution from Swiss Accelerator, there is a risk that the company will miss the ideal moment.
First, the Innosuisse Secretariat formally evaluates your application. If your application meets the requirements, three independent experts will assess the content of your short application according to the criteria. Innosuisse invites applicants to submit a full application or rejects their short application based on these expert evaluations.
Innosuisse will inform you in writing:
If your short application has been positively evaluated by the experts and the Innovation Council, you will be invited to submit a full application.
If your short application does not meet the eligibility criteria or is rated less favourably by the experts compared to other applications, the Innovation Council will ultimately reject your short application. Innosuisse will inform you in writing about the rejection. The reasons for rejection will be explained in the decision. An appeal against the decision from Innosuisse can be lodged with the Federal Administrative Court within 30 days.
If concrete support in the preparation of the application is required, you can contact Euresearch.
2. Submit full application
You have been invited by Innosuisse to submit a full application based on your short application. After receiving the written confirmation, submit your full application according to Innosuisse’s instructions: Innosuisse will inform you of the final submission deadline in writing.
Your full application will go into the specifics of all necessary research and development activities within appropriate work packages, business development, intellectual property and financial planning for the project. You will also perform a comprehensive risk analysis and provide detailed information on your company’s financial situation.
If you have been invited by Innosuisse to submit a full application, you can do this on the online application portal.
NOTE: Only SMEs and start-ups that are invited by Innosuisse after their short application has been assessed may submit a full application.
Innosuisse will carry out a second formal review of your application. Based on the information submitted on your company’s financial situation, Innosuisse will arrange for a financial due diligence review performed by an external partner. After this, three independent experts will again assess the content of your full application. Innosuisse invites applicants to give a presentation of the application or rejects your complete application based on these expert evaluations.
Innosuisse will inform you of the decision in writing:
If your full application has been positively evaluated by the experts and the Innovation Council, you will be invited to give a presentation.
If your full application does not meet the criteria, or is rated less highly by the experts relative to other full applications, then the Innovation Council will ultimately reject your application. Innosuisse will then inform you in writing about the rejection. The reasons for rejection will be explained in the decision.
3. Hold the application presentation
Your SME or start-up company has been invited by Innosuisse to give an application presentation and you have received the written confirmation.
This is now the final stage of the three-step process: You present your project and the project team to a jury.
Innosuisse will send you an appointment for the presentation. The presentation lasts 15 minutes and – together with the ensuing 15-minute discussion – should aim to introduce both the project and the team in person. Innosuisse will inform you about further details in writing. The jury consists of experts and members of the Innovation Council.
4. Funding decision and project start
A final assessment is made, based on the presentation. The Innovation Council of Innosuisse will make a final decision on your application.
Innosuisse will inform you of the funding decision in writing:
If the Innovation Council approves your application, you will receive a contract from Innosuisse before the project starts.
If the Innovation Council rejects your application, Innosuisse will inform you of the rejection in writing. The reasons for rejection will be explained in the decision. An appeal against the decision from Innosuisse can be lodged with the Federal Administrative Court within 30 days.
You can start with your Swiss Accelerator project as soon as you have received and signed the contract from Innosuisse and sent it back to Innosuisse. The first payment from Innosuisse is 50 percent of the grant at the start of the project.
NOTE: Please inform Innosuisse of the specific date of the start of your Swiss Accelerator project by email to accelerator@innosuisse.ch.
All start-up companies that make an application presentation for the Swiss Accelerator programme are automatically eligible to participate in the Initial Coaching. These companies only need to submit a formal application for this. The condition is that a start-up wants to benefit from this coaching offer and that it is not already participating in the Innosuisse coaching programme. The coaching offer provides start-ups with additional help in business development.
5. Project reporting
You must report on your progress according to the contract during your Swiss Accelerator project. This reporting will provide Innosuisse with insights into the progress of the project. Important changes to your project must be requested.
After the launch of the project and the first corresponding payment, further instalments follow according to the contract.
The contract will specify the number and deadlines of reports for your project. The milestone report must be submitted no later than 10 days after reaching a milestone. The report covers the progress and implementation of the project, the current status of project costs and company finances.
After the evaluation of the report, a milestone review with experts (on-site or virtual) is taking place.
Report template
> Milestone report (available in due course)
To enter the material costs, please note the document eligible material costs:
You must report all important changes to your project to Innosuisse. This applies particularly to changes in the project plan or objectives, changes regarding key personnel or in the cost structure.
If you do not complete your Swiss Accelerator project within the anticipated timeframe according to the plan, you can apply for an extension ahead of time without budget increase.
You must send a final report on the content and a financial report to Innosuisse no later than one month after completion of your Swiss Accelerator project. You must complete and sign both forms. Please send all your reports by email to accelerator@innosuisse.ch.
> Final report (available in due course)
> Report about financial closure of project (available in due course)
To enter the material costs, please note the document eligible material costs:
You will receive the remaining 20 percent of the grant once Innosuisse has reviewed the final reports. At the end of the 30-day period for appeals, the amount is automatically transferred to the company’s account.
Learn about the young companies supported by Innosuisse within the framework of Swiss Accelerator innovation projects.
Initial Coaching
Initial Coaching grants you a voucher worth up to CHF 10 000 for coaching sessions with Innosuisse accredited coaches over a period of up to twelve months.
