About
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF/SNSF) is Switzerland's leading research funding organization. It invests in researchers and their ideas, promoting outstanding research at universities and other institutions across all disciplines—from chemistry and medicine to sociology. The foundation supports thousands of research teams in creating knowledge for a better future and works with partners to shape Switzerland's research landscape. The SNF funds basic research and aims to foster scientific careers, international collaboration, open science, and equality, diversity and inclusion in research.
Funding Opportunities
Money follows Researcher
The Money follows Researcher process is aimed at researchers who move abroad and would like current SNSF funding to continue. In principle, a continuation of the project is possible in any country. The project can either continue in Switzerland while being managed from abroad or transferred to the new location. This supplementary measure allows researchers with active SNSF grants to maintain their funding when relocating internationally, ensuring continuity of their research work. The SNSF decides on a case-by-case basis how the funds can be used in Switzerland while the project is being managed from abroad, or whether they can be transferred in whole or in part to the new host institution. Applications are accepted year-round, and researchers must contact the unit responsible for their funding scheme before applying.
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. A mobility grant can cover travel and living costs as well as fees for conferences and workshops of up to CHF 20,000. It is awarded for six to twelve months. If the applicant is to be accompanied by immediate family, up to CHF 5,000 per additional family member may be awarded. The stay abroad must take place within the time-frame of the research project funded by the SNSF, and applications must be submitted no later than two months before the start of the stay abroad. The stay must occur at a single research institution without interruption.
Gender Equality Grant
The Gender Equality Grant is a supplementary measure offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to support female researchers in early career phases. Eligible researchers receive CHF 1,000 per 12 months of approved project running time. The grant is designed to finance career support measures tailored to the needs of women researchers, such as mentoring, coaching, courses, workshops, and participation in events that are conducive to networking. The grant does not cover family support measures. The gender equality grant is automatically available to eligible female researchers employed in SNSF-funded projects and career funding schemes, requiring no separate application. Doctoral and postdoctoral level women researchers, as well as women researchers at universities of applied sciences without a doctorate, are eligible. A work-time percentage of at least 60 percent funded by the SNSF is generally required, though doctoral students may be awarded the grant regardless of their work-time percentage. If project funds are available, they may be used to finance the grant; otherwise, a compensatory payment may be initiated in the final financial report.
Flexibility Grant
Flexibility grants are aimed at postdocs and doctoral students who have to look after children at an important stage in their career and are therefore in need of more flexibility. The Flexibility Grant offers researchers two options to balance their professional and private lives: on the one hand, it can provide funding to help cover the external child care costs charged to the researcher. On the other hand, it can be used to help finance the salary of a support person, allowing the grantee to reduce his/her work quota. The two measures can also be combined. This grant is available to researchers employed in SNSF-funded research projects who need external childcare on three working days per week and can cover at most one of the remaining two days themselves. Postdocs must have a work-time percentage of at least 80%, while doctoral students can apply irrespective of their work-time percentage. Holders of Ambizione, PRIMA, Postdoc.Mobility return grants and Doc.CH grants may also apply.
Open Access Book Publications
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) provides funding for the publication of scientific books that are made available immediately, without restrictions and free of charge through gold open access. This funding scheme supports the dissemination of research results, whether they originate from SNSF-funded research or from other projects. The SNSF funds academic book publications in the form of monographs and edited volumes that have undergone a peer review process. Monographs include doctoral dissertations, habilitations, legal commentaries and editions. The book publications must have proven academic added value and be primarily aimed at an academic audience. The SNSF reimburses the publisher's services for quality assurance, book production and distribution through a book processing charge (BPC), covering up to 15,000 Swiss francs per book publication. Additional funding is available for particularly lengthy publications, elaborate layouts, audiovisual and interactive content, or foreign language proofreading. Applications can be submitted at any time via the online platform mySNF, with decisions typically provided within two months.
