Funding opportunities for experienced researchers
Experienced researchers are established scholars and scientists who independently conduct their own research and train staff. The following overview includes the most important national and international funding opportunities open to experienced researchers in all fields of research.
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Investigator-driven research
SNSF Project funding The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supports research projects in all disciplines that are carried out by researchers employed in Switzerland.
Max. project duration 4 years; does not include the applicant’s own salary.Anna
LazzarinettiSNSF Lead Agency The Lead Agency process forms part of the SNSF's project funding scheme and the process is aimed at researchers in Switzerland who wish to conduct a cross-border research project. It simplifies the submission and evaluation of transnational applications.
Lead Agency process countries are: Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Sao Paulo, South Africa, South Tyrol, Czech Republic and Sweden.Anna
LazzarinettiDue to Switzerland’s current status of non-associated third country in Horizon Europe, the SNSF is launching this call on the government’s behalf to support researchers (based in Switzerland or abroad) who planned to apply for an ERC Consolidator Grant.
Max. project duration 5 years; applicants’ salary may be included.Anna Lazzarinetti ERC Consolidator Grant Consolidator grants are addressed to individual researchers with and excellent track-record that are consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Applicants should have already shown evidence of research independence. Sara Caspani SNSF Advanced grants Due to Switerland's status as a non-associated third country in the Horizon Europe programme, the federal government mandated the SNSF to launch the SNSF Advanced Grants 2022 funding scheme. It is aimed at researchers who intended to apply for an ERC Advanced Grant.
SNSF Advanced Grants are awarded up to a maximum of CHF 2.175 million for a period of up to 5 years.Anna Lazzarinetti ERC Advanced Grant ERC AdG are open to established, leading researchers in any field of research. The ERC grants operate on a 'bottom-up' basis without predetermined priorities and fund ground-breaking, ambitious long-term projects. Sara Caspani ERC Synergy Grant ERC Synergy Grants fund ground-breaking frontier research projects across all fields of science. This highly competitive programme supports interdisciplinary projects bringing together different skills and resources to tackle ambitious research problems. Sara Caspani SNSF Bilateral programmes Bilateral programmes of the Swiss Confederation aimed at promoting and strengthening scientific cooperation between Switzerland and non-European countries. Researchers are funded by the partner organisation in the respective country. Anna
LazzarinettiSNSF Spirit Spirit promotes international research projects between Swiss researchers and researchers in selected countries that are receiving development assistance (2-4 applicants).
Max. project duration 4 years; does not include the applicant’s own salary.Anna
LazzarinettiSNSF Spark Spark funds the rapid testing or development of new scientific approaches, methods, theories, standards, ideas for applications, etc. It is intended for projects that show unconventional thingking and introduce a unique approach.
Max. project duration 12 months; applicant’s salary may be included.Anna
LazzarinettiLeading Houses Leading Houses contribute to the development of scientific cooperation between Switzerland and selected countries with high potential in the designated region coordinated by one or more Swiss university chairs, each LH serves as a competence network and conducts research under the terms of a service level agreement with SERI.
The 6 LH are managed as following: LH North Africa and Middle East: Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse occidentale (HES-SO); LH Sub-Saharan Africa: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), in collaboration with the University of Basel; LH Latin America: University of San Gallen (HSG); LH East and South-East Asia: ETH Zurich; LH Russia e Commonwealth of Indipendent States: University of Ginevra; LH Indian subcontinent and Iran: Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW)
Anna
LazzarinettiIstituto Svizzero di Roma The Istituto Svizzero provides a research platform for exchange that connects the Swiss scientific community with Italy as well as internationally. It offers fellowships, summer schools and recidencies. Research Service -
Thematic research
Horizon Europe collaborative projects (Pillar 2, 3) Swiss researchers can participate in collaborative research projects of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. MSCA Doctoral Networks MSCA DN implement doctoral programmes set up by a network of complementary partners from the academic and the non-academic sector in different countries across EU and beyond. DN aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative, resilient and highly skilled doctoral candidates. Sara Caspani SNSF NRP NRPs embrace research projects that contribute to solving the key problems of today. Calls are issued in the framework of thematically defined programs selected by the Federal Council. Anna Lazzarinetti COST Actions COST is an EU-funded programme that enables researchers to set up their interdisciplinary research networks in Europe and beyond. It operates by means of scientific networks known as COST Actions. Sara Caspani Interreg Interreg provides funding for interregional cooperation with a clear focus on regional development policies in the areas of innovation, knowledge economy, environment and risk prevention. Marcello Triulzio SNIS The Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) offers project grants for pluri-disciplinary research teams. Anna Lazzarinetti SFOE (SWEET) SWEET’s purpose is to accelerate innovations that are key to implementing Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 and achieving the country’s climate goals. Giorgia Sironi -
Market-oriented R&D
Innosuisse projects The Swiss Innovation Agency, Innosuisse, supports innovation projects carried out by research institution in collaboration with companies. Marcello Triulzio Bridge Discovery Bridge (a joint program of SNSF and Innosuisse) supports projects at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation. Aimed at researchers who aim to explore and implement the innovation potential of research results. Marcello Triulzio EUREKA EUREKA is an intergovernmental network aiming at enhancing European competitiveness by fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship in Europe, between industry, research institutes and universities. Marcello Triulzio -
Scientific communication & Research visits
SNSF Scientific exchanges The SNSF funds research stays of max. 6 months in Switzerland or abroad and covers some costs for organising a scientific event (travel, room and board costs of participants). Research Service Open accessPublication grants Publication grants are aimed at researchers in Switzerland who wish to publish research results for an academic public. University Library Lugano SNSF Agorà Agora aims to foster dialogue between scientists and society. It encourages researchers to communicate their current research to a non-specialist audience. Research Service MSCA Staff Exchanges MSCA SE promote innovative international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and innovation through short-term exchanges of staff, members of participating organisations. It is open to research, technical, administrative and managerial staff supporting R&I activities. Sara Caspani
