Funding Possibilities

Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development - R4D

The Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development (r4d.ch programme) is being implemented jointly by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The joint programme supports relevant research for development aimed at solving global problems in poor countries. It consists of five thematic modules and a module for research without pre-defined topics. To stay informed you can subscribe to the programme newsletter.

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.

The Confederation’s Bilateral Programmes with BRICS Countries

The bilateral programmes of the Swiss Confederation are aimed at promoting and strengthening scientific cooperation between Switzerland and non-European countries that show high or promising research potential.
The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) has given the SNSF a similar mandate for the 2017-2020 period, namely to conduct calls for Joint Research Projects (JRPs) in collaboration with Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa and South Korea.

Swiss - African Research Cooperation (SARECO)

The funding line to finance kick-start activities with partners in Africa intends to incentivize and further collaboration between Swiss and African researchers by focusing on the following kick-starting instruments: Exchange visits, Joint seminars, Joint Workshops.
Grants are available for the following countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia
Updates about calls for proposals and conferences are made available at the SARECO twitter account at: twitter.com/swissafrica

Calls International Cooperation in Research and Innovation via SERI

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

Scientific Exchanges

Scientific conferences and workshops are the two types of event covered by the scheme. Research visits by Swiss researchers to other countries or by researchers from abroad to Switzerland are funded for a period of 1 to 6 months.

Doc.Mobility by SNSF

Doc.Mobility fellowships are designed for doctoral students 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. These fellowships are awarded for a minimum of 6 months up to a maximum of 18 months.

Early 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.

Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme

The SNSF and its Indian partner, the Department of Biotechnolgoy (DBT), are launching a call for Joint Research Projects (JRPs); the submitted proposals will be jointly evaluated by the two organisations. JRPs enable scientists in Switzerland to collaborate with research partners in India. The SNSF will cover the project costs in Switzerland and the DBT the costs incurred in India. The two organisations plan to fund between 15 and 20 projects for a period of 3 to 4 years under the call.

Overview of SNSF's funding schemes

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.

UBS Foundation

UBS Foundation is dedicated to improving the well-being of children in need through education, protection and health. Therefore UBS Foundation support projects in the areas of: Education & Upbringing, Child protection, Global health research.

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.

News on funding possibilities