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La KFPE è il punto d’informazione centrale per la ricerca globale in Svizzera. S’impegna per una collaborazione di ricerca efficiente ed efficace su un piano di parità con paesi in via di sviluppo e in fase di transizione. Così contribuisce allo sviluppo duraturo e alla soluzione di problemi locali e globali.di più

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Funding Possibilities

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

SOR4D Logo

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

SPIRIT

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.

Joint research projects (JRPs) are conducted on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) in cooperation with funding agencies in Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Vietnam. A JRP usually lasts between three and four years and enables Swiss researchers to address specific questions together with researchers from the partner countries. From 2017 to 2020, more than 100 JRPs received funding. As they have proved to be so successful, the bilateral programmes will be continued in the years 2021–2024. In consultation with its partner organisations, the SNSF regularly launches calls for proposals for larger bilateral research projects.

In the Leading House model, selected Swiss institutes of higher education are commissioned by SERI to set up cooperation instruments for start-up funding and innovative pilot projects under the framework of the bilateral programmes. This has proved to be a useful and efficient format for establishing privileged contacts and testing new instruments of research and innovation cooperation. Between 2017 and 2020, more than 500 pilot research and innovation activities with these new countries and regions received funding.

The following Leading Houses have been commissioned to run smaller pilot projects regionally in 2021 to 2024:

Leading Houses
Leading Houses

Open calls: ​

  • Leading House Asia, Research Partnership Grant ASEAN: 30.09.2022
  • Leading House MENA, Joint call for projects Morocco-Switzerland: 09.12.2022

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).

  • Mandates over CHF 230,000 are published on SIMAP, the electronic public procurement platform of the federal government.
  • Mandates below CHF 230,00 are published at the website of the FDFA.
Call for collaborative funding for the SDGs
Immagine: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds

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.

Currently no open call

SUDAC

Partners of the swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC) can apply for collaborative projects within one of the five Cluster of Cooperation (CLOC):

SUDAC
SUDAC

Current open calls:

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.

Mobility grants in projects

Mobility grants are aimed at doctoral students who wish to improve their scientific profile by going abroad while being employed in an ongoing SNSF research project. During the period spent abroad, the grantee will remain matriculated at the Swiss home institution and employed as a doctoral student in the SNSF-funded research project.

Applications can be submittted anytime.

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: 01.02.2023

Further SNSF Funding

SNSF has different funding instruments that are not explicitly designed for but can be used for research collaborations.

Projectfunding

Under the project funding scheme, researchers define their research themes and objectives themselves and conduct their project under their own responsibility. The researchers can apply for funding of research costs and staff salaries, as well as of scientific cooperation, networking and communication; however, they may not apply for their own salaries. Submission deadlines: 01 April and 01 October of every year.

Sinergia

Sinergia promotes the interdisciplinary collaboration of two to four research groups that propose breakthrough research.

Submission deadline: 02.11.2022

BRIDGE is a joint programme conducted by the SNSF and Innosuisse. It offers new funding opportunities at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation, thereby supplementing the funding activities of the two organisations.

BRIDGE consists of two funding opportunities:

  • Proof of Concept is aimed at young researchers who wish to develop an application or service based on their research results. These projects may target innovations of all kinds from all research areas. Next submission deadline: 5 December 2022.
  • Discovery is aimed at experienced researchers who aim to explore and implement the innovation potential of research results. Only innovations that have a societal and economic impact will be funded. Next submission: currently no open call.

The Agora scheme aims to foster dialogue between scientists and society.

The Agora scheme aims to foster dialogue between scientists and society. It encourages researchers to communicate their current research to an audience of lay people. Agora projects have to initiate a dialogue between researchers and the public in which they interact and listen to each other.

Submission deadline:

  • running call for projects up to CHF 50'000, submission anytime
  • 10 October each year for projects up to CHF 200'000

Following Switzerland's non-association to Horizon Europe as of 2021, the SNSF has on the government's behalf launched the scheme 'SNSF Ad-vanced Grants'. It is aimed at researchers who intended to apply for an ERC Advanced Grant in 2021.

Submission deadline: 02.11.2022

Grants for researchers who want to lead an independent research project and direct a team of researchers in Switzerland. With an SNSF Starting Grant, grantees will lead an independent research project and direct a team of researchers in Switzerland. An SNSF Starting Grant comes after several years of research after the PhD, qualification equivalent to a PhD, or medical degree during which grantees have already achieved scientific independence and contributed to impactful research in their field.

The scheme is open to all disciplines and topics; researchers of any nationality may apply.

Note: If no submissions for ERC Starting Grants 2023 are possible, the federal government will mandate the SNSF to launch the SNSF Starting Grants 2023 call in November 2022. In any case, researchers who wish to carry out their research in Switzerland can already prepare their application for an ERC Starting Grant.

Submission deadline:

  • 25.10. ERC Starting Grants
  • currently no open call for SNSF Starting Grants

Ambizione grants are aimed at young researchers who wish to conduct, manage and lead an independent project at a Swiss higher education institution. The scheme supports young researchers both from Switzerland and abroad. Scientists holding non-professorial academic positions at higher education institutions are also eligible to submit an application.

Next submission deadline: 1 November 2022

Doc.CH is aimed at promising researchers who wish to write a doctoral thesis on a topic of their own choice in the humanities and social sciences in Switzerland. Part of the doctoral thesis may be conducted at a host institution abroad if a corresponding request giving reasons is submitted.

Besides the salary of the doctoral student, the grant may include a contribution towards costs directly related to project implementation.

