The authors present the current context for energy transition and hydropower development in Switzerland, summarizing the activities in the field of hydropower infrastructure research carried out over the past three years and presenting the development objectives for the coming four years. The focus is on increasing operational flexibility and winter production. The plan includes three large scale pilot projects, the first on recently commissioned small hydro schemes, the second on sediment release through the powerhouses, and the third being a multidisciplinary project in the multi-reservoir multi-powerplant scheme operated by Kraftwerke Oberhasli in the Bernese Oberland.