Horizon Europe: Federal Council adopts transitional measures for SMEs and start-ups

The Federal Council is staggering the entry into force of the revised Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA). A new legislative provision will come into force on 15 April 2022 to support SMEs and start-ups that currently do not have access to the European Innovation Council's Accelerator funding instrument. The Federal Council also approved and submitted to Parliament the related financial measures on 4 March 2022. The remaining provisions of the revised Act are to enter into force on 1 January 2023. Switzerland is currently a non-associated third country in Horizon Europe, the EU framework programme for research and innovation. This status does not allow participation in the Accelerator funding instrument of the European Innovation Council (EIC), which supports innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. This concerns Swiss SMEs and, in particular, start-ups.