Submission deadline: 15 March and 15 September

The SNSF provides grants to finance scientific publications that are made available immediately, without restriction and free of charge (gold open access). There are three types of processing charges:

  • for articles in open access journals (article processing charges APCs)
  • for open access book publications (book processing charges BPCs)
  • for book chapters (book chapter processing charges BCPCs)

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 December 2022

Innosuisse and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial (EMBRAPII) work together to support international innovation projects implemented by partners from Switzerland and Brazil. Research institutions and companies have the opportunity to submit funding applications in regular calls for proposals. This partnership boosts knowledge and technology transfer and makes both countries more competitive.

BRIDGE is a joint programme conducted by the SNSF and Innosuisse. It offers new funding opportunities at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation, thereby supplementing the funding activities of the two organisations.

BRIDGE consists of two funding opportunities:

  • Proof of Concept is aimed at young researchers who wish to develop an application or service based on their research results. These projects may target innovations of all kinds from all research areas. Next submission deadline: 5 December 2022.
  • Discovery is aimed at experienced researchers who aim to explore and implement the innovation potential of research results. Only innovations that have a societal and economic impact will be funded. Next submission: currently no open call.

ERC Starting Grants

With an ERC Starting Grant, grantees lead an independent research project and direct a team of researchers in Switzerland. An ERC Starting Grant comes after several years of research after the PhD, qualification equivalent to a PhD, or medical degree during which grantees have already achieved scientific independence and contributed to impactful research in their field.

Applicants can request a budget of up to CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.

Note: If no submissions for ERC Starting Grants 2023 are possible, the federal government will mandate the SNSF to launch the SNSF Starting Grants 2023 call in November 2022. In any case, researchers who wish to carry out their research in Switzerland can already prepare their application for an ERC Starting Grant.

Application deadline: 25 October 2022

Movetia

Movetia promotes exchanges and mobility in the education system (also in tertiary education). The aim of the Movetia International Programme is to support projects that contribute to the development and improvement of the Swiss education system through cooperation between one or more Swiss institutions and one or more European or non-European institutions. To plan a cooperation project, Movetia also supports preparatory visits for Swiss staff.

Next application deadlines: Probably spring 2023

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

REPIC Logo
Immagine: REPIC

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: 12 October 2022

SNIS Logo
Immagine: SNIS

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.

Geneva Science-Policy Interface: Impact Collaboration Programme

This annual call for projects provides funding to spot, support and scale science-policy collaborations that contribute to strengthening science-informed policy-making and build policy-relevant research and tools in support of global governance actors based in Geneva.

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. The foundation is committed to harnessing emerging solutions to build a better future for children and young people. Fondation Botnar 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

ETH4D Research Challenges

The goal of the ETH4D Research Challenges is to enable collaborations on project-​based research between ETH researchers, non-​academic partners and partners from low- and lower-middle ​income countries to develop effective solutions for poverty reduction.

ETH4D Seed Grants

ETH4D Seed Grants provide a smaller amount of funding to explore new collaborations, pilot a new applied research project or scale up existing research projects in low- and lower-middle income countries.

ETH4D Humanitarian Action Challenges

The goal of the ETH4D Humanitarian Action Challenges is to enable collaborations on project-​based research between ETH researchers and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or other humanitarian actors in Switzerland to develop innovative solutions to increase the impact of humanitarian action.

ETH4D Research to Action Grants

The ETH for Development (ETH4D) “Research to Action Grant” aims to ensure that research results are being used, implemented, and disseminated. It supports ETH Zurich bachelor students, master students, doctoral students, post-​docsand senior scientists to develop prototypes, explore opportunities for entrepreneurship and discuss their work with practitioners. The grant sum is up to 5 kCHF.

Tech4Dev

The Tech4Dev research activities consist of calls for collaborative research projects between Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and EPFL researchers.

Science and Technology for Humanitarian Action Challenges (HAC)

The goal of the Science and Technology for Humanitarian Action Challenges is to support project-based research between EPFL researchers, ETH Zurich researchers, and the ICRC to develop effective solutions for a greater impact of humanitarian action.

Technologies appropriées pour le développement durable

La HES -SO lance un appel à projets pour la promotion du développement durable dans les pays francophones de la région MENA (Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord) et d’Afrique subsaharienne. L'appel est adressé à l'ensemble des professeures et professeurs ainsi que des chercheuses et chercheurs de la HES-SO. Le délai de soumission est fixé au 1 octobre 2022.

International Funding Possibilities

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

Register for our to receive information on open calls.

Further Swiss Collections of funding instruments

Research.swiss is a centralised platform showcasing scientific and technological cooperation opportunities between Switzerland and the rest of the world.

International calls published via the State Secretary for Education Research and Innovation (SERI).

Euresearch promotes and facilitates the participation of researchers, organisations and companies in Switzerland in European projects and programmes related to research and innovation. The organisation provides information and guidance on cooperation and funding opportunities.

The Sustainability Research Initiative provides a comprehensive overview on funding opportunities for

  • research
  • application and implementation
  • knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange and science communication
  • training and capacity building

SFIAR provides an overview on current calls in the area of agricultural research for development, relevant for researchers based in Switzerland.

SARECO.org is a database for information on collaborative research between Switzerland and African countries. SARECO does not offer own funding, but can help you during your search for research partners, collaborative institutions or funding instruments.

The establishment of the SARECO database underpins the idea of bringing early career scientists (PHDs and Postdoc researchers) together and to create a framework for exchange about funding instruments and project success stories, inviting peers to follow and by that to grow the Swiss – African research network.

The Centre for African Studies announces funding calls on its website.

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.
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