AI & software startup funding and grants in Switzerland

European CommissionGrant

Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space

Collaborative research and innovation calls for manufacturing, key digital and quantum technologies, advanced materials, AI and robotics, advanced computing, low-carbon industries and space. Swiss entities have full access to strategic-area calls in the 2026–2027 work programme, except some space calls.

European Commission (DG CONNECT)Grant

Digital Europe Programme

Funds supercomputing, AI, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills and wider use of digital technology, with a budget of over €8.1 billion. Swiss participants can apply except under the cybersecurity and semiconductor objectives.

European Commission (Digital Europe Programme)Support & coaching

AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs)

Four sector facilities for testing and validating AI and robotics in agrifood, health, manufacturing and smart cities, open to technology providers across Europe. This is testing infrastructure, not a grant to companies.

EuroHPC Joint UndertakingSupport & coaching

AI Factories and AI Factory Antennas

AI Factories and Antennas give access to compute time and support services, prioritising AI start-ups and SMEs. DACH sites are JAIF and HammerHAI (Germany), AT:AI (Austria) and the HEARTS antenna (Switzerland). Access to compute, not a cash grant.

European CommissionGrant

GenAI4EU

EU initiative funding generative AI uptake through Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and the EIC, with close to €700 million planned. Calls run under the participating programmes.

InnosuisseGrant

Innovation project with implementation partner

Funds science-based innovation projects run jointly by a company and an independent Swiss research partner, in any field. SMEs, start-ups and larger companies bear 40–60% of total costs, including a cash contribution of at least 5% to the research partner.

InnosuisseGrant

Innovation project without implementation partner

Funds high-risk projects such as feasibility studies, prototypes and testing facilities for researchers at Swiss research institutions, for up to 18 months. No implementation partner is needed at submission; companies do not apply directly.

InnosuisseGrant

Start-up innovation project

Funds science-based projects at Swiss start-ups before market entry: max. 70% of direct project costs, with at least 30% own contribution. For companies founded up to 5 years ago with fewer than 50 FTE; submissions are rolling.

InnosuisseVoucher

Innovation cheque

A voucher of up to CHF 15,000 for a preliminary study by a Swiss research partner, such as a concept or market-potential analysis. For SMEs and other organisations in Switzerland with fewer than 250 FTE.

InnosuisseSupport & coaching

Innovation mentoring

A free mentor helps Swiss SMEs and organisations with fewer than 250 FTE assess an idea and prepare an innovation project, through vouchers worth up to CHF 1,000 and up to CHF 6,000.

InnosuisseVoucher

Start-up Coaching (Initial, Core, Scale-up)

Vouchers for sessions with Innosuisse-accredited coaches for young companies and founders: Initial up to CHF 10,000, Core up to CHF 50,000, Scale-up up to CHF 75,000. Liechtenstein start-ups can also apply.

SNSF and InnosuisseGrant

BRIDGE Proof of Concept

Funds recent graduates and PhDs, hosted by a Swiss research institution, to turn research results into an application: up to CHF 130,000 per year for 12 months, covering salary and project expenses.

SNSF and InnosuisseGrant

BRIDGE Discovery

Funds researchers at Swiss research institutions, alone or in consortia of up to three, on projects linking research with implementation: max. total costs CHF 850,000 per applicant over up to four years.

Gebert Rüf StiftungGrant

InnoBooster

Funds salaries and material costs for university spin-off projects still based at a Swiss university, up to CHF 150,000 for max. 1.5 years. For teams that have completed Venture Kick stages 1 and 2 but not stage 3.

Gebert Rüf StiftungGrant

First Ventures

Staged funding for ventures of bachelor’s and master’s students at Swiss universities of applied sciences, or graduates up to 6 months after graduation: PROOF up to CHF 25,000, VALIDATE up to CHF 50,000, EXECUTE up to CHF 75,000.

Venture Kick

Staged pre-seed funding for Swiss research-based start-ups, in which teams progress through successive stages.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.