Tackling global challenges requiring a multi-disciplinary solution
Switzerland is strengthening its approach to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges with innovation, and in its pursuits the Swiss government builds on Innosuisse. Initiatives by companies like Quantum Integrity (helping to detect fake photos and videos quickly with its software), ClearSpace (tackling failed satellites and the proliferation of debris in space), AlveoliX (reproducing the functions of the lung on a small scale), and Topadur Pharma (combating glaucoma, the second most common cause of blindness after cataracts, with eye drops) were made possible with the assistance of the Swiss Innovation Agency, Innosuisse.
Innosuisse is responsible for helping companies achieve breakthroughs and reach untapped market potential. When innovative ideas would otherwise not come to fruition, Innosuisse offers valuable assistance to help companies achieve their conceptualized ideas, launch innovative products or services, tap into new international markets, and help start-ups grow.
Annalise Eggimann, CEO of Innosuisse, shared her vision for the entity, “Above all else, we strive to help Swiss innovations tackle some of the world’s largest challenges. Our role is to promote science-based innovation in the interests of industry and society, with the aim to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Switzerland. We promote partnership between academia and the market with innovation projects, networking, training, and coaching. When financing an innovation project, we fund the research group, and the industrial partner contributes the same amount with labor and cash contributions. We lay the groundwork for successful Swiss start-ups, products, and services by providing financial resources, professional advice, and networks. We do not intervene where the market can solve a challenge independently; we are only active where it needs support. Switzerland is a strong supporter of the bottom-up principle, which means that we mainly promote innovation by accepting the grassroots proposals that are submitted, checking their quality, and financing the best ones. However, we want actors to also take a more systemic approach and engage in specific topics that need cooperation between different disciplines.”
The agency also promotes transnational projects by bringing SMEs and research partners together, promoting cooperation between science and the market. Eggimann added, “We support knowledge transfer between academia and industry on not only a national level, but also on an international level. We give companies access to international research networks and support innovation projects.”
Innosuisse also helps young enterprises emerge and prosper. “Our training courses encourage an entrepreneurial approach for the next generation of businesspeople and researchers. We help individuals who want to set up companies and achieve more growth. Furthermore, Switzerland is filled with ‘hidden champions,’ particularly in the technology sector, which is important for the global supply chain. While these entities may not be so obvious, they are in fact, one of the country’s main success factors. For a small country, we have tremendous economic power. These SMEs also reflect that, small in nature, but large in strength. Recently there has also been a lot of activity in the start-up domain, as young people have become more excited about entrepreneurship, taking risks and becoming more adventurous,” stated Eggimann.
“Switzerland is a strong supporter of the bottom-up principle, which means that we mainly promote innovation by accepting the grassroots proposals that are submitted, checking their quality, and financing the best ones.”
Annalise Eggimann, CEO of Innosuisse
In addition to the increasing trend for entrepreneurship, the pandemic accelerated a long-standing digitalization trend. In January 2021, Innosuisse launched a new program focusing on finding solutions to current or future challenges relevant to a large part of the economy or society. This flagship initiative will help specific sectors cope with digital transformation and secure a more resilient economy and society, to face challenges such as COVID-19 and develop sustainable solutions for the future. Eggimann stated, “We spoke with various stakeholders to find the most important topics, and one of the first topics will address how to enhance and accelerate digital transformation in the domains of education, tourism, healthcare, and urbanization. Another topic will focus on making a more resilient economy and society by tackling demographic change, the aging population, and all challenges associated with this issue such as supply chain, basic ICT infrastructure, decarbonization, and more.”
Innosuisse will continue to help start-ups grow their businesses, support innovation projects, and gain a foothold internationally. The agency encourages collaboration with American entities and looks forward to future international partnerships. Eggimann said, “It is our ambition to be an anchor for science-based innovation in Switzerland, conducting international cooperation and bringing forward the innovation ecosystem. We are a catalyst for the transformation of scientific knowledge into practice for economic and societal value. A conviction many Swiss people have is that research, development and innovation are pivotal for future success. There is a level of awareness that you must remain active and agile to prosper.”
Innosuisse actively advances the competitiveness of Swiss SMEs through science-based innovation. With an agency purely dedicated to innovation, Switzerland will continue to be at the forefront of finding solutions to tackle complex, global challenges that require a multi-disciplinary approach and international cooperation.