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 
    Lazzarinetti
    SNSF 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 
    Lazzarinetti
    SNSF Sinergia Sinergia promotes the interdisciplinary collaboration of 2-4 research groups that propose breakthrough research.
    Max. project duration 4 years; does not include the applicant’s own salary; 1 applicant may be based abroad if there are 3 or more applicants.
    Anna 
    Lazzarinetti
    Professorial Fellowships

    Professorial Fellowships are aimed at outstanding researchers who are on their way to becoming professors.
    Max. project duration 5 years. Professorial Fellowships include project funds and the applicant's salary.
    See How to apply at USI (Internal deadline 1st of November).

    Martina Pestoni

    SNSF Consolidator grant

     

    Due 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.

    Martina Pestoni
    SNSF Advanced grant 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.
    Martina Pestoni
    SNSF Starting grant

    Due to Switzerland’s status as a non-associated third country in the Horizon Europe programme, the federal government mandated the SNSF to launch the funding scheme "SNSF Starting Grants 2023".
    The scheme is open to all disciplines and topics; researchers of any nationality may apply. Applicants can request a budget of up to CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.

    Martina Pestoni
    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 
    Lazzarinetti
    SNSF 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.
    Research Service
    SNSF 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.
    Benedetto Lepori
    Leading 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)

     

    Research Service
    Istituto 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 Swiss researchers can participate in collaborative research projects of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

    Martina Pestoni

    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. Benedetto Lepori
    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. Martina Pestoni
    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. Research Service
  • 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
    SNSF Publication grants Publication grants are aimed at researchers in Switzerland who wish to publish research results for an academic public. Martina Pestoni
    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