Promoting research and innovation

Switzerland is a global leader in research and innovation. Both the federal government and the private sector play a key role in maintaining this leading position through substantial funding and close cooperation. Public promotion for research is based on personal initiative, healthy competition and a commitment to excellence.

Switzerland’s promotion policy

Support for scientific research and innovation is a key concern of the federal government, enshrined in Article 64 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. It is further specified in the Federal Research and Innovation Promotion Act (RIPA). Fundamental research in Switzerland is mainly carried out at Switzerland's two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ and EPFL) and at universities. Applied research, development and the transformation of research findings into marketable product innovations are mainly the preserve of the private sector and universities of applied sciences.

Role of the Confederation and the private sector

Switzerland spends over 3% of its GDP on research and development (R&D). The private sector accounts for over two-thirds of this expenditure. The state and the private sector share responsibility for research and innovation. This division of responsibilities is based on two fundamental principles that guide Swiss policy: subsidiarity and a free market economy. The state takes action in areas assigned to it by the Swiss Federal Constitution.

State support

State institutions at all political levels work to ensure that general conditions are conducive to top-quality research and innovation. They maintain high standards in education and research, provide public infrastructure and create a stable policy environment. The federal government is responsible for promoting research and innovation through the Swiss National Science Foundation, Innosuisse and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. It also funds teaching and research within the ETH Domain and at over 30 national research institutes. For their part, cantonal governments invest in research and innovation by promoting the universities and universities of applied sciences on their territory.

Principles guiding promotion policy

The federal government is guided by liberal principles in its funding of research: grants are awarded on a competitive basis to researchers that take personal initiative. The quality of submitted applications is the decisive factor. Funding is generally awarded under the principle of subsidiarity, which means that the federal government supplements research and innovation funding from other sources such as cantonal governments, other public institutions, universities and private entities. International cooperation is another important cornerstone of this promotion policy.

International cooperation

Switzerland attaches great importance to international research cooperation. It plays an active role in international research organisations such as CERN and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is also involved in the European Research Area, for example as a member of several European research infrastructure networks established under the legal form of European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs). A further example is Swiss participation in EU research and innovation programmes. Finally, Switzerland has signed several bilateral cooperation agreements with selected countries and innovation metropoles.

Future-oriented promotion

The division of tasks between the various stakeholders is a key factor in Switzerland's international success in research and innovation. In order to ensure that this remains the case in future, funding instruments must be adapted to new circumstances, as needed.