Environmental technology promotion

Article 49, paragraph 3 of the Environmental Protection Act states that the Confederation may support the development of technologies, installations, processes and products (goods and services) that can reduce environmental pollution in the public interest.

Around CHF 4 million in funding is available every year. Credit is granted annually by the Federal Assembly. Every five years, the Federal Council reports on the impact of environmental technology promotion.

Art. 49: Environmental Protection Act (EPA)

Video «Die Umwelttechnologieförderung des BAFU»

The video is available in German with German and French subtitles.

Which projects are supported?

The term ‘environmental technology‘ encompasses all technologies, installations, processes and products (goods and services) that reduce environmental pollution and enable the sustainable use of natural resources. As part of environmental technology promotion efforts, support is provided to pilot and demonstration (P&D) projects as well as projects that improve resource efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of the Swiss economy.

These include projects in the areas of waste and recycling, biodiversity (nature and landscape protection, forest conservation), soil and contaminated sites, climate, noise abatement, air pollution control, disaster prevention (protection from natural disasters and safety), resource efficiency and water.

Who is supported?

Individual firms, groups of firms or project groups with members from firms and research institutes may submit an application to receive funding for their projects. Teams with members from both firms and research institutes are valued.

Assisted patent searches and assisted patent landscape analyses

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) offers assisted patent searches and assisted patent landscape analyses. This service is free of charge for project participants who receive financial support from the FOEN within the framework of its funding programmes in the area of development and marketing of environmental innovations. This applies to the environmental technology promotion, the technology fund, the wood action plan and the forest and wood research funding. Project participants interested in this free offer from the IPI should contact innovation@bafu.admin.ch.