Energy research is an important pillar of energy policy. The public sector spends over CHF 350 million annually on this area. The aim is to create a secure and sustainable energy supply, strengthen Switzerland's position as a technology hub, and maintain the high quality of Swiss research. International cooperation and the efficient implementation of research results are given high priority. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) promotes application-oriented energy research and ensures that Swiss researchers have access to the research programs of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the EU. Funding is based on the Federal Energy Research Concept, which is revised every four years by the Swiss Federal Energy Research Commission (CORE) and covers both scientific research and pilot and demonstration projects (www.bfe.admin.ch/energieforschung). The SFOE's energy research programs cover the entire spectrum of energy research. The SFOE runs 19 research programs, including the “Solar Thermal Energy and Heat Storage” research program, for which a program management mandate is to be awarded as part of this call for tenders.