Federal Office of Environment (FOEN) | Environmental technology promotion

The Swiss Federal Office of Environment supports the development of technologies, installations, processes and products (goods and services) that can reduce environmental pollution in the public interest (according to art. 49 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Around CHF 4 million in funding is available every year.

As part of environmental technology promotion efforts, support is provided to pilot and demonstration (P&D) projects as well as projects that improve resource efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of the Swiss economy. These include projects in the areas of waste and recycling, biodiversity (nature and landscape protection, forest conservation), soil and contaminated sites, climate, noise abatement, air pollution control, disaster prevention (protection from natural disasters and safety), resource efficiency and water.

Who can apply:

• Individual firms, groups of firms or project groups with members from firms and research institutes.
• Teams with members from both firms and research institutes are valued.

• At least 50% of all qualifying project costs must be assumed by applicants.
• As an exception, the FOEN may cover more than 50% of the costs for feasibility studies under CHF 50’000.
• When over CHF 50’000 is requested, the project will be evaluated by the federal expert commission for environmental technology.

• FOEN must receive an application in writing from an eligible project partner.
• Applications may be submitted in one of the national languages (German, French, Italian) or in English.
• Submitted projects must provide information on the criteria of environmental benefits, innovation, economic and technical feasibility, including market chances, added value for Switzerland and other aspects of sustainability

• The next meeting of the expert commission will take place in November 2022