Funder · Foundation

Swiss National Science Foundation

Funds long-term initiatives in science, education, and social impact through public mission-focused grantmaking.

Switzerlandwww.snf.ch

Key stats

Annual fundingCHF 500M

Programs10

Active grants3

Total grants5

About

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funds excellent research at universities and other institutions across all disciplines — from basic science to applied innovation. Founded in 1952, it is Switzerland's primary public research funder, investing more than CHF 500 million annually through Project Funding alone and supporting around 6,000 projects per year.

SNSF operates via six funding pillars: Projects (project grants for individuals and collaborators), Careers (fellowships and professorships for researchers at all stages), Programmes (BRIDGE with Innosuisse, clinical trials IICT, National Research Programmes, NCCRs), Infrastructures (R'Equip), Science Communication (Agora, Scientific Exchanges), and International (Weave, Lead Agency, bilateral programmes). It is funded by the Federal grant from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under a multi-year framework (currently 2025–2028).

Following Switzerland's re-association with Horizon Europe in 2024, several SNSF transitional measures (e.g., SNSF Advanced Grants substituting for ERC) have been wound down. Swiss researchers now participate directly in ERC, Horizon Europe Collaborative, and other EU calls.

Programs & grants under this funder

Innosuisse BRIDGE Discovery

Funds Innosuisse BRIDGE Discovery to sustain multi-year applied research translation into near-market applications.

Innosuisse BRIDGE Proof of Concept

Supports Innosuisse BRIDGE Proof of Concept for early-stage researchers turning results into practical innovation pilots.

SNSF Eccellenza Professorial Fellowship

Funds SNSF Eccellenza Professorial Fellowships providing salary and research support for new independent research leaders in Switzerland.

SNSF Practice-to-Science

Supports SNSF Practice-to-Science transitions for researchers returning from industry into applied academic innovation roles.

SNSF Advanced Grants

Funds advanced Swiss research projects across disciplines for established researchers.

BRIDGE

Funds translation-oriented pathways from Swiss research to practical use through proof concepts and discovery tracks.

2 grants

BRIDGE Discovery — 10th

Opens 2027

— pool

BRIDGE Proof of Concept

Open

— pool·64 days

Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICT)

Funds large, investigator-led clinical trials in Switzerland for unmet medical needs.

Funds Swiss investigator-driven projects across scientific disciplines through competitive grants.

Funds early-career researchers in Switzerland with independent five-year groups through career grant support.

Offers funding for unconventional Swiss research ideas through early pilots and novel concepts.

Last verified: 28 May 2026Source: www.snf.ch