BRIDGE

BRIDGE is a joint programme of the Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse at the boundary between basic research and science-based innovation. It runs two tracks, Proof of Concept for younger researchers and Discovery for experienced researchers, and applications go through the mySNF and bridge.mysnf.ch route. Proof of Concept funds individual applicants who have finished a bachelor’s or master’s degree within the last four years, are near the end of doctoral study, or earned a doctorate within the last four years. It pays up to CHF 130,000 a year for 12 months, with a possible six-month extension, and the 2026 calendar has three windows: 1 June, 7 September, and 1 December. Discovery is open to experienced researchers, can involve a solo applicant or a consortium of up to three researchers, and funds projects for up to four years; the 10th call closed on 28 April 2026. The program is built for work that can move research results toward application without losing scientific rigor. Proof of Concept fits younger applicants with a concrete use case and an institution that will stand behind the project, while Discovery fits teams that can show both scientific excellence and a clear view of social or economic impact. Because the two tracks sit under one umbrella, the right route depends on career stage as much as on the maturity of the idea.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.