Agora
Agora supports communication projects that promote exchanges between science and society. The programme provides funding for researchers to engage in dialogue with the public and communicate research results through various communication methods. Projects must be developed and realised in collaboration with experts from communication, knowledge transfer, culture, media, and similar fields. The programme aims to convey fundamental scientific knowledge and foster dialogue between researchers and their target audiences. Two funding tracks are available: the Agora call for projects with budgets up to 200,000 Swiss francs submitted annually in autumn, and the Agora rolling call for projects up to 50,000 Swiss francs that can be submitted at any time with decisions within four months. Projects can span up to three years and must focus on research findings, scientific challenges, or the role of research itself, targeting audiences in Switzerland that are outside of academic teaching and research contexts.
Scientific Exchanges
The Scientific Exchanges funding scheme from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) provides financial support for scientific events in Switzerland and research visits between Swiss researchers and international colleagues. The types of scientific events covered include scientific conferences and workshops. 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. For scientific events, the scheme covers travel expenses, accommodation and meals of participants from abroad as well as certain costs of online or hybrid events. For research visits, the scheme covers the travel expenses, accommodation and meals of travelling guests.
One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (OHAMR): First Call for Proposals
The European Partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (EUP OHAMR) is launching its first transnational call within the focus area of providing innovative and cost-effective treatment options. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge that affects human and animal health, food security and the environment. The programme brings together 53 organisations from 30 countries in the EU and beyond to address AMR challenges across sectors and One Health domains. Swiss-based researchers can participate on equal terms with teams from EU member states and other associated countries. The first call covers three main topics: (1) Identify and develop new combination treatments using existing or innovative antimicrobials or antimicrobial with adjunctive treatments to extend drug efficacy and combat resistance; (2) Develop tools and methods to improve adherence to treatment protocols; (3) Assess the impact of antimicrobials for veterinary and agricultural use on the risk of AMR transmission to humans and the environment to inform policies on the restriction of some antimicrobials for human use. The call follows a two-step submission process with pre-proposals due February 2, 2026 and full proposals due June 17, 2026. Applications must be submitted at both the central level (via the Joint Call Secretariat) and at the national level (Swiss partners must submit through SNSF's mySNF platform). Swiss partners must meet the SNSF's Project funding eligibility criteria to receive funding.
Solution-oriented Research for Development (SOR4D)
The SOR4D programme is a joint initiative of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It supports transdisciplinary projects with solution-oriented approaches that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and reducing poverty. The programme supports researchers from Switzerland in developing concrete innovative solutions for global challenges, together with researchers and practice partners from partner countries in the Global South. The programme is open to all disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, life sciences and health sciences. Proposals must explicitly target systemic solutions that simultaneously address several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The call focuses on the topics of peace and good governance, human development, climate and environment, and sustainable economic development. The research phase lasts three or four years. Projects can also apply for additional funding with Transformation Accelerating Grants. A total of 22.4 million Swiss francs is available for the SOR4D programme. The project selection consists of a two-stage process with pre-proposals followed by full proposals.
Joint call with India in the field of One Health
As part of the federal government's bilateral programmes, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), together with the Indian Department of Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research, is launching a call for joint research projects (JRPs) in the field of One Health. This programme allows researchers in Switzerland to carry out joint research projects with partners in India. The call supports research projects that adopt the One Health approach, which focuses on the interconnected health of humans, animals and the environment. Up to ten projects of up to four years can be funded, with a maximum budget for the Swiss side of 400,000 francs per project. Interested researchers are invited to contact researchers in India in order to prepare a joint application.
