Finanzierungsquellen
This website provides an overview of funding opportunities for global research partnerships with low- and middle-income countries. It shows funding opportunities of Swiss funding programmes, international funding opportunities and provides an overview of additional websites with funding opportunities. Information on Scholarships for students and researchers coming to Switzerland or going to low- and middle-income countries can be found at this website.
SOR4D - Solution-oriented Research for Development

The Solution-oriented Research for Development (SOR4D) programme is a joint funding instrument between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) that builds on experiences and lessons learnt in previous joint programmes.
Application deadline: currently no open call
SPIRIT – Swiss Programme for International Research by Scientific Investigation Teams

The SPIRIT programme facilitates knowledge exchange between Swiss researchers and researchers in selected countries that are receiving development assistance. With SPIRIT, the SNSF is giving Swiss researchers more opportunities to collaborate with partners in many countries around the world.
Next submission deadline: 2 November 2022
Federal bilateral cooperation programmes
The Federal Council launched the bilateral programmes in 2008 to foster cooperation with non-European partners in the ERI sector. Based on the principles of mutual interest, joint funding and scientific excellence, they are designed to facilitate long-term and sustainable partnerships. The bilateral programmes consist of two complementary instruments: joint research projects with the BRICS countries as well as with Argentina, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, and Leading House pilot activities with promising regions.

Open calls:
- Leading House Latin America Consolidation Grants: 31.7.2022
- Leading House Asia Innovation Partnership Grants: 31.7.2022
- Leading House Asia Opportunity Grants: 31.7.2022
- Leading House MENA, Research Partnership Grant: 12.09.2022

Global Research Council (GRC) Collaborative Funding for the Sustainable Development Goals
The SNSF participates in the Global Research Council (GRC), a virtual organisation comprising heads of science and engineering funding agencies from around the world. The GRC is launching a pilot call committed to taking concrete steps towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative research and actions.
Next submission deadline: 05.08.2022
SUDAC
Partners of the swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC) can apply for collaborative projects within one of the five Cluster of Cooperation (CLOC):

FDFA Mandates
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) awards mandates to contractors with subject-matter expertise, such as aid agencies, research institutions and private companies, for the implementation of specific projects and programmes, including those in the area of international cooperation (development cooperation, cooperation with Eastern Europe and humanitarian aid).
Scientific Exchanges
Scientific Exchanges is aimed at researchers who want to host their own scientific event in Switzerland, invite colleagues from abroad for a research visit to Switzerland, or visit their colleagues in another country.
Running call: apply at least 4 months before the event or visit.
Postdoc.Mobility by SNSF
Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowships are designed for postdocs at the beginning of their career who wish to enhance their scientific profile by working at a research institution abroad.
The fellowships include a grant towards living costs, a flat-rate for travel expenses and, if justified, a contribution towards research and conference costs as well as matriculation fees. In principle, these fellowships are awarded for 18 months, in justified cases for at least 12 months.
Next submission deadline: 1 August 2022
Further SNSF Funding
SNSF has different funding instruments that are not explicitly designed for but can be used for research collaborations.
U Change 2021-2024
The funding scheme «U Change – Studentische Initiativen zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung» supports the implementation of project ideas through students from Swiss Higher Education Institutions (Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, Universities of Teacher Education, Universities). These initiatives can also be implemented in collaboration with students from LMIC.
Next Submission Deadline: 31 October 2022
Innosuisse
Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency. Its role is to promote science-based innovation in the interest of the economy and society in Switzerland. Innosuisse supports science-based innovation in the interest of the economy and society through innovation projects, support for start-ups, internationalisation and networking support. International tenders include collaboration within European and selected partner countries.
Next Submission Deadline for international projects with Brazil: Call closed
Next submission Deadline for Bridge Proof of Concept: 5 September 2022

REPIC
REPIC is the interdepartmental platform for the promotion of renewable energy, energy and resource efficiency in international cooperation. REPIC is partially financing new, sustainable and effective small-scale projects in Low- and Middle-Income Countries from Swiss institutions with high replication potential.
Next submission deadline for project outlines: 05 August 2022

