Innosuisse (formerly CTI) supports science-based innovation projects between Swiss universities and companies (especially SMEs). In close cooperation between the university and the company, a new product or service is developed with the objective of enabling the company partner to enter the market towards or shortly after the end of the project. Innosuisse finances the costs of the university partner (up to 50% of the total project volume), while the company partner provides at least 50% of the project volume itself (primarily with its own work in the project). The projects usually last 12 - 24 months with a total volume in the range of 200'000 - 1'000'000 CHF.

The current framework programme for research and innovation of the EU, «Horizon 2020», aims to promote innovative research ideas and their conversion into marketable products and services. Of the various project types, the "Research and Innovation Actions" (RIA), in which an international consortium consisting of at least 3 (but often more than 10) complementary partners from industry and research develops, integrates, tests and validates innovative technologies and solutions, are particularly interesting for cooperation. RIAs usually last 30 - 48 months with a project volume in the range of 2 - 20 million EUR. In contrast to Innosuisse and SNF projects, all partners are 100% funded.

The Swiss National Science Foundation promotes basic research at Swiss universities and research institutions. The aim is to support scientific excellence in the development of innovative concepts and solutions in order to generate valuable knowledge for society, the economy and politics. Although the SNF does not fund research with direct commercial use, it also supports projects in the field of applied basic research. Unlike Innosuisse or EU projects, project applicants are not funded, but only "scientific personnel" such as doctoral students or postdocs. The projects usually last 12 - 48 months with a total volume in the range of 200'000 - 800'000 CHF.