The Berne Economic Development Agency (SF BE) supports companies and their activities with a wide range of services. It is geared to the needs of innovative companies and serves the growth and development of SMEs and start-ups through to multinational groups. The SF BE helps Bernese companies to drive innovative projects forward and can support them in the form of financing assistance. The partners of the SF BE complement the offer and provide companies with innovation coaching (www.be-advanced.ch), R&D support and infrastructure (www.sipbb.ch, www.sitem-insel.ch, www.empa.ch, www.scdh.ch, www.csem.ch). The SF BE is a long-standing partner of the Design Preis Schweiz and has supported the national award for design since its inception.