Innovation Booster Robotics: Shaping the future of robotics in Switzerland

Innovation Booster Robotics was created to support an environment to foster science-based and sustainable radical innovations in robotics. The programme provides a competitive advantage to Swiss organisations by providing applicants with valid robotics ideas with a support package of 25,000 CHF per proposal. The funding can be used for a feasibility study or a market study and in scope are technological as well as conceptual innovation in robotics. 

The programme is backed by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, which powers the Innovation Booster Robotics programme to provide support and resources to individuals and groups looking to develop their robotics ideas. The programme is set to run from 2022 to 2025 and will build a network of industry professionals, academics and communities to generate ideas and enable cross-sectoral collaborations.  

With the rapid growth of robotics in recent years, this is also an excellent time to launch such an initiative. Robotics has seen a huge wave of innovation in the last ten years that propelled their overall use in society. Robots are now being used on a daily basis in a wide range of industries, including aviation, manufacturing and healthcare. There is even a growing trend towards incorporating robots into households.

Providing funding for robotics initiatives in Switzerland

The Innovation Booster Robotics programme leverages the advancements made in hardware, software and artificial intelligence (AI) to support the development of new ideas in robotics. And, the programme grants generous funding with a sponsorship of up to 25,000 CHF per proposal for promising feasibility study or a market study. The programme also offers to coach groups to help teach them how to achieve further funding beyond the booster’s support.

This sponsorship can be used to fund partnerships between industrial stakeholders, SMEs, start-ups and academic institutions. The goal is to provide an opportunity for those with ideas that are close to becoming a product to receive the support they need to bring them to market. Important is that a mix of a research and an implementation partner is achieved. 

Common topics include mobile robots and manipulators and medical and biomedical robots.

In addition to offering financial support, Innovation Booster Robotics is also focused on fostering the formation of new partnerships through matchmaking events and team-specific workshops. The initiative aims to generate new ideas through ideation workshops and enable feasibility studies for ideas that are selected by a pool of experts. 

The core of the programme's events will take place in different regions of Switzerland, expanding their reach beyond their current community of interest (see for upcoming events: https://ntnrobotics.com/en/events/)

If you have an idea related to robotics and are looking for support in Switzerland, Innovation Booster Robotics is eager to hear from you! They are open to conversations and discussions to help determine how they can best support your ideas and develop a foundation for your next steps. 

The two next calls for ideas are on the 28th of April 2023 and the 15th of September 2023.

Learn more about the application process on the Innovation Booster Robotics website.