Innosuisse
Innosuisse is the Swiss federal innovation agency that provides non-dilutive funding, advisory services, and international market access to Swiss SMEs, start-ups, and research institutions engaged in R&D. It is fully financed through Swiss federal budget allocations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBerne, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Innosuisse does
Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency, a federal government entity established in 2018 and operating under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Headquartered in Bern with 101–250 employees, the agency promotes science-based innovation in Switzerland by providing non-dilutive funding, advisory services, and international market access to Swiss SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and other organizations engaged in research and development. Its core service portfolio comprises national and international project funding, project set-up assistance, networking support, and specialized start-up support including the Innosuisse Certificate investment-readiness label.
The agency's product surface is administrative rather than technological. The Innolink application platform manages the full lifecycle of grant applications from submission through case assignment to Innosuisse staff, while the Innosuisse Guide is an interactive tool that routes users to the appropriate funding and advisory offerings. Internationally, the agency coordinates Swiss national pavilions at CES, VivaTech, BIO, and Slush through the Swisstech Campaign, typically deploying 17–31 startups per delegation. Bilateral cooperation programmes with the United Kingdom, Poland (NCBR), and South Korea generate recurring cross-border R&D pipelines, and flagship national consortia such as the CHF 18.25M NAIPO (AI in oncology) and CHF 11.2M SwissNeuroRehab demonstrate capacity for large multi-institutional program orchestration.
Innosuisse does not generate commercial revenue. It is fully financed through Swiss federal budget allocations, with funding awarded on a competitive, merit-based application process. The agency's economic model is therefore that of a public-policy instrument: it does not seek ROI on deployed capital but measures impact in funded projects, commercialized innovations, and supported startups. This structure subjects the agency to the EP27 federal budget relief programme, under which a proposed 10% cut would reduce the number of funded innovation projects by approximately 120 annually across the 2027–2029 horizon.
Innosuisse firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Innosuisse
- Legal name
- Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency)
- Website
- https://innosuisse.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Innosuisse is the Swiss federal innovation agency that provides non-dilutive funding, advisory services, and international market access to Swiss SMEs, start-ups, and research institutions engaged in R&D. It is fully financed through Swiss federal budget allocations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Innosuisse industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Innovation Funding Agency
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)
Keywords
Where Innosuisse is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Innosuisse business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Innosuisse product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Innosuisse is Switzerland's federal innovation agency that provides non-dilutive funding and support services to Swiss SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and other Swiss organisations for science-based R&D and innovation projects. Its offerings include national and international project funding, project set-up and networking assistance, specialised start-up support covering creation, growth, and international market entry, and the Innosuisse Certificate program signaling investment readiness. The agency facilitates collaboration and knowledge transfer between industry and research institutions and operates the Innolink application platform and Innosuisse Guide tool to manage applications and help applicants find suitable support offers.
Product overview
Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency offering a unified portfolio of funding programs and support services for Swiss SMEs, start-ups, research institutions and organisations. The core offering consists of national and international project funding programs, supplemented by the Innosuisse Guide (an interactive support-finding tool) and the Innolink Application Platform for managing funding applications. Additional services include project set-up assistance, networking support, and specialized start-up support covering creation, growth, and international expansion. Innosuisse does not offer a software product in the traditional sense—it provides non-dilutive funding, advisory services, and networking opportunities to foster Swiss innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- National Project Funding
- International Project Funding
- Project Set-up Assistance and Networking
- Start-up Support
- Innosuisse Guide
- Innolink Application Platform
Companies that use Innosuisse
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Innosuisse technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Innosuisse partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Swiss Biotech AssociationcoreSwiss Biotech Association collaborates with Innosuisse and Switzerland Global Enterprise to organize the Swiss pavilion at BIO 2026 in San Diego, featuring 21 Swiss biotech startups and established companies showcasing innovations in drug discovery and development.
- armasuissecoreInnosuisse and armasuisse jointly launched a call for projects in the field of dual-use technologies, addressing a priority of the Federal Council's armaments policy to strengthen research and innovation in security. The initiative was launched by André Kudelski, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Innosuisse, and Urs Loher, National Armaments Director at armasuisse.
- EnerdrapeminorEnerdrape, a geothermal panel technology company, received the Innosuisse Certificate in late 2025, a readiness label signaling sustainable growth and external investment readiness. The company serves over 25 customers across Switzerland, France, and the USA.
- 4K-MEMSminor4K-MEMS, a compact infrared emitter developer founded in 2020 in Neuchâtel, received the Innosuisse Certificate and has raised CHF 3.7 million, planning to close a seed round for product industrialization.
