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The UK-Switzerland Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) Round 3 competition supports bilateral innovation projects between UK businesses and Swiss implementation partners. Delivered jointly by Innovate UK and Innosuisse, the programme aims to strengthen international collaboration while accelerating the development and commercialisation of high-impact technologies.
The competition will invest up to £3 million from Innovate UK, alongside at least CHF 3 million from Innosuisse, supporting projects that combine complementary expertise from both countries. Each participating organisation receives funding from its own national funding body, with projects requiring approval from both Innovate UK and Innosuisse.
Key Dates and Funding
Competition Opens: 1 July 2026
Competition Closes: 3 September 2026
Funding Available: Up to £450,000 per UK project
Programme Overview
The programme supports collaborative R&D projects that deliver commercially viable innovations through international partnerships. Projects must demonstrate strong technical innovation, a clear route to market within two to three years of project completion, and measurable economic benefits for both the UK and Switzerland.
Applicants must present a well-developed commercialisation strategy, robust financial planning, clear intellectual property arrangements, and evidence that collaboration between UK and Swiss partners creates additional value beyond what either organisation could achieve independently.
Priority Technology Areas
Projects must focus on one or more of the following technology areas:
Semiconductors
Including AI processors, advanced chip design, photonic interconnects, sensing technologies, power electronics, advanced packaging, heterogeneous integration, and semiconductor technologies supporting next-generation computing.
Life Sciences
Innovative healthcare technologies and life science solutions that deliver significant commercial and societal impact.
Engineering Biology
Projects involving synthetic biology, biotechnology platforms, genetic engineering, bio-based manufacturing, engineered medical and diagnostic solutions, sustainable production systems, and climate-focused biological technologies.
Eligibility
Lead applicants must be UK-registered businesses working in collaboration with at least one eligible Swiss implementation partner applying through the corresponding Innosuisse programme.
Projects must also involve at least one research institution from either the UK or Switzerland (subject to limited exceptions for eligible Swiss start-ups) and demonstrate balanced contributions from both countries. No single partner or country may account for more than 70% of the total project effort.
How Inventya Can Help
Developing a successful international collaborative proposal requires strong technical alignment, coordinated consortium management, and a compelling commercial strategy. At Inventya, we help organisations build competitive cross-border projects that meet both Innovate UK and international funding requirements.
Our support includes:
With extensive experience supporting collaborative Innovate UK and international innovation programmes, Inventya helps organisations maximise their chances of securing funding while building partnerships that deliver lasting commercial impact.
