Innosuisse successfully concludes energy funding programme

Bern, 17.12.2020 - Developing and implementing solutions to relevant issues relating to the energy transition in Switzerland: this was the aim of the energy funding programme, which is managed by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, and will be completed at the end of 2020 after a period of eight years. The core element was the establishment and management of eight Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCERs) in seven action areas. The parties involved are continuing their activities in order to develop solutions for the energy of the future for Switzerland beyond 2020.

Since 2013, the competence centres have developed numerous solutions for the technical, social and political challenges relating to the 2050 Energy Strategy. By bringing together academia and practice, they have made an important contribution to the transfer of knowledge and technology. In doing so, the SCCERs have dealt with the full spectrum of the energy innovation chain, from basic research and applied R&D to legal, regulatory and behavioural aspects.

Over 1,300 researchers in action
More than 1,300 researchers have been working at the SCCERs each year on average. These have launched more than 1,400 projects over the entire funding programme. Partners from business and society have participated in around 900 projects. In addition, more than 2,000 Master’s and PhD have been completed, and 41 spin-offs founded. Innosuisse has supported the SCCERs and the shared overarching activities with a total of 194.5 million Swiss francs over the eight-year period.

Involvement of the implementation partners as a success factor
According to Adriano Nasciuti, President of the Steering Committee and member of the Innovation Council of Innosuisse, the decisive factors for the success of the SCCERs’ work were that there was always more than one higher education institution involved in the research and development activities of an SCCER and that private and public implementation partners were very involved from the beginning. Nasciuti explains: “In this way, the various research institutes could benefit from each other’s strengths, and an efficient technology transfer could be ensured. This has led researchers to focus on products and services that are actually relevant to the Swiss economy and society.”

Researchers continuing activities
Adriano Nasciuti’s assessment of the past eight years is likewise positive: “When it comes to the energy transition, many of the challenges facing Switzerland are highly complex and require a systemic approach if they are to be tackled successfully. Experience with the energy funding programme has shown that it is worthwhile investing in coordination and cooperation across various research institutions and disciplines. In the end, the overall performance is more than the sum of the outcome of the individual projects.”

About the energy funding programme
Within the framework of the “Swiss Coordinated Energy Research” action plan, Innosuisse (formerly the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI)) has been commissioned to finance and manage the establishment of inter-university networked research competence centres, the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCER). Eight SCCERs have been established across seven fields of action and started their work in 2013/2014. SCCER seeks solutions to the technical, social and political challenges relating to the energy transition. Innosuisse has supported the following eight SCCERs over the eight-year period:

Future Energy Efficient Buildings & Districts (SCCER FEEB&D)
Efficiency of Industrial Processes (SCCER EIP)
Future Swiss Electrical Infrastructure (SCCER FURIES)
Heat & Electricity Storage (SCCER HaE)
Supply of Electricity (SCCER SoE)
Competence Center for Research in Energy, Society and Transition (SCCER CREST)
Mobility (SCCER Mobility)
Biomass for Swiss Energy Future (SCCER BIOSWEET)