Call for Proposals
Implementation Grants 2025
Duration of the projects
1 to 2 years
Scale of funding
CHF 100'000 to CHF 300'000
(budget must be plausible and substantiated)
Deadline
March 31, 2025
Final decision
June 20, 2025
Future Technologies
Processes to tackle
societal challenges
With its call for proposals «Future Technologies», the Peter Bopp Stiftung wants to generate a significant impact by exploiting the potential that new technologies (raw materials, materials and processes) offer to find sustainable solutions for social and/or environmental challenges, e.g. related to climate, water, food or energy.
The call with an annual budget of CHF 1.5 million is targeted at innovative and applied proof of concept projects (TRL 3-6).
Objectives
New sustainable materials
New sustainable materials and processes offer a significant contribution to reducing environmental pollution and solving the climate crisis whereby the development of new technologies and materials is as important as the upcycling of existing materials.
The call of proposals of the Peter Bopp Stiftung focuses on finding innovative and sustainable solutions for relevant and concrete challenges without defining a specific field of application. To that end, the foundation supports new technologies that are likely to achieve a meaningful breakthrough.
Innovative ideas implemented in an entrepreneurial spirit that help protect our natural resources are critical for ensuring quality of life for future generations.
Examples of possible research areas:
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Replacement of PFAS
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New molecular energy storage
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Defossilized raw materials
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Upcycling of microplastics and other materials
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Capture of local CO2 in SMEs
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Production of reduced carbon from non-fossil resources
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Fractionation of waste
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Food security
Criteria
Implementation Grants 2025
The implementation grants 2025 support applied proof of concept projects in high-impact fields conducted at Swiss universities. The funded projects must be between research and market development seeking initial funding for the pilot and demonstrator phase (TRL 3-6). The main criteria besides scientific excellence, innovation and a sustainable approach are market opportunities and marketability of the project.
Preference will be given to projects conducted by early career researches with a duration of 1 to max. 2 years and a budget of between CHF 100,000 and 300,000.
Key Criteria:
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Rooted within a Swiss university or research institute
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Convincing, innovative project idea that contributes to solving a relevant societal or environmental challenge
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Scientific and technical excellence
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Principle of sustainability
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Plausible reference to practical and economic application with plauibility of corresponding market opportunities
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High level of commitment on the part of the project participants
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Plausible and substantiated budget including salaries and project related costs
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Proof of scientific excellence, innovation and market potential by way of letters of endorsement (support programs, mentors, industry experts, investors)
Technology Readiness Levels TRLS:
Funding will be given to projects in the proof of concept phase (see TRLs below) with a specific focus on the pilot and demonstrator phase:
TRL 3
Proof of Concept Validation
TRL 4
Partial Scale
and Prototype Modeling
TRL 5
Partial Scale
Prototype
Validation
TRL 6
Full Scale
Prototype Field Demonstration
Funding Process
Project Submission Stages
Eligibility Self-Test
Involves a quick initial assessment to see if the project idea is in line with the strategic areas of activity and the grant-making criteria of the Peter Bopp Stiftung.
Abstract
An outline of the project idea including purpose and scope of the project. This first stage of the application may be submitted at any time for initial evaluation and consultation.
Project Proposals
Following a positive feedback, project proposals may be submitted observing with the deadlines of the call for proposals.
Application process
Further Information
Further information is provided in the Funding Guidelines. Applications with all of the required documents must be uploaded online.
Project proposals will be pre-evaluated by a funding committee involving external experts. Following the first evaluation round, applicants may be invited to pitch their projects to the foundation's Board of Trustees.
The grant-making decision is made by the Board of Trustess of the Peter Bopp Stiftung.