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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 pi…

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
Closed
— pool
BRIDGE Proof of Concept
Open
— pool·15 days
Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICT)

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

1 grant
IICT — 12th
Open
— pool·72 days
SNSF Project Funding

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

1 grant
SNSF Project Funding
Open
— pool·39 days
SNSF Starting Grants

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

1 grant
SNSF Starting Grants
Closed
— pool
SNSF Spark

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

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