«InnoBooster» aims at speeding up innovative, science-based deep tech businesses which have already entered the Venture Kick process and promise high market potential.  Up to CHF 150,000 for a maximum of 1.5 years can be granted to top talents with a clear plan and funding need for accelerated market entry. The new funding line is calling for convincing proposals which show how a further boost in research & development or design can drive market entry and business success.

Videoclip: Launching «InnoBooster» 

• The project must be in the Venture Kick programme or has recently completed the programme.
• The project needs to show a proof of concept, secured IP, first customers, strategic partners and pilot projects.
• The project must provide proof of scientific excellence, innovation and market potential through letters of endorsement from a funding programme (BRIDGE Proof of Concept, Pioneer Fellowships, Innogrant, Innosuisse or similar) and from (potential) customers, investors and/or industry partners.
• The project has to be rooted at a Swiss university or research institution (ETH Domain, cantonal university, university of applied sciences), funding goes to the university and not directly to startups already founded.
• Budget of a maximum of CHF 150,000 for no more than 1.5 years: No infrastructure costs or overheads are financed, only salaries and materials costs directly related to the project.
• Applicants allow GRS the right to obtain information on assessments from Venture Kick.
• Grantees commit themselves to complete the Venture Kick programme within the allotted time span; if they quit it deliberately, the InnoBooster grant has to be reimbursed.

• Projects can be submitted to Gebert Rüf Stiftung by one of the quarterly deadlines (1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December) in accordance with the guidelines for submitting an InnoBooster proposal.
• The submission procedure has two stages.
• NEW: Please use our web portal for your first stage application and upload all the required documents there (project proposal form "InnoBooster" and elevator pitch). Best performance with the Safari browser.
• For the second stage, applicants may be invited to pitch to the board of trustees (27 April 2020, 30 June 2020, 29 October 2020).

The selection process takes a maximum of three months, from submission of the project proposal and elevator pitch video (step one) to the final decision after the project presentation to the board of trustees (step two). The board of trustees reaches the grant-making decision at its quarterly plenary meeting on the basis of the support criteria and the strategic objectives of the area of activity.

There is no procedure for appeals or applications for re-examination or reconsideration; no correspondence will be entered into regarding grant-making decisions.