Swiss Network for International Studies, SNIS
The SNIS promotes academic research in the interdisciplinary area of international studies. Thematic areas of interest include environment, development, health, human rights and education.
Nestlé Foundation
The Nestlé Foundation initiates and supports research in human nutrition with public health relevance in low-income and lower middle-income countries according to the World Bank classification.
Sight and Life
Sight and Life has recently instituted its new strategy and as such the grants (humanitarian, educational, conference grants) have been redesigned. The strategic focuses are micronutrient dietary improvement through supplementation and fortification; promoting partnerships and building capacity; and sharing knowledge for improved nutrition.
Botnar Fondation
Fondation Botnar provides a range of funding opportunities to enable pioneering research and innovation, and to help realise ground-breaking initiatives. Botnar Fondation is committed to harnessing emerging solutions to build a better future for children and young people. Botnar Fondation and the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH) have different funding instruments for research in and with low- and middle income countries.
Velux Stiftung
Velux Stiftung supports innovative research that tackles the complex challenges we face as a society with an interdisciplinary approach. Its Ophthalmolgy Programme focuses on LMICs.
Project funding opportunities by different Universities and Institutes
International Funding Possibilities
IDEA-PhD Portal
The International Association of Universities’ (IAU) portal on doctoral education IDEA-PhD stands for Innovative Approaches to Doctoral Education in Africa. Besides many funding opportunities, you can find a lot of information about what it takes to ensure successful doctoral education and research.
ACCESS4.EU projects
This web portal provides European researchers with information about Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI) programmes around the world, which are open to European participation.
AuthorAID - Funding List
AuthorAID is a free pioneering global network that provides support, mentoring, resources and training for researchers in low and middle income countries. AuthorAID provide travel and workshop grants twice a year. On the link below you find many more funding opportunities
IDRC - International Development Research Center
IDRC offers grants, funding, and awards to researchers and institutions to find solutions for global development challenges.
SciDevNet
Link to various research grants
TWAS, the voice for science in the South
TWAS is a global science academy based in Trieste, Italy, working to advance science and engineering for sustainable prosperity in the developing world.
The UK Collaborative on Development Research
The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) is a group of government departments and research funders working in international development.
CODESRIA (Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa)
CODESRIA offers many opportunities ranging from conferences, training workshops, research activities, job vacancies
International Foundation for Science (IFS)
The objective of the IFS is to support developing countries in managing their natural resources in a sustainable way. It helps to reinforce the research capacity in these countries and to finance excellent research that is relevant to the mission of IFS.
Funding opportunities sourced by GDNet
Funding opportunities, grants and scholarships currently featured in the Regional Windows relevant to researchers and research institutes working on development issues in low and middle income countries.
Opportunities for Africans
A portal collecting information on research grants and fellowships.
European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)
EDCTP aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines and microbicides against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, with a focus on phase II and III clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa by supporting multicentre projects which combine clinical trials, capacity building and networking.
Sida Research calls and grants
In collaboration with its partners the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency regularly announces research calls and grants.
Belmont Forum – Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs)
The Belmont Forum CRAs are recurring calls that aim to support international transdisciplinary research providing knowledge for understanding, mitigating and adapting to global environmental change. Every proposal must include natural scientists, social scientists and stakeholders. Collaborators must be from at least three different countries.
Please note: at this stage, Switzerland is not yet a member of the Belmont Forum and Swiss researchers are not eligible to apply for funding, though they can join research teams if they bring their own funds.
ICGEB Fellowships and Grants
ICGEB include five types of long and short-term PhD and Postdoctoral awards in the fields of genetic engineering and biotechnology available to scientists who are nationals of ICGEB Member States to perform research in Trieste, New Delhi or Cape Town. The ICGEB runs additional joint fellowship programmes with India and China.
ICGEB Research Grants are a dedicated source of funding aimed at financing projects addressing original scientific problems of particular relevance for the host country and of regional interest.
Open calls

Swissnex offers a 3-month internship to work in India in the fields of mechatronics, AI and robotics, medtech and cleantech. Call deadline: July 1st, 2022

The Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) offers an annual Award for graduates and scientists of a Swiss institution who work in agricultural research for development.

Research funding opportunity focused on integrated systems approaches to accurately characterize migration and mobility and its intersection with Global Change, both closely related and intersecting phenomena. Please note: Switzerland is not yet a member of the Belmont Forum and Swiss researchers are not eligible to apply for funding, though they can join research teams if they bring their own funds. Call for full proposals closes on 29 July 2022.

The 'Opportunity Grants' support bottom-up initiatives of researchers from Swiss research institutions linked to specific events or incidents in East and Southeast Asia. Submission deadline: 31 July 2022
Register for our to receive information on open calls.
Further Swiss Collections of funding instruments
How to establish fair research partnerships
- On Research-Earth you can learn more about potantial research partners.
- The KFPE Guidelines support you in establishing fair research partnerships.
- Read the Guide on Conflict Sensitive Reserach if you operate in confict sensitive contexts
- Learn more about challenges and opportunities when collaborating with the private sector or civil society
- Conclude fair research contracts with the FRC-Tool.
- Send us an if you have further questions.
If you are a research funder and wish to promote your funding instrument at our website, please let us know