Innovation
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) promotes the development of innovative environmental technologies with federal funding. It works closely with private firms and institutions of applied research.
The FOEN's promotional efforts are meant to
- protect the environment with resource-efficient products, technologies and processes
- strengthen the resource efficiency and competitiveness of the Swiss economy
Environmental technology promotion (UTF) is the instrument that creates the framework for this. Every five years, a report is published on activities to promote environmental technologies. It provides information on the promotion of environmental technologies in general (e.g. criteria, processes, use of funds) and its impact. Examples of projects illustrate the diversity of projects funded.
Environmental technology promotion
In the first 25 years, i.e. between 1997 and 2021, a total of 665 projects received funding of around CHF 84 million in all relevant environmental areas:
Application submission process
Certain requirements apply to both types of administrative units:
Project execution
When projects are approved, a contract is drawn up between the FOEN and the grant recipients. Interim and final reports are a condition for the disbursement of the project grant.
Environmental technology promotion: projects
In the first 25 years, i.e. between 1997 and 2021, a total of 665 projects received funding of around CHF 84 million in all relevant environmental areas:
Innovation landscape
European Partnerships
European Partnerships are funding initiatives of the European Union (EU) supported under the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe. They bring together various European stakeholders – in particular national funding organisations (in Switzerland, the Swiss National Science Foundation, SNSF) and public agencies – to jointly fund research and innovation projects. As part of these partnerships, thematic calls for proposals are launched, to which stakeholders from research, innovation and industry can apply together with international partners. The goal is to fund transnational research and innovation projects.