Innosuisse Switzerland-UK Call for Projects 2026
Europe’s most promising SMEs and research institutions now have access to a significant funding opportunity: the 3rd Innosuisse Switzerland-UK call for projects. This bilateral funding initiative allocates €6 million (£3.0M from Innovate UK + CHF 3.0M from Innosuisse) specifically for joint UK-Swiss R&D projects with genuine commercial potential.
With only an 11% success rate and a deadline of 3 September 2026, understanding the eligibility criteria and application requirements is critical. This guide covers everything you need to know to submit a competitive proposal.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Call Name | 3rd UK–Switzerland Bilateral Call for Joint Innovation Projects |
| Deadline | 3 September 2026 (EOD) |
| Total Funding | £3.0M + CHF 3.0M (€6M+) |
| Project Duration | 18–36 months |
| Priority Areas | Semiconductors, Life Sciences, Engineering Biology |
| Success Rate | ~11% |
| Results | 30 November 2026 |
| Project Start | 1 February 2027 |
Three Priority Areas
Applications are only accepted in these three strategic sectors. Projects outside these areas will be rejected.
Semiconductors
Funding supports advanced chip design, manufacturing processes, materials science, and testing solutions. The goal is to reduce Europe’s dependency on non-European suppliers while competing globally.
Life Sciences
This priority covers biopharmaceutical development, medical devices, diagnostics, personalized medicine, and healthcare IT. Both Switzerland and the UK have world-leading expertise in this sector.
Engineering Biology
Synthetic biology, bio-manufacturing, bioengineered materials, and agricultural biotechnology innovations. This emerging field offers solutions to climate and resource challenges.
Eligibility Requirements
Your consortium must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:
Mandatory Consortium Structure
- At least one business entity from the UK and Switzerland
- At least one research institute from either country
- Exception: Swiss pre-market start-ups (under 50 FTE) can apply without a research institute
Project Requirements
- Duration: 18–36 months
- Innovation: Significant R&D content beyond routine business activities
- Collaboration: Clear added value from bilateral cooperation
- Commercialization: Credible pathway to market (direct or long-term strategic benefits)
The 70/30 Workload Rule
No country may contribute more than 70% or less than 30% of total person-months. This rule is strictly enforced—non-compliance results in automatic rejection.
Definition: 1 person-month = 154 hours full-time work
How Much Funding Can You Get?
Innosuisse Funding Rates (Switzerland)
- Research Partners: Up to 100% of eligible costs
- SMEs & Start-ups: Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Large Companies: Up to 25% of eligible costs
Swiss organizations must cover at least 30% of project costs as their own contribution (can be in-kind).
Innovate UK Funding Rates
- Micro/Small organizations: Up to 70% funding
- Medium organizations: Up to 60% funding
- Large organizations: Up to 50% funding
- Research organizations: 80–100% depending on type
Example Budget Breakdown
Swiss SME: CHF 600,000 project cost → CHF 300,000 Innosuisse (50%) + CHF 300,000 own contribution. UK SME: £400,000 → £280,000 Innovate UK (70%) + £120,000 own contribution.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs
Eligible Costs
- Personnel costs (salaries and social contributions)
- Materials and equipment
- International travel to project partners
- Consortium management and coordination
- Overheads (research institutions only)
Not Eligible
- Basic research infrastructure
- Publication costs
- Product certification not essential to project
- Domestic travel
- Overheads for commercial partners
Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call Opens | 1 July 2026 |
| DEADLINE | 3 September 2026 (EOD) |
| Evaluation Period | September–October 2026 |
| Results Notification | 30 November 2026 |
| Project Starts | 1 February 2027 |
How to apply Innosuisse Switzerland-UK call
1. Identify Partners (By Mid-August)
Swiss organizations must find UK partners and vice versa. Ensure complementary expertise and genuine partnership potential.
2. Develop Joint Proposal
Complete the Joint Common Proposal Form (English language), define work packages, create a timeline, and prepare your budget. Draft a Consortium Agreement covering intellectual property rights.
3. Prepare Financial Documentation
- For requests under CHF 500,000: Financial statements (last 2 years), completed Financial Table template, bank statements, and auditor letters.
- For requests over CHF 500,000: Add 5-year financial forecast, shareholder register, organizational chart, and loan agreements.
4. Submit on Both Platforms (By 3 September)
- Swiss partners: Submit via Innolink platform
- UK partners: Submit via Innovate UK portal
Both submissions must reference identical project titles and be submitted simultaneously.
5. Await Evaluation
Independent expert panels assess proposals against four key criteria: project quality, consortium strength, innovation content, and market value.
Common Mistakes
- Weak commercialization narrative: Technical excellence alone won’t secure funding. Clearly articulate market opportunity and commercial intent.
- Workload imbalance: The 70/30 rule is strictly enforced. Calculate person-months carefully.
- Incomplete financial documentation: this results in automatic rejection.
- Unclear partnership roles: Your Consortium Agreement must specify responsibilities and IP arrangements.
- No credible partner: Vague partnerships signal poor planning.
Frequently Asked Questions – Switzerland UK partnership funding
Can we apply without a research institute?
Only if your Swiss partner is a pre-market start-up with under 50 FTE.
What’s the timeline from award to project start?
Expect 2–4 months. Awards are announced 30 November 2026, and projects start 1 February 2027.
Can we include salary costs?
Yes. Personnel costs including salaries and social contributions are eligible. Rates must reflect actual internal salary levels.
What if we have limited co-funding?
Research partners receive 100% funding. SMEs and start-ups receive favorable rates (50–70%). In-kind contributions can reduce cash requirements.
Apply for the Innosuisse Switzerland-UK Call Today
The 2026 Innosuisse Switzerland-UK call offers €6 million in bilateral funding. With only an 11% success rate, proposal quality and strategic positioning determine success.
The deadline is 3 September 2026. Start your partner search and proposal development now.
Organizations that work with experienced consultants improve their success rates by 40–60%. Evolution Europe helps organizations navigate this call through:
- Partner identification and strategy
- Proposal development and competitive positioning
- Financial planning and compliance management
- Workload distribution and consortium structuring
- Evaluation readiness and proposal strengthening
Explore our successful Switzerland projects to see how we’ve helped Swiss organizations have secured funding. We also manage the related Innosuisse Start-up Innovation Projects (SIP) call.
Your Next Steps
The Innosuisse Switzerland-UK call deadline is 3 September 2026. Organizations that identify partners immediately and develop competitive proposals are the ones that secure funding.
Don’t wait. Visit the official Innosuisse call page for full guidelines and templates and reach out to us so we can assess your project and eligibility.
