The document presents an overview of Swisscore, a Swiss information and liaison office in Brussels focusing on European research, innovation, and education. It highlights the Swiss research and innovation landscape, including competitive funding mechanisms and paths to market entry for innovations, emphasizing a bottom-up approach and collaboration between public and private sectors. Additionally, it outlines the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) funding model, which supports SMEs and applied research projects.

1. www.swisscore.org
Rue du Trône 98, B-1050 Bruxelles
Tel +32-2-549 09 80
Fax +32-2-549 09 89
infodesk@swisscore.org
Cooperationofresearchersand SME in Europe
A Swiss example
Prague, 17 June 2013
Maria Youssefzadeh, European Advisor for Innovation

2. www.swisscore.org
Rue du Trône 98, B-1050 Bruxelles
Tel +32-2-549 09 80
Fax +32-2-549 09 89
infodesk@swisscore.org

3. overview presentation
Part I: SwissCore
Part II: Swiss research and innovation landscape
Part III: CTI innovation funding

4. Part I: SwissCore

5. SwissCore
Contact Office for European Research, Innovation and Education
• is the Swiss information and liaison office for European
research (1995), innovation (2006) and education (2011) in
Brussels
• bridges between Swiss and European knowledge institutions
• supports Swiss participation in European knowledge
programmes
• is a branch of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
and co-funded by the State Secretariat for Education,
Research and Innovation (SERI)

6. Part II:
Swiss research and innovation

7. Swiss regions and cantons

8. international position

9. Swiss higher education landscape

10. Swiss private business innovationlandscape

11. from basic research to market entry

12. particularities of Swiss innovation funding
• Competitive funding mechanisms: main selection criteria
are excellence and quality of the proposals
• Bottom-up approach prevails: project content defined by
project partners (no predefined priority area by the state)
• Direct funding mechanisms for firms are mostly non-
existent: support focuses on facilitation of cooperation
between public and private sector
• Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI),
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), cantons,
and ministry offices are the main sources for public R&D&I
funding.

13. Part III: CTI innovation project funding

14. • “Bottom-up”: no topical funding
• No funding to industry
(only via research partner)
• 50% industry contribution
• All CTI experts are part time;
must have other jobs
Transfer Support
Project Funding
Start-up Coaching
Market
Applied
Research
Product
Development
Basic
Research
+ Leaves structural flexibility to
industry
− Leaves choice of topics to
industry
− Surrounding states work
differently
CTI instruments

15. CTI focus on innovative companies

16. Corporate
27%
SME
73%
Projects in 2012: 454
FIT-Domain
133
Universities
69
Other
11
UAS
229
CSEM
12
Research PartnersIndustry Partners
focus on applied research with SME

17. CTI funding model
pays
< 50%
pays
10%
CTI Research Partner
Industry Partner
CTI-Project
own effort
> 50%
Typical project
18 months
Total: 800’000.-
CTI: 350’000.-
Main Criterion: Innovation
potential
= scientific value x economic
impact

18. CTI start-up support

19. Networks to connect
researchers and industry
Innovation Mentors
to coach the SMEs
5%
Carbon
Composite
Inartis
Innovative
Surfaces
Logistics
Swiss
Biotech
Swiss Food
Swiss Wood
Swiss-
photonics
CTI networks and mentoring

20. www.swisscore.org
Rue du Trône 98, B-1050 Bruxelles
Tel +32-2-549 09 80
Fax +32-2-549 09 89
infodesk@swisscore.org
Thank you for your attention!
Maria Youssefzadeh
youssefzadeh@swisscore.org