SMEs and start-ups should be provided with the best conditions to make their innovations economically viable. This is the incentive for a collaboration between the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) and Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.

Today, the key to economic success is a combination of knowledge, experience, research and development. By offering targeted support, Innosuisse is helping to promote science-based innovations in Switzerland, create jobs with high added value and boost prosperity. Innosuisse’s funding activities primarily involve supporting innovation projects jointly run by companies and research institutions.
Innosuisse provides start-ups and those looking to set up a company with experienced coaches who offer guidance on establishing, developing and growing a company.

Raising awareness of intellectual property

Intellectual property plays a crucial role in the innovation process. As part of its collaboration, the IPI therefore encourages companies to consider protecting their innovation from an early stage. Anyone who puts into practice an ingenious idea should be able to protect their invention from being copied. This forms the basis for companies to capitalise on their inventions.

The Assisted Patent Search is at the heart of the collaboration between Innosuisse and the IPI. Those who apply for funding from Innosuisse can take advantage of a free, one-off search carried out at the IPI, as well as an additional Patent Landscape Analysis if needed. This service allows companies to put their idea or invention under the microscope and find out if it is new and how they may want to proceed.