Funding for Established Researchers
Table of contents
Established researchers are experienced scholars and scientists who independently conduct their own research and train staff. Diverse funding establishments and institutions offer funding to help finance the projects of established researchers.
Aside from general funding sources, there are also special programs and discipline-specific initiatives. Private foundations furthermore support research consistent with the foundation purpose.
The following overview includes the most important national and international funding sources.
1 UZH Funding Instruments
| University Research Priority Programs (URPP) |
The University of Zurich has established its University Research Priority Programs (URPP). The URPP create and promote academic networks in selected areas of research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in areas of research that benefit society.
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| Clinial Research Priority Programs (CRPP) |
The Clinical Research Priority Program (CRPP) is a part of the Faculty of Medicine's efforts to promote strategic areas of research for the Faculty of Medicine and University Medicine Zurich.
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| Centers of Competence |
Centers of Competence are interdisciplinary cross-faculty scholarly networks in which researchers and research groups of the University of Zurich coordinate their work according to strategic objectives.
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| Competitive Sabbaticals UZH |
UZH awards competitive sabbaticals to full and associate professors at all faculties. |
| TRANSFORM |
The UZH awards funds as a stimulus for long-term structural changes to the research landscape at the University of Zurich.
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| DIZH Innovation Program |
The University of Zurich (UZH), the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) are networking in DIZH to promote research on topics related to digital transformation.
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2 National Funding Instruments
| SNSF Projects | The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supports research projects in all disciplines that are carried out by researchers employed in Switzerland. Researchers cannot apply for funding for their own salary. |
| SNSF Sinergia | Grants from the SNSF for collaborative and interdisciplinary programs that promise to achieve a major breakthrough. Two to four applicants submit a request for funding. |
| SNSF Eccellenza Grants |
Researchers who have recently been appointed as assistant professors with tenure track at a Swiss higher education institution can apply for project funds. |
| SNSF Spark | The aim of Spark is to fund the rapid testing or development of new scientific approaches, methods, theories, standards, ideas for applications, etc. It is intended for projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach. |
| SNSF SPIRIT | 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. |
| SNSF Research Equipment (R’Equip) | The SNSF helps finance the acquisition and maintenance of research equipment that facilitates innovate research approaches. The home institution covers half the expense (UZH procedure). |
| National Research Programs (NRP) | NRP funding is awarded to projects that contribute to solving the key problems in today’s society. Calls for research projects are issued in the framework of thematically defined programs. |
| National Centers of Competence in Research (NCCR) | NCCR are long-term research projects in areas of strategic importance. The projects are run by experienced researchers and supported by one or more higher education or research institutions. |
| Innosuisse Projects | Innosuisse supports projects in the area of applied research and development and promotes cooperation between institutions of higher learning and industry. |
| SNIS Projectfunding |
The SNIS supports pluri-disciplinary projects in the social sciences and pluri-disciplinary projects that combine natural and social sciences. Projects must run for two years, and funding can range from 100’000 to 300’000 Swiss francs.
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| GSPI Impact Collaboration Programme |
The ICP supports collaborative projects which explicitly bridge science, policy and/or implementation and that involve at least one actor from an academic institution (no geographical limitation) and one actor from the International Geneva ecosystem carrying policy work or implementation work.
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| Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) |
The Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) awards grants for „Driver Projects“ and „Infrastructure Development Projects“ to foster nationwide interoperability of biomedical information.
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| The 3RCC publishes regular calls for funding of high-quality research projects dedicated to the replacement, reduction or refinement of animal experimentation. |
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| BRIDGE Discovery | BRIDGE (a joint program conducted by SNSF and Innosuisse) supports projects at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation. BRIDGE Discovery is aimed at experienced researchers who aim to explore and implement the innovation potential of research results. |
| Research and Innovation Cooperation Programs | The Research and Innovation Programs and Instruments of the Federal Government facilitate international cooperation. |
| swissuniversities: project contributions |
Federal project contributions for thematically grouped initiatives (z.B. swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network).
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3 European and International Funding
| Horizon Europe and other European Programs |
Swiss researchers can partially participate in Horizon Europe, the EU framework program for research and innovation, as well as other European funding programs due to Switzerland's status as a non-associated third country.
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| ERC Advanced Grants |
In the framework of Horizon Europe, the European Research Council (ERC) awards highly competitive Advenced Grants to established researchers. Swiss researchers cannot submit applications for this program currently. The federal government has commissioned the SNSF to launch the SNSF Advanced Grants.
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| NIH and other US Grants | There are a number of US grants open to UZH researchers. |
4 Foundations
| Foundation for Research in Science and the Humanities at UZH | This foundation supports UZH professors and privatdozents in their research and teaching. |
| Foundation for Privatdozents | This foundation awards funds for research conducted by UZH privatdozents. |
| Index of UZH Foundations | The index contains information on foundations and funds directly associated with the University of Zurich. |