Bridging Research and Practice: Swiss Olympic’s Approach to Sports Science and Innovation

Abstract

Swiss Olympic is the umbrella organisation for Swiss sport and supports the national sports federations at various levels, increasingly also in the area of (sports) science. Research, development and innovation are key factors in remaining competitive in the international sports competition.

Since 2018, the funds available for applied sports science have been significantly increased. With a budget of CHF 1.5 million per year, Swiss Olympic's ‘Sports Science’ funding programme is an essential source of funding for Swiss elite sport.

The aim of the ‘Sports Science’ funding programme is to promote practice-oriented (sports) science in the federations. This is to be achieved on the one hand by subsidising scientific staff and on the other by promoting scientific measures and projects.

In addition, the Sports Innovation Hub was launched in 2024 to increase competitiveness through innovative ideas and collaborative approaches. A maximum funding application of CHF 200,000 can be triggered per project. The fundings are awarded exclusively to national member federations of Swiss Olympic through applications.

The ‘embedded scientist’, a (sports) scientist embedded in the federation structure, is proving to be a promising model for conducting the most targeted and practice-oriented research possible due to its proximity to athletes, coaches and officials.

Nevertheless, linking universities, research and business remains a challenge, one of the three key points of Stöckli's (Chef de Mission Swiss Olympic) final statements after the 2024 Summer Olympics.

References

Swiss Olympic. (2021). Ausführungsbestimmungen Sportwissenschaft [Implementation regulations for sport science]. https://www.swissolympic.ch/dam/jcr:267287de-d451-4b10-bfc8-c0b478201283/Ausf%C3%BChrungsbestimmungen_Sportwissenschaft_2021_DE.pdf

Swiss Olympic. (2023). Ausführungsbestimmungen Sports Innovation Hub [Implementation regulations Sports Innovation Hub]. https://www.swissolympic.ch/dam/jcr:e2a34443-f52f-4bbc-a882-656bd074992a/231219_SIH_Ausf%C3%BChrungsbestimmungen_DE_Final.pdf