The Basel Incentive Programme – Basel-Stadt promotes innovation, parental leave and climate protection
The Basel Incentive Programme provides targeted financial support for companies that invest in innovation, parental leave or climate protection. On this page, companies will find all the key information they need about the funding, the application procedure and what comes next.
Why the Basel Incentive Programme?
The canton of Basel-Stadt is one of Switzerland’s leading business centres. In light of the growing global competition to attract businesses, the canton is providing targeted funding to companies based in Basel-Stadt to encourage their commitment to innovation, society and the environment. On 5 February 2025, the Grand Council approved the partial revision of the Standortförderungsgesetz (Location Promotion Act) by a significant majority, and the electorate accepted the resolution in a referendum on 18 May 2025. On 24 June 2025, the Executive Council adopted the ordinance on the Standortförderungsgesetz (total revision), which lays out the detailed funding criteria.
The subsidies are financed via two funds, into which the Executive Council can pay between CHF 150 million and CHF 500 million annually. Each year, the Executive Council determines the amount of the payments in accordance with the financial situation. Of the funds, 80% are earmarked for the innovation funding area and 20% for the society and the environment funding areas (work-life balance, climate protection and research collaborations in the life sciences).
Timeline
April 2026 | Publication of the revision of the ordinance on the Standortförderungsgesetz Communication and webinars |
April-30 June 2026 | Submission of applications |
Until December 2026 | Awarding of the funding by the AWA |
By the end of March 2027 | Payments |
Notification service for companies about the Basel Incentive Programme
Receive an email notification as soon as there are any news or changes on our website regarding the Basel Incentive Programme.
Funding area: innovation
What is funded?
- Contributions to personnel costs for research and development (R&D) in the canton of Basel-Stadt and elsewhere in northwestern Switzerland
- Contributions to depreciation of R&D facilities (including high-tech production) in the canton of Basel-Stadt and elsewhere in Switzerland
- Contributions to expenses for clinical trials in Switzerland and for the production of the necessary active ingredients in Switzerland
Who can apply for funding?
All legal entities with unlimited tax liability in the canton of Basel-Stadt, as well as legal entities with limited tax liability with a qualifying facility in the canton – from start-ups to large companies.
Funding area: parental leave
What is funded?
Contributions to support voluntary parental leave for employees whose contractual place of work is in the canton of Basel-Stadt. Statutory leave in accordance with the Erwerbsersatzgesetz (Income Compensation Act) must have already been granted (14 weeks for mothers or two weeks for fathers/the other parent). For up to three weeks, 80% of the salary will be covered (max. CHF 220 per day).
Who can apply for funding?
All legal entities with unlimited tax liability in the canton of Basel-Stadt, as well as legal entities with limited tax liability. No qualifying facility is required for parental leave. Additionally, legal entities that are tax-exempt under § 66 Abs. 1 lit. f StG are also eligible to apply for parental leave.
Funding area: the environment
What is funded?
- Measures to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) in the canton of Basel-Stadt and in Switzerland.
- Measures to increase energy efficiency in the canton of Basel-Stadt and in Switzerland.
- Reduction of the intensity of direct greenhouse gas emissions at the global level (Scope 1).
Who can apply for funding?
All legal entities with unlimited tax liability in the canton of Basel-Stadt, as well as legal entities with limited tax liability with a qualifying facility in the canton – from start-ups to large companies.
Funding area: research collaborations in the life sciences
What is funded?
From 2026: subsidies for research collaborations in the life sciences between universities and companies.
Who can apply for funding?
From 2026, universities and universities of applied sciences in the region will be eligible to receive subsidies for research projects undertaken in collaboration with companies in the field of the life sciences based in Basel-Stadt. These projects must produce global benefits.
Apply for funding
For the next funding period, you can apply for grants via the ePortal from April through June 30, 2026.
To ensure you’re ready in April, we recommend registering for an AGOV account on the ePortal now. You can find more information here:
We will post further details about the application process here as soon as the forms are available on the ePortal.
Information about AGOV accounts
- AGOV accounts are used for authentication (Authentication Service of the Swiss Authorities) and can only be created by private individuals.
- If, as a private individual, you require multiple accounts on the ePortal, you must create a corresponding number of AGOV accounts, using a different email address for each account.
- When you log in to a service of the canton of Basel-Stadt for the first time with your AGOV account, a Basel-Stadt eAccount is automatically created in the ePortal. The AGOV account and the eAccount are directly linked.
- In the account settings of the ePortal, you can register your organisation and grant access rights to other private individuals.
- In the account settings, you can assign account permissions, enabling you to give employees or members of your organisation access to the organisation’s account. It is important that these individuals have their own AGOV accounts and that you know the email addresses associated with the AGOV accounts.
Further general information
Ordinance and press release (in German)
- Standortförderungsgesetz (StaföG)
- Medienmitteilung Start Basler Standortpaket
Die baselstädtische Stimmbevölkerung hat am 18. Mai 2025 die Teilrevision des Standortförderungsgesetzes mit einem Ja-Stimmenanteil von 63 Prozent angenommen. Das Gesetz enthält die Grundzüge des Basler Standortpakets mit den Fördergebieten Innovation, Gesellschaft und Umwelt. Der Regierungsrat hat die zugehörige Verordnung verabschiedet.