Swiss Medtech Report 2012 - Medtech Switzerland

INTRODUCTION
The Commission for Technology and Innovation
(CTI) is the federal agency responsible for encouraging
innovation through the provision of funding,
consulting and networks. It also works to ensure that
scientific research contributes to economic growth.
CTI supports innovation within the Swiss economy
for the Swiss economy.
CTI offers companies a wide range of continuing
education and training options as well as coaching.
It also provides funding for R&D projects con ducted
by companies and higher education institutions
working as partners. In addition, CTI networks and
platforms enable optimal knowledge and technology
transfer. CTI support accelerates the process
of transforming research findings into marketable
products and services. It also helps companies to
improve their innovation capacities, achieve greater
added value and create new, high-value jobs.
In order to support innovation and competiveness
in the Swiss medtech sector and to stimulate the
transfer of knowledge between centers of higher
edu cation, medtech firms, start-ups and SMEs the
CTI Medtech initiative was launched in 1997.
Today CTI Medtech is acting as part of the CTI
Life Sciences program and has been supporting up
to 35 medtech projects annually. These are characterized
by significant investments of the collaborating
economic partners.
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In addition every year 10 to 20 medtech start-up
companies are enrolled in the CTI Start-up and Entrepreneurship
program. These activities are further
complemented by the CTI Voucher program,
introduced in July 2011 at the initiative of the Federal
Council. As part of this pilot project vouchers
were issued in 2011 to five medtech companies.
In late 2011, the Federal Council launched a special
innovation program: CHF 100 million in additional
funding granted to CTI to counteract the effects of
the strong franc. This was also a great success for
the medtech sector. 35 additional projects could be
realized starting January 1, 2012, with federal support
totalling CHF 15 million and industrial matching
funds of more than CHF 20 million.
Every year CTI hosts its Medtech Event, which
brings together the knowledge and expertise of the
Swiss medtech sector and provides a platform for
connecting people.
It is our pleasure to support and take part in this
Swiss Medtech Report, which introduces you to one
of the most innovative sectors in the Swiss econ -
omy.
Lutz Nolte
Head CTI Medtech
Contact: life.sciences@kti.admin.ch