SNSF implements budget cuts as of 2026
The Swiss government proposes national budget cuts to research and innovation in the years 2027 to 2029 as part of a larger spending relief package, which is currently discussed in the Swiss parliament. In anticipation of these cuts, the SNSF has announced to reduce costs already in 2026 by pausing several funding instruments and lowering approval rates of the project and career funding schemes. These measures are intended to mitigate the impact of the expected budget cuts as of 2027. Beside the SNSF, also Innosuisse and the university sector are facing budget cuts in the relief package.
More specifically, the SNSF will implement the following cost-cutting measures:
- The Spark funding scheme will be suspended until at least the end of 2027.
- The implementation networks will not be continued after their pilot phase.
- The international funding scheme SPIRIT will be paused until and including 2028.
- The SNSF will not launch any new calls for COST projects. (Switzerland will continue to participate in the international COST Actions).
- The budget for European Partnership will be reduced by 25 percent.
- In future, fewer applications will be approved for the SNSF's main funding scheme Project funding and for Career funding. For the next three years 2026 to 2028, the Research Council will decide on the extent of these cuts each year based on the budget decisions of Parliament at the end of the year.
Ongoing research projects will not be affected!
Source / for more information from the SNSF click here
For more information on the national relief package (in German, French or Italian only) click here