Since 1 October 2026, companies based in the canton of Lucerne can apply for the “Luzerner Innovationsbeitrag” (LIB), a cantonal contribution for research, development and innovation. For the 2026 contribution year, 110 million francs are already secured in the cantonal budget, reports Startupticker.ch. Startups and newly founded companies are in principle eligible, provided they meet the award criteria.
A legal basis approved at the ballot box
The instrument stems from the overhaul of cantonal economic promotion (“Standortförderung”) prepared by the Lucerne cantonal government. The package of measures, which includes anchoring this new tool in law, was approved by voters in the 27 September 2026 ballot and came into force on 1 October 2026. The canton says it aims to preserve and strengthen its attractiveness and competitiveness.
The source specifies neither the exact title of the amended legislation nor the articles on which the LIB is based, and does not refer to the cantonal text. Details of the procedure, including a step-by-step guide, are available on the website of the cantonal economic promotion agency, which interested companies will need to consult.
What the LIB is meant to fund
The Luzerner Innovationsbeitrag aims to support companies’ activities and measures in three areas: fundamental research, industrial research and experimental development. It is open regardless of sector, legal form and company size, provided the award criteria are met.
Who can apply
Among the conditions cited – the list is not presented as exhaustive – the company must have been founded in the canton of Lucerne or have at least a branch there. It must also be subject to an ordinary audit, provide evidence of sustainable management and demonstrate an effective economic presence in the canton, with premises and staff on site.
For young companies, the ordinary audit requirement deserves attention. Under Swiss law, this in-depth audit generally applies to companies exceeding certain thresholds, whereas many small companies are subject to a limited audit or opt out of it. The eligibility in principle of startups therefore does not guarantee that each one will meet all the conditions from the outset; the source does not comment on this point.
Direct payment or tax credit
A company that meets the criteria and obtains a contribution can in principle choose the form in which it receives it: a direct payment or a tax credit, which may be refundable or non-refundable. The source does not detail the terms of this choice or its possible tax consequences for the company.
Timeline: a single deadline for 2026 and 2027
Applications are submitted on the website of the cantonal economic promotion agency. They must be received no later than 31 January of the contribution year concerned. For the years 2026 and 2027, a joint deadline runs until 31 January 2027. No extension can be requested.
The canton is also providing a recording of an information webinar in German; an English session is to follow in mid-October.
Funding still to be confirmed beyond 2026
Only the first tranche is secured: the 110 million francs for 2026 are included in the current budget. For 2027, 158.6 million francs are planned, but this amount must still be approved by the cantonal parliament at the end of October. For 2028 and 2029, 140.4 million francs per year are planned. If all these tranches were confirmed, the envelope would reach 549.4 million francs over four years; at this stage, only the 2026 amounts are guaranteed.
The popular vote has thus settled the principle and the legal basis of the instrument. Its scale in the following years, however, depends on the cantonal parliament’s upcoming budget decisions.
