Impact
Accelerating the growth of companies
The aim behind our funding is to further the growth of SMEs and start-ups. New jobs, higher revenue and better productivity are core components of the “return on investment” of public innovation promotion. Let’s take a look at the results achieved through impact monitoring.
The innovation survey conducted by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich shows that, in addition to the financial incentive involved, access to research partners' technical know-how is the main motivation why companies submit project applications to Innosuisse. But where do these funded innovation projects lead? And are companies able to grow after embarking on these high-risk projects?
That's precisely what we want to find out. Therefore in 2024, we again measured aspects such as the impact of our funding for innovation projects between companies and research partners as well as for Start-up Coaching. Impact monitoring for the newly launched start-up innovation projects will begin following completion of the first projects in 2025/26. Case studies on the start-up innovation projects by Legal-i or UniSieve have already left us feeling very confident.
The funding provided by Innosuisse is intended to contribute to the growth and competitiveness of both SMEs and start-ups. When we talk about growth, there are various leverage effects that innovation promotion from Innosuisse provides. On the one hand, Innosuisse is able to create the right conditions for growth potential. On the other, our funding contributes directly to companies’ growth and competitiveness. Innosuisse is a driving force behind the growth of innovative Swiss companies. You will find the key figures below.
Gérald Walti
CFO of Innosuisse
INNOSUISSE CREATES GROWTH POTENTIAL
36% of the funded innovation projects are disruptive
The potential for far-reaching market changes – i.e. disruptive innovation – is of crucial importance for companies’ future growth, especially in international markets. In Start-up Coaching, the proportion of start-ups pursuing disruptive innovations is as high as 69%. Innosuisse is strengthening this potential even further with the Innovation Boosters, where radical ideas for future innovations are supported by the thematic Innovation Boosters – which led to 23 approved innovation projects and 24 innovation cheques in 2024.
77% of the coached start-ups were able to successfully raise capital during the coaching programme
For start-ups, raising capital is a vital prerequisite for future growth. Research and development requires high investment, as does market launch of an innovation. That is why capital acquisition is a frequent topic of discussion as part of the Innosuisse coaching programme. 11% of coached start-ups raise more than CHF 5 million in new capital during their coaching programme. For 71% of the start-ups involved, coaching directly supported them in raising capital.
FUNDING LEADS TO GROWTH FOR COMPANIES
For 60% of SMEs, innovation projects achieve measurable economic effects
Three years after completion, more than half of the funded innovation projects (58%) are on the market, have been launched within the companies, or there are plans to launch the innovation within the next two years. Significant economic effects are already evident among the companies involved. 30% of the SMEs are growing their workforce. They are therefore creating highly qualified jobs. 28% of the companies have increased their revenue. One fifth of the companies have made greater investments in research and development, either in the form of additional employees or through higher expenditure in this area.
11 additional jobs are created at start-ups on average three years after coaching
Growth is an important indicator for start-ups. Specifically, three years after having completed coaching, the start-ups have created around eleven additional full-time positions on average, with approximately half of these in Switzerland. In the life sciences sector and for start-ups with high-risk innovations, sustainable growth often does not take hold until later. Entry into the market is also important for growth: by the end of the coaching, around 80% of the start-ups have been able to launch their innovation on the market.
4 francs in added value are generated on average within three years for each franc spent on innovation promotion
The additional jobs created result in added value for the companies. One funding franc invested in innovation projects therefore leads to additional added value of four Swiss francs for the companies over a period of three years. This promotes growth among SMEs, start-ups and other companies that implement innovation projects, resulting in the creation of new jobs.
This outcome of the impact monitoring has been confirmed by independent research carried out by the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) at ETH Zurich: companies with innovation projects report on average 18% higher employment and 21% higher revenue growth within five years than comparable companies without Innosuisse support. This finding is quite remarkable, since the scientific evidence of a causal relationship must meet very high methodological requirements.
Methodology
Innosuisse’s impact monitoring is based on end-to-end data collection from all funded implementation and research partners of innovation projects, both with and without implementation partners. It also includes SMEs that receive innovation cheques and all start-ups participating in Core Coaching. The surveys are generally carried out upon completion of the projects, and then again three years later. The indicators presented are taken from 2024 impact monitoring or are averages taken over several years. The figures for the Innovation Boosters are based on reporting data from all ongoing initiatives. The indicators surveyed during monitoring refer to the strategic goals of the Federal Council and the formulated outcomes of innovation promotion.
