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.Janice Casarella 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 and Czech Republic.
Janice Casarella 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.Janice Casarella 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 ERC Starting grant Highly competitive European funding scheme aimed at young researchers (2-7 years after PhD) who are ready to work independently.
Max. project duration 5 years; applicant’s salary may be included.See How to apply at USI (internal deadline: 12 November 2021 - ERC StG tentative deadline: 13 January 2022).
Martina Pestoni ERC Advanced grant Extremely competitive European funding scheme aimed at researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years.
Max. project duration 5 years; applicants’ salary may be included.Martina Pestoni ERC Consolidator grant Extremely competitive European funding scheme aimed at researchers with 7-12 years of experience after PhD.
Max. project duration 5 years; applicants’ salary may be included.See How to apply at USI (internal deadline: 17 January 2022 - ERC CoG tentative deadline: 17 March 2022)
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. Janice Casarella 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. 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
