The CTI is located in the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET) and helps small and medium sized businesses; by supporting market-related development projects with non-profit-oriented research institutions (universities and universities for applied science) and possible future businesses. The federal contributions go to research sites; the industrial partners pay for their expenditures from their own pockets; usually half of the project costs, and secure the efficient realization of the achieved results with their involvement. The CTI supports special programmes, in special technology fields in part with other institutions (ETH Board, SNF).