How the innovation fund works

Swico Recycling provides up to CHF 300,000 in funding for forward-looking recycling projects. The fund takes a broad view of recycling:

This also includes logistics, monitoring and extending the lifespan of equipment. Eligible projects may include applied research and development or pilot trials. Applicants may be participants in the ecosystem who have a contractual relationship with Swico. They may form partnerships and alliances with third parties, particularly start-ups.

Next submission deadline

Applications must be submitted by Swico’s contractual partners. They may, however, form partnerships and alliances with start-ups, research institutes or universities.

Applications for evaluation can be emailed to roger.gnos@swico.ch. The two submission deadlines each year are 15 February and 15 August.

Next submission deadline

15 August 2026

If the deadline is missed, the project is automatically submitted for the next evaluation.

Assessment criteria

Submitted projects are assessed against the following criteria:

• Innovation: 
  The innovation must be new or represent progress for Switzerland.
• Relevance and benefit: 
  The innovation must make the Swico ecosystem more efficient or help it develop, for example by creating new business areas.
• Feasibility and prospects of success (including financial feasibility):
  Applicants must set out milestones, risks and uncertainties. They must also specify the share of self-financing and the amount of their own funds.
• Applicants’ capabilities and qualifications:
  Evidence must be provided of staff skills and/or technological capabilities.

Evaluation

Project applications received by the deadline are evaluated by the advisory board . The board meets at least twice a year to evaluate submitted projects, but may convene additional meetings. If anything is unclear or a more thorough evaluation is needed, the board may send written questions to applicants or invite them to give an in-person presentation. It may also request external expert reports or statements.

Grant

The advisory board makes the final decision on project funding and may award up to CHF 300,000 per project. If projects fall short of the assessment criteria or applications are of insufficient quality, the board may decide not to fund any projects. Applicants are not entitled to funding.

If a project is not selected, it may be resubmitted in improved form. The same project may be submitted a maximum of twice.

Communication

Applicants will be informed in writing of the advisory board’s decision no later than 10 days after the relevant evaluation date (end of March or end of August).

The advisory board reports on its decisions to the Swico Recycling Board .

Projects approved for funding are covered in a public report. In consultation with applicants, the report sets out the projects’ key details, what makes them innovative and how they benefit the Swico Recycling ecosystem.