IHZ Innovation Award 2026: Call for Applications Open
Lucerne - In 2026, the Central Switzerland Chamber of Commerce and Industry will present the IHZ Innovation Award for the 40th time. Companies based in Central Switzerland can submit market-ready innovation projects until 30 April 2026.
For four decades, the Industrie- und Handelskammer Zentralschweiz IHZ has recognised entrepreneurial innovation through the IHZ Innovation Award. Applications for the 2026 award are now open. The submission deadline is 30 April 2026. The award carries prize money of CHF 10,000.
Eligible to apply are companies headquartered in the cantons of Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden or Nidwalden. Companies based in the canton of Zug may also participate if they are members of IHZ. The award is open to all industries and company sizes. Projects must demonstrate a high level of innovation and have already been successfully launched on the market.
The IHZ Innovation Award aims to highlight entrepreneurial solutions that combine technological or strategic advancement with tangible economic impact. In addition to the financial award, the winning company gains increased visibility within the Central Swiss business environment and beyond.
After the submission deadline, a jury will review all applications and create a shortlist. In a second phase, jury members will visit the shortlisted companies on site. Based on these visits and the submitted documentation, the winning company will be selected in September 2026.
Previous award winners include Mauderli AG (2024), Hunkeler AG (2023) and Swiss Krono AG (2022). The most recent winner, maxon, was recognised for a novel drive system designed for robotics applications.
