English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only, has no legal force and may not be relied on in legal proceedings.
Art. 3 Purpose of the contributions
The contributions towards consortium projects serve the following purposes: a. developing specific core competencies in the space sector at the higher education research centres under Article 4 letter c number 1 and 2 RIPA as well as their national and international networks; b. maintaining and strengthening Switzerland’s position in strategically important and future-oriented research and innovation fields in the space sector; c. implementing Swiss space policy; d. gearing research and innovation work in the space sector to the needs and long-term strategies of partners in industry.
Art. 4 Funding requirements
A consortium project shall be eligible for funding if it satisfies the following requirements: a. It is a research or innovation project in the space sector that is of national importance. b. It involves several partners in higher education and industry. c. It has a network of organisations and institutions. d. Responsibility for the project lies with one or more higher education research centres under Article 4 letter c number 1 and 2 RIPA.
Art. 5 Calculation of the contribution
1 The federal contribution shall amount to a maximum of 50 per cent of the overall project costs. 2 The project partners shall agree among themselves on the amounts that they contribute themselves; they shall notify the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) of their decision. 3 Their own contributions may be made in cash or in kind. 4 At least 10 per cent of the total contributions of the partners in industry must be made in cash.
Art. 6 Duration of funding
1 A consortium project shall be funded for a maximum of seven years. 2 The project shall be funded in periods of a maximum of four years.
Art. 7 Invitation for bids
1 On behalf of SERI, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) shall issue an invitation for bids to fund consortium projects in the space sector. 2 The invitation shall contain information on: a. the funding requirements; b. the total budget made available for the invitation; c. the duration of the consortium projects authorised in connection with the invitation; d. the application procedure and the deadlines. 3 The applications shall be assessed in a two-stage procedure.
Art. 8 Application procedure: First stage
1 In the first stage of the application procedure, an application with a project outline must be submitted to the SNSF. 2 The SNSF shall assess the applications received according to the following scientific and technical criteria: a. the scientific and technical quality of the project, its innovation potential and its level of interdisciplinarity; b. the scientific and technical quality of the partners in higher education and industry involved, their organisational integration into the project and the planned measures for knowledge and technology transfer; c. the professional qualifications of researchers involved and the measures planned to promote young researchers and equal opportunities. 3 It shall consult experts when making its assessment of the applications. With the agreement of SERI, it shall also consult experts from ESA in the fields of industrial policy and technology. 4 The SNSF shall decide which applications are admitted to the second stage of the procedure.
Art. 9 Application procedure: Second stage
1 In the second stage, an application with a project plan must be submitted to the SNSF. 2 The SNSF shall assess the application as specified in Article 8 paragraphs 2 and 3 and make SERI a recommendation. It shall also provide SERI with an assessment of the project’s compatibility and coherence with ESA’s activities. 3 SERI shall further assess the applications recommended by the SNSF according to the following criteria relating to space, research and innovation policy: a. the conformity of the project with the goals and the expected added value for Swiss space policy and the federal strategies derived therefrom; b. the inclusion of the project in international research projects, in particular with ESA, in which Switzerland is involved; c. the innovation potential for Swiss industry and its financial participation in the project costs; d. the adequacy of the requested funding, including the available third-party funding. 4 SERI shall consult other offices or research bodies that are a
Art. 10 Service agreement
1 SERI shall enter into a service agreement with the higher education research centres responsible for the project for each funding period. 2 The service agreement regulates in particular: a. the services to be provided; b. the contribution provisionally assured; c. the duration of the project and the conditions for a possible extension; d. the contributions made themselves by the partners in higher education and industry involved in the project; e. cooperation with partners in industry; f. the checks on export control regulations; g. the requirements for early termination; h. the terms and conditions; i. reporting requirements.
Art. 11 Intellectual Property, tangible property and rights of use
1 The partners in higher education and industry involved shall enter into an agreement on intellectual property, tangible property and rights of use. 2 The agreement must be submitted to SERI together with the application. SERI shall approve it in terms of the service agreement. 3 The agreement must regulate the following: a. the rights of ownership of the results of the project; b. the use and exploitation of the property resulting from the project; c. the use and exploitation of any intellectual property brought into the project; d. any claims for compensation; e. duties of confidentiality and publication rights. 4 The higher education research centres involved are entitled, free of charge and non-exclusively, to use and further develop the results of the project in connection with their research and teaching. 5 The industry partners are entitled, free of charge and non-exclusively, to use and exploit the results of the project in relation to their products and services. 6 The agreem
Art. 12 Extension of the project
1 Before expiry of a funding period, an application for the extension of the project may be submitted to SERI. 2 SERI shall decides whether the project is extended. 3 The decision-making process is governed by Article 9 paragraphs 2 and 3.