In the area of research into biomass and wood energy, Switzerland is strongly networked at the international level thanks to its membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA). The Bioenergy Implementing Agreement serves as a platform for promoting international co-operation relating to energy technologies in research and development, during the demonstration phase and in the market launch phase, and also simplifies the exchange of information and know-how. This platform encompasses players from government, universities and private institutions.

Switzerland is represented in 3 specific tasks:

• Biomass Combustion and Co-firing:
  Here the objectives are to optimise biomass combustion technology in order to keep it competitive over the long term, and to promote the use of combined heat and power (or co-firing), especially in small to medium-sized systems.
• Thermal Gasification of Biomass:
  The aim here is to promote the commercialisation of efficient, economical and ecological biomass combustion processes that result in the production of electricity, heat or synthesis gas.
• Energy from Biogas and Landfill Gas:
  The main objectives here are to promote the exchange and distribution of information and know-how relating to biogas production and use, as well as the technology of anaerobic fermentation.

In order to communicate the progress and achievements of the above tasks, reports are published on a periodical basis in a variety of media (see links below).