SNSF Starting Grants 2026
The SNSF Starting Grants 2026 call is aimed at researchers interested in leading their own research project and team in Switzerland. These grants represent the SNSF's highest level of career funding. The call will be launched on 1 February 2026 and is open to all disciplines and research topics. Applicants must have several years of research experience following the completion of their doctorate, equivalent qualification or medical degree. However, individuals who have already achieved the objective of this call are not eligible. Applicants must also have a link with Switzerland. For applicants who need to finance their own salary, the grant will comprise the project funds (max. 1 million francs) in addition to their salary. For applicants whose salary is already secured, the grant will cover the project funds (max. 1 million francs). Applications for an SNSF Starting Grant 2026 will, for the first time, be submitted in full via the SNSF Portal. Applicants whose project was rejected in a previous SNSF Starting Grants call may submit a second application regardless of the topic and evaluation of the first project. Parallel submission of the same or a similar project to funding schemes that are not funded by the SNSF is permitted. These include, for example, the ERC Starting Grants. However, double funding for thematically similar projects is not allowed. This restriction already applies while the SNSF evaluation process is in progress: If a similar project receives a positive decision from another funding scheme during this period, applicants must choose between accepting the funding offer or continuing with the SNSF evaluation.
Belmont Forum Ocean 2 Call for Proposals
The Belmont Forum Ocean 2 call aims to coordinate actions and projects to address global environmental challenges related to oceans, their high biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems. The call prioritises three main thematic areas: biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions, ocean-biodiversity-climate integration, and nature futures, ocean governance and ethics for sustainability. This call seeks to integrate multilateral and collaborative approaches while strengthening the link between societal needs and science and technology. The research must take into account differences between ocean basins, cultural diversity, regional and local specificities, and distinct financial models. By strengthening the science-policy-society interface, the call seeks to foster evidence-based policymaking, improve multi-level and cross-sectoral societal cooperation in ocean governance, and support the effective implementation of solutions for ocean biodiversity and sustainability globally.
BRIDGE Discovery
BRIDGE Discovery is a funding scheme jointly launched by Innosuisse and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) aimed at experienced researchers from all disciplines who wish to realise an innovation with great social or economic impact. The funding scheme enables researchers to submit proposals individually or as part of a consortium of up to three researchers. Projects must be characterised by scientific excellence and a clear vision of a future application. BRIDGE Discovery funds projects for up to four years, covering salaries of project employees and research costs directly linked to the project. This is the tenth call for proposals under this funding scheme, with submissions opening through the mySNF platform.
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026
The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships programme enables researchers in Switzerland to conduct postdoctoral research stays in Japan for 12 to 24 months. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) acts as the nomination body for these fellowships offered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). In 2026, the SNSF can propose two researchers to the JSPS for consideration. Researchers must be based at a Swiss research institution at the moment of submission. After evaluation by the SNSF, the JSPS will evaluate the nominated applications and inform candidates about funding decisions by summer 2026. Selected researchers must commence their stays at the latest on 30 November 2026.
International Co-Investigator Scheme
The International Co-Investigator Scheme provides funding for cross-border research projects which include a subproject abroad. This funding scheme is aimed at researchers in Switzerland whose project includes a subproject in partner countries. The SNSF or partner agency evaluates and finances both the project and subproject. The agreement with Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands covers all disciplines, while the agreement with the UK is limited to the humanities and social sciences. The usual submission deadlines are 1 April and 1 October, and only one application may be submitted per deadline. The SNSF evaluates the International Co-Investigator applications together with regular project funding applications, without any involvement of the foreign funding agency (single evaluation). As a grant holder, you are also accountable to the SNSF for the scientific and financial part abroad. With the International Co-Investigator Scheme, researchers can use up to 50 per cent of the budget requested from the SNSF for applicants in Denmark, Norway, Sweden or the Netherlands. For projects in the humanities and social sciences with the UK, subprojects in the UK must not exceed 30 per cent of the overall budget. This is a project funding scheme, and the requirements set out in the Project Funding Regulations apply to international co-applicants, including having a minimum of 50 per cent (0.5 FTE) employment in the country concerned. Overhead contributions cannot be applied for separately as they are calculated on the basis of total research funding and paid directly to the applicant's institution yearly.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 28
- Active Now
- 15
- Source Domain
- snf.ch
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
Visit official website