Funding Possibilities
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 submissin deadline: 2 November 2021
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
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.
Leading House pilot activities
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:
- North Africa and Middle East: University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in collaboration with the University of Basel
- Latin America: University of St Gallen (HSG)
- East and Southeast Asia: ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
- South Asia and Iran: Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Calls International Cooperation in Research and Innovation via SERI
International calls published via the State Secretary for Education Research and Innovation (SERI)
SUDAC
Partners of the swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC) can apply for collaborative projects within one of the five Cluster of Cooperation (CLOC):
Project Funding SNSF
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.
Next Submission Deadline: 1 October 2021
Bridge
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.
- 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 deadline Proof of Concept: 6 September 2021
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.
Swiss - African Research Cooperation (SARECO)
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.
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 from Swiss institutions with high replication potential.
Swiss Network for International Studies, SNIS
Researchers and scholars seeking to apply for any of the funding opportunitiesoffered by the SNIS can quickly find relevant information on current and up-coming call for projects and awards, as well as detailed information on formal requirements.
Current calls in the area of agricultural research for development, and relevant for researchers based in Switzerland.
Provided by the Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR)
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.
Other Funding Possibilities
Foundation Maps
Foundation Maps is a data visualization tool from Foundation Center that brings philanthropic data to life, making it easy to understand who is funding what and where around the world. Simple yet powerful filters zero-in on the issues and places that are most important to you, and interactive features reveal connections among organizations and highlight trends over time. - Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide.
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
START - grant and employment opportunities
START promotes research-driven capacity building to advance knowledge on global environmental change in Africa and Asia-Pacific - , both within and outside of START.
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.
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.
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.
Contatto
SCNAT
Commissione per i partenariati di ricerca con paesi in via di sviluppo (KFPE)
Casa delle Accademie
Casella postale
3001 Berna
News on funding possibilities
In the context of the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme, the SNSF, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in India and the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) are issuing a call for Joint Research Projects (JRPs). Submission deadline is 30 November 2021.
The SUDAC CLOC DEAR MENA has launched a small grant program with an extended submission deadline of September 30th 2021.
This call for proposals is open to universities based in low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Applicants must have a strong track record in research as well as community and policy outreach.
La DSC e la SECO organizzano per la seconda volta il concorso Giovani e futuro «Together we’re better»
The Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH) leads scientifically outstanding and innovative research in improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents worldwide.
This Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) brings together Southeast Asian, European and Swiss researchers to collaborate on topics of interest for both sides. Apply before 15 October.
The Research Partnership Grants support research projects with collaborating institutions in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam China (incl. Hong Kong and Taiwan), Japan, and South Korea, which have to be based on an existing partnership.
Il Messaggio sulla promozione dell’educazione, della ricerca e dell’innovazione negli anni 2021–2024 prevede la continuazione dei programmi di cooperazione bilaterali con Paesi partner al di fuori dell’Europa, lanciati nel 2008. Come confermato da una valutazione internazionale del 2020, questi programmi svolgono un ruolo importante ai fini della diversificazione delle cooperazioni internazionali nella ricerca e contribuiscono a far aumentare in modo significativo il numero delle pubblicazioni scientifiche congiunte di attori svizzeri e partner extraeuropei. Con la firma di convenzioni sulle prestazioni con cinque Leading House, lo strumento di promozione è stato confermato per altri quattro anni.
Research.swiss
Research.swiss is a centralised platform showcasing scientific and technological cooperation opportunities between Switzerland and the rest of the world.