Published on 20 May 2025

How Innovation Works

The ‘Defence Innovation System’ brings together people, requirements, technology, methods, stakeholders and framework conditions in such a way that innovations can emerge. In doing so, it makes an important contribution to the transformation of the Swiss Armed Forces.

At the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre of armasuisse — © VBS/DDPS

• Technological superiority: Access to innovative solutions that strengthen defence capabilities.
• Cultural transformation: Promoting a culture of innovation that supports creativity, openness and initiative.
• Cooperation and networking: Building bridges between organisations, departments and partners.
• Sustainability and efficiency: Developing resource-saving and future-oriented approaches.
• Find and develop new, agile approaches to procurement.

Our journey from identifying a problem worth solving to implementation in the armed forces

Every innovation begins with a problem worth solving, which is recorded on our InnoBase innovation platform. The Defence Innovation Board defines the strategy and framework conditions, evaluates and commissions innovation projects, secures their financing and ensures transparency.

The five-step innovation process ensures that problems are developed using user-centred, agile methods so that the solutions are practical and can be effectively implemented in the armed forces. Various implementation paths are available to develop the best possible solution.

• Procurement project

  If a product or service that is already available on the market can be found to solve a problem, it is entered into the procurement process and procured.

• Implementation via our innovation agency Swiss Innovation Forces

  The Swiss Innovation Forces make innovation possible for us. They support employees in the Defence Group with their innovation projects. This enables them to identify problems and work with external partners to find solutions. In this way, we promote bottom-up innovation.

• Implementation via innovation project in a federal office

  Projects that primarily serve a specific federal office can be handled directly there. This is simple, scalable and promotes diversity, including in innovation.

• Innovation Spaces DDPS (armasuisse Science + Technology)

  The Innovation Spaces DDPS are instruments for finding solutions to existing challenges within the VBS. The choice of the appropriate innovation space depends on the challenge, the maturity of the available solutions and the desired solution. They are carried out by the Science and Technology Division of the Federal Office for Armament (armasuisse) on behalf of the Swiss Armed Forces and are therefore particularly suitable for topics where scientific support promises added value.

• Competence Centre for Drones and Robotics

  If it is an innovation project with a focus on drones or robotics, it will be supervised by the Army's Competence Centre for Drones and Robotics. The Competence Centre also coordinates military activities within the framework of the Task Force Drones.

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