- Switzerland Global EnterprisecoreSwitzerland Global Enterprise collaborates with Innosuisse to organize Switzerland's official presence at international trade events including BIO 2026, VivaTech 2026, CES 2026, and Slush, showcasing Swiss innovation under the Swisstech Campaign.
- NCBR (National Centre for Research and Development, Poland)majorThe Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme, implemented by Innosuisse and NCBR, strengthens partnerships through increased project proposals in applied research, especially in engineering and technology. The second call for projects saw a 47% increase in proposals, with projects scheduled to run until 2029.
- Presence SwitzerlandcorePresence Switzerland partners with Innosuisse and Switzerland Global Enterprise to organize Swiss national pavilions at international technology events including CES and Slush, promoting Swiss innovation globally under the Swisstech Campaign.
- SwissNeuroRehab ConsortiummajorMindMaze Therapeutics participates in SwissNeuroRehab, a CHF 11.2 million Innosuisse-backed national consortium involving Swiss university hospitals, focused on digital neurorehabilitation.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Innosuisse competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Business Finland: Finnish government organization for innovation funding and internationalization, providing grants and services to Finnish SMEs and startups. Highly comparable in mandate (innovation funding + trade fair delegation support) and in supporting a small, advanced economy's startup ecosystem.
- Israel Innovation Authority: Israel's national innovation funding agency providing grants to Israeli high-tech and innovation companies. Comparable as a small-country innovation funding body with strong international trade delegation programs and deep tech focus.
- Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency (part of UKRI) that funds business-led R&D and innovation across sectors. Closely aligned with Innosuisse in mission, funding mechanisms (competitive grants for SMEs and research institutions), and bilateral cooperation programs (notably a Switzerland-UK call).
- Vinnova: Sweden's innovation agency funding research and innovation projects. Comparable as a small-country national innovation funding body with grant programs for SMEs, startups, and research institutions, and a similar scale of operations.
- Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG): Austria's national funding agency for industrial research and development, operating under the Federal Ministry for Climate Action. Comparable as a small European country's national R&D funding body serving SMEs, startups, and research institutions.
- CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial): Spain's public innovation agency under the Ministry of Science and Innovation that funds R&D projects for Spanish companies. Comparable as a national government innovation funding body with grant and loan instruments for SMEs and large companies.
Broad incumbents
- Bpifrance: France's public investment bank and innovation agency that funds French SMEs, startups, and R&D projects through grants, loans, and equity. Directly comparable as a national government-backed innovation funding body serving a similar SME/startup customer base with non-dilutive and dilutive capital instruments.
- Horizon Europe / European Innovation Council (EIC): EU's flagship research and innovation funding program with the EIC as its innovation-focused arm. Relevant as a larger supranational alternative for Swiss applicants (Switzerland's association status has been uncertain), and as a benchmark for the scale of EU innovation funding.
Regional players
- Enterprise Singapore: Singapore government agency supporting enterprise development and innovation, including grants and internationalization programs. Comparable as a national innovation agency with government backing, grant funding, and international market access programs for SMEs and startups in a small advanced economy.
Others
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF): Switzerland's main research funding body, also affected by the EP27 budget cuts. Complementary rather than directly competitive with Innosuisse (SNSF funds basic academic research; Innosuisse funds applied/innovation projects), but jointly forms the Swiss federal R&D funding ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Innosuisse social profiles
Digital presenceInnosuisse financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Innosuisse leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Innosuisse funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Innosuisse M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments237 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Innosuisse
What does Innosuisse do?
Innosuisse is Switzerland's federal innovation agency that provides non-dilutive funding and support services to Swiss SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and other Swiss organisations for science-based R&D and innovation projects. Its offerings include national and international project funding, project set-up and networking assistance, specialised start-up support covering creation, growth, and international market entry, and the Innosuisse Certificate program signaling investment readiness. The agency facilitates collaboration and knowledge transfer between industry and research institutions and operates the Innolink application platform and Innosuisse Guide tool to manage applications and help applicants find suitable support offers.
Is Innosuisse a public or private company?
Innosuisse is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Innosuisse founded?
Innosuisse was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Innosuisse based?
Innosuisse is headquartered in Berne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
Who are Innosuisse's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Business Finland, Israel Innovation Authority, Innovate UK, Vinnova, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial). Broad incumbents are Bpifrance and Horizon Europe / European Innovation Council (EIC). Enterprise Singapore is listed as a regional player. Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is listed as an others.
Does Innosuisse have an API?
No public API is recorded for Innosuisse.
What industry is Innosuisse in?
Innosuisse's product category is Public Innovation Funding Agency. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAA, Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery). Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 8700.