Call 2025/2026

In 2025, we are focusing on the active participation of users in the development of services in the social and healthcare sectors. At the Forum, which will take place simultaneously in all three language regions at the beginning of April 2025, you will have the first opportunity to network and present challenges that can be addressed through innovative services.

The Innovation Booster "Co-Designing Human Services"

Through the Innovation Booster "Co-Designing Human Services," we provide funding and support for the most critical phase of any innovation: from problem identification to the development of a solution. This involves identifying specific challenges in the social and healthcare sectors and collaboratively designing solutions with active input from users, relatives, and professionals.

Our Goal

To work as an interprofessional innovation team on current challenges or issues from your daily practice. Over the course of an eleven-month cycle, you will move from problem understanding to innovative, needs-driven solutions or ideas. At the end of the cycle, a robust and sustainable implementation plan will support you in securing further external funding from foundations or organizations like Innosuisse to bring your idea/solution into practice.

The Inclusion of Users

The early involvement and perspectives of users are crucial to ensure that services in the social and healthcare sectors truly meet the needs of the population and are understandable to all demographic groups. Only in this way can our social and healthcare systems become more holistic, effective, and efficient—more impactful and cost-effective for everyone. User involvement can take place at varying levels and through various methods. It is essential to consider early on how participation can be feasible and meaningful. The range of involvement spans from contributing knowledge and experience to actively participating in the project. Successful inclusion requires methodological skills.

Participation as a Core Element of the Call for Proposals

The 2025 call for proposals for the Innovation Booster deliberately does not focus on a specific theme or target group. Instead, it emphasizes the participation of users in developing new services in the healthcare and social sectors. By "users," we mean individuals who use social and healthcare services for themselves or their relatives and caregivers.

Target Audience:

• Organizations, enterprises, and associations in the social and healthcare sectors.
• Self-help organizations and patient associations.
• Professionals from practice and research.
• Users of social and healthcare services with personal experience of challenging social or health situations.
• Relatives and/or caregivers.

What We Offer:

• Financial support of up to CHF 25,000.
• Methodological support through coaching to move from the problem to the solution.
• Networking opportunities between users, professionals, and researchers.

What We Expect:

• Curiosity, including interest in methods for developing ideas.
• Enjoyment in collaborating with an innovation team consisting of professionals, academics, and users.
• Active contribution of diverse perspectives.
• Time commitment, including attendance at three on-site meetings.
• Project and team work as well as participation in coaching sessions.

Examples of Services with Early User Involvement:

• Self-advocacy at HPV Rorschach: https://www.hpv.ch/selbstvertretung/
• The Children's Office Basel: https://www.kinderbuero-basel.ch/
• SERO App for Suicide Prevention: https://sero-suizidprävention.ch/

Previous Calls for Proposals from the Innovation Booster "Co-Designing Human Services":

Visit our interactive map to see which ideas the Innovation Booster has supported so far. Previous annual themes included:

• 2022: Flexible housing and support models for aging people.
• 2023: Integrated services in the social and healthcare sectors.
• 2024: Focusing on the well-being of children, adolescents, and families.