Bernese companies with an R&D project can apply for a grant. Projects of this kind carried out in collaboration with an external partner are also eligible.
Criteria
Your project must meet the following criteria:
- Market: Your company operates in a market that does not affect local or regional competition.
- Innovation: Your project is innovative either in terms of the product, process or intended market.
- Commitment to the canton: Your company plans to remain in the Canton of Bern for the long term.
- Added value: Your company will generate added value for the Canton of Bern.
- Investment: The eligible costs associated with your project reach at least CHF 150,000 over a period of 12 to 24 months.
- Project presentation: Your company offers a product/service with a potential market and can present a viable financing plan and a coherent business model.
- R&D: Your project is different from your company’s usual, ongoing R&D activities.
- Sustainability: Your company meets the minimum sustainability criteria defined by the Bern Economic Development Agency. Companies that do not meet these minimum criteria will need to implement improvement measures to qualify for a grant.
You can check whether you meet the sustainability criteria by completing the anonymous self-evaluation questionnaire. - Type of company: Our grants are open for all types of company except sole proprietorship.
The grant amount varies between CHF 12,500 and CHF 200,000, depending on various economic, social, and environmental criteria. These include the area of business, the impact of the project and the company, and the company’s future prospects.
Requirements
Terms of employment and working conditions: Your company undertakes to comply with the usual conditions and to ensure equal pay between men and women.
And over a period of five years:
- Head office and activities: Your company undertakes to maintain its head office and business activities in the Canton of Bern.
- Reporting: Your company must submit annual accounts and a report on its business development to the Bern Economic Development Agency on
- Dividend payment and equity repayment: In the event of a dividend payment or equity repayment, your company undertakes to refund the obtained contribution on a pro-rata basis.
How to apply
Step1
Complete the pre-screening application below (approximately 15 minutes).
Step2
You will be notified of the result of the pre-screening.
Step3
If your company meets the basic criteria of the pre-screening, we will send you a personalized link to the self-evaluation questionnaire on sustainability, which you will need to complete (approx. 1 hour).
Step4
If your project also meets the sustainability criteria, we will ask you to submit the documents required for a full application. These comprise a detailed description of the company and the project, an investment plan, a financing plan, annual accounts, and a budget estimate.
Our partner be-advanced can help you prepare these documents if necessary.
Step5
You will be notified of the decision on your grant application.
Step6
If your application is approved, you will be sent a grant award document setting out the terms and conditions of the grant and the payment details for countersignature.