Oher sources of funding for research and innovation (Swiss Confederation / EU / third countries)
By promoting research and innovation, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) aims to make public transport (PT) and rail freight even more efficient, as well as more customer- and environment-friendly.
The Confederation spends around six billion francs a year on public transport and rail freight. The FOT must use these funds sensibly and efficiently for the maintenance and expansion of the railway infrastructure, and as subsidies for regional passenger transport and freight transport.
By promoting research and innovation, the FOT aims to help optimise costs and further improve safety, energy efficiency and environmental compatibility in its areas of responsibility. Research findings can be applied in the public transport sector and throughout the economy, making them more productive.
This is why the FOT therefore invests around 10 to 15 million francs annually in research and innovation. This is about 0.2% of its total expenditure.
What is research and innovation?
- Research generates new knowledge by means of scientific methods. The promotion of research is an important task of the state.
- Innovation is the development of new products, procedures, processes and services for the economy and society. Innovation is primarily a task of the economy and is to be promoted by the state only selectively in predefined areas.
- Departmental research refers to research whose results are required by the federal administration or federal policy to fulfil its tasks. It must be in accordance with the special legal provisions and strategies of the federal agencies.
Studies and reports
Various studies and research reports can be downloaded from the federal database ARAMIS.
