European Research and Innovation - Support for SMEs/Companies
Research Services supports the cantonal innovation dynamics, promoting public research and innovation programmes, facilitating academia-enterprises collaborations, and providing focused support to SMEs (including start-ups) and industry, in particular on European funding and partnering opportunities as supported Euresearch (the Swiss guide to European research and innovation).
The ambitious EU framework programme for research & innovation, Horizon Europe (2021-2027), has the following overarching goals: 1) to strengthen the EU's scientific and technological bases and the European Research Area (ERA); 2) to boost Europe's innovation capacity, competitiveness and jobs; 3) to deliver on citizen's priorities and sustain our socio-economic model and values. With a budget of € 95.5 billion it’s the largest R&I programme worldwide.
A particular focus is currently set on the following priority policies: the European Green Deal, the digital/sustainability transition and the economic/social recovery from the coronavirus-crisis.
The European Commission considers SMEs as key to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the EU. Therefore, one of the new features of Horizon Europe is the European Innovation Council (EIC) which promotes breakthrough innovation with scale-up potential at the global level, focusing mainly on breakthrough, deeptech and disruptive innovation, targeting especially market-creating innovation. The 2022 work programme of the EIC opens funding opportunities worth over € 1.7 billion in 2022 and introduces multiple novelties and simplifications.
But SMEs and industries are also key partners in many other parts of Horizon Europe, most importantly in the collaborative projects (thematic clusters, European R&I partnerships, etc.).
Overviews on all opportunities for companies can be found here:
Horizon Europe for Companies (Euresearch)
Horizon Europe opportunities for companies (Research Services)
For more information and practical support please contact us
Open and upcoming calls for Horizon Europe:
- European Commission source – Funding and Tender portal
- European research and innovation « Euresearch” – Open and upcoming calls
Swiss companies can also benefit of the following free services:
- Euresearch - Swiss guide to European research and innovation
We recommend you to create an account at Euresearch, select the thematic of your interest and get regular e-alerts with updates on calls, webinars, networking, search for partners for a consortium, other programmes and opportunities and many others.
- Horizon Europe – Why should a company participate?
Watch our short video to see who should participate and why and how Euresearch can support you.
- Enterprise Europe Network
- European IPR Helpdesk
- Practical guide to doing business in Europe
- Centralised platform showcasing scientific and technological cooperation opportunities between Switzerland and the world
- Switzerland Global Enterprise
Cantonal and national organization supporting innovation and research
A great number of cantonal, regional and national organisations provide complementary advice and support throughout the challenging pathway from research to the market.
The missions and activities of key organizations are summarised in the brochure hereafter:
Brochure « Comment être soutenu pour mes projets de recherche et d’innovation »