Research funding partnership - CTI Startup

Research funding partnershipCooperation between the SNSF and CTI

Cooperation between the SNSF and CTIPublic funding of research in Switzerland is mainly conducted by two institutions:• The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is Switzerland’s leading institutionfor scientific research funding (see www.snsf.ch). Established in 1952 as afoundation under private law, the SNSF has the autonomy it needs to promoteindependent scientific research. The aim is to make as much scientific progressas possible in all fields of knowledge. Around 600 million Swiss francs of federalfunding are available to the SNSF annually for financing research.• The Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI) is the federal government’s most importantinstitution for funding applied and market-focused research. It has supportedresearch and development projects between companies and universitiesfor over 60 years. The aim is to achieve maximum market impact (see www.kti-cti.ch). Around 125 million Swiss francs are available to the CTI annually for fundingimplementation of research and expertise on the market.The two funding institutions have different complementary core tasks and purposes:SNSF core tasksThe SNSF funds scientific research focused on theacquisition of scientific knowledge that does notdirectly serve commercial purposes; it does so primarilyby supporting individual projects as part of itsfunding of projects and individual scientistsCTI core tasksThe CTI funds applied and market-focused projectsthat prioritise the economic benefit and exploitationpotential of innovative products and services forindustry and society; Swiss universities and researchinstitutions conduct these R&D projects in partnershipwith companiesThe SNSF specifically supports young researchers andthus decisively contributes to securing junior academicsfor universities, industry and societyThe SNSF runs the National Research Programmes(NRPs) which focus on problem-solving topics determinedby the Federal Council and the structurefocusedNational Centres of Competence in Research(NCCRs)PurposeStrengthening the Swiss research communityThe CTI promotes the foundation and developmentof technology-based start-up companies with majorgrowth potentialThe CTI promotes R&D consortiums and thus cooperationbetween research institutions and partners inindustry. It also promotes KTT consortiums devoted tothe development and implementation of knowledgeand technology transfer (KTT) throughout SwitzerlandPurposeStrengthening Switzerland as an innovation centre2

Current fields and formsof cooperationThe CTI and SNSF realise their cooperation by identifying their commonalities andadjusting their strategies accordingly and defining joint campaigns and public events.The following current fields and forms of cooperation already exist:Reciprocal referral to the fundingopportunities of the partner organisationThe SNSF encourages researchers to submitapplications with clear exploitationpotential for industry to the CTI. Similarly,the CTI refers applicants whose applicationsfocus primarily on expandingscientific knowledge to the funding opportunitiesof the SNSF.Cooperation and/or co-funding inNational Research Programmes (NRPs)NRPs with a strong industrial or appliedfocus – such as the current NRP “IntelligentMaterials” – can be conducted as cooperationprogrammes and/or co-fundedby the SNF and CTI, such as the practiceorienteddissertations in material sciencesin the NRP “Supramolecular functionalmaterials”.Joint project funding at universitiesof applied sciencesThe CTI is represented on the SNSF’s expertassessment commission for DORE(DO REsearch – funding instrument forresearch at universities of applied sciencesand of higher education for pedagogy)with the aim of ensuring continuityof project funding: the SNSF supportsprimarily the academic part of the projectwhile the CTI supports primarily the appliedpart.3

Mutual assurance of knowledge andtechnology transfer (KTT) from NRPsand NCCRsKnowledge and technology transfer (KTT)is an integral part of every National ResearchProgramme (NRP) and NationalCentre of Competence in Research (NCCR).The CTI is permanently represented inthe respective SNSF division responsiblefor decision-making processes regardingNRPs and NCCRs. This creates the basisfor a KTT that may ultimately lead to theimplementation of new application possibilities,or even new start-up companies.Joint conferences and public eventsThe SNSF and CTI regularly organise a jointKTT conference between research bodies,universities and industry. The CTI is alsorepresented at the SNSF’s “Research Day”at Swiss universities.International: Representation of commoninterests and ideas exchangeThe CTI has been involved in Swisscore,the SNSF’s liaison office in Brussels,both in terms of content and finances,since 2007. Swisscore represents Swissinterests on education, research and innovationpolicy in the EU. In the area ofEuropean research cooperation, the SNSFand CTI are also regularly in touch regardingparticipation in EU schemes.Joint media training for researchersThe SNSF and CTI jointly offer mediatraining for researchers. The latter are tobe trained in dealing with (mass) mediato make it easier for them to expressthemselves appropriately in public andpresent their work effectively.4

Partners in the innovation processThe SNSF and CTI are major institutional partners and engines of the innovationprocess spawned by research in Switzerland :Universities of applied sciencesProductsServicesKTITechnologyUniversities of applied sciencesProductsServicesCompaniesKTITechnologySNFCompaniesETH/UniversitiesKnowledgeSNFETH/Universitiesdependent basicsearchPartners in project fundingApplied basicresearchTechnologydevelopment,applied researchProduct & processdevelopment,prototypesKnowledgeMarketinnovationThe SNSF and CTI dovetail their services in the project funding sector as part of theirfunding partnership:NFIndependent KTI basicresearchPrivate R&DApplied basicresearchTechnologydevelopment,applied researchProduct & processdevelopment,prototypesMarketinnovationFederal funding for targeted researchSNFR&D – Funding sourcePrivate R&DKTIFederal funding for targeted research5

ContactSwiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)Wildhainweg 3CH – 3001 Bern+41 (0)31 308 22 22info@snf.chwww.snsf.chInnovation Promotion Agency (CTI)Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET)Effingerstrasse 27CH – 3003 Bern+41 (0)31 322 24 40info@kti-cti.ch6