CTI's objective is to generate more innovative products and services by encouraging higher education institutions and companies to work together on joint R&D projects. Each year, CTI supports several hundred of these joint R&D projects.

Companies - especially small- and medium-sized enterprises - are thus able to leverage the R&D resources of higher education institutions to develop their innovative ideas into marketable products and services.

Only those who can quickly bring brilliant ideas to market will succeed in global competition. This is what CTI's project promotion activities seek to achieve. CTI funds joint R&D projects involving companies, public authorities, non-profit organisations and higher education institutions. CTI's project promotion activities are open to R&D projects in all disciplines. CTI does not exert any influence over project partners when it comes to the content of joint R&D projects. CTI decisions during the selection process are made exclusively on the basis of two criteria: innovative potential and economic impact. The Confederation only funds services provided by higher education institutions. This funding is used to pay the salaries of around 1,000 researchers each year.

Companies benefit two-fold: from the project results and the growing expertise of young R&D workers trained to conduct research that meets the needs of the market. Despite limited research resources, SMEs in particular can take advantage of the R&D services and facilities of higher education institutions. This enables them to bring their innovative ideas to market more quickly.