Explore the most popular and prestigious funding opportunities for collaborative projects by researchers at EPFL.
For an extensive list, take a look at our Compendium for Collaborations.
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Collaborations in Switzerland
BRIDGE Discovery supports experienced researchers for basic and applied research to implement the innovative potential of research findings.
- Deadline: call currently closed
- Application toolkit
- BRIDGE Discovery webpage

Research collaboration between at least two ETH Domain institutions, with possibility of additional external partners.
Strategic areas in 2023: Human Health, Responsible Digital Transformation & Advanced Materials & Key Technologies.
The EPFL holds an internal registration process. Please send your preliminary ideas to [email protected] using this template by 25 September 2023.
- Deadlines:
- EPFL internal process: September 25 2023
- Short proposal by invitation: December 2023
- ETH Joint Initiatives website

Fondation Leenaards supports people and institutions in the fields of culture, aging and biomedical science in the Lake Geneva region. The annual Leenaards Prize for Translational Medical Research is awarded to collaborative projects, which investigate a clinical problem, linking it to a component of advanced basic research.
- Deadline: call currently closed
- Application Toolkit
- Leenaards webpage

The National Research Programmes (NRP) support coordinated research projects that contribute to the solution of urgent problems of national importance. Four new NRPs were announced in June 2023, to be launched later this year:
- Baukultur
- Biodiversity
- Gender medicine
- Plant breeding
- Call launch: late 2023
- SNSF NRP webpage

- Deadline: 1 October 2023
- Application Toolkit
- SNSF Sinergia webpage
- Check the SNSF Supplementary Measures applicable for this programme
International collaborations

COST Actions (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks.
- Deadline: 25 October 2023
- Application toolkit
- COST Actions webpage

Eureka is a public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation, present in over 45 countries. Several calls are open to Switzerland-based researchers:
- CELTIC-NEXT
- Deadline: call currently closed
- Eurostars
- Deadline: 14 September 2023
- Application toolkit
- lightweighting
- Deadline: call currently closed
- Network projects
- Deadline: call currently closed
- SMART
- Xecs
- Deadline: 18 January 2024

Targeted to a group of two to maximum four Principal Investigators (PIs) – of which one will be designated as the corresponding PI (cPI) – working together and bringing different skills and resources to tackle ambitious research problems. EPFL researchers can apply as co-recipient when the project lead is located in an associated country.
- Deadline: 8 November 2023
- Application toolkit
- ERC SyG webpage

Horizon Europe is the EU funding programme for research and innovation running from 2021 to 2027 with a €100 billion budget.
Swiss entities are eligible to participate in most Horizon Europe collaborative calls. For more information please check the SERI Factsheet and the Q&A documents.

The International Co-Investigator Scheme provides funding for cross-border projects which include a subproject abroad.
The agreement with Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands covers all disciplines, while the agreement with the UK is limited to the humanities and social sciences
- Deadline: 1 April and 1 October every year
- SNSF Co-investigator webpage

The Lead Agency process allows researchers in Switzerland and a partner country (France, USA and others) to submit a joint research proposal to either of the two national funding organisations. Partnering countries are France, USA, South Africa, State of Sao Paolo, Province of South Tyrol. At SNSF, applications occur through the project funding scheme.
- Deadline: 1 April and 1 October every year (SNSF as Lead)
- SNSF Lead agency webpage

- Deadline: 2 October 2023
- Application Toolkit
- SNSF Project Funding webpage
- Check the amended Project Funding Regulations.

SPIRIT: the New SNSF programme for international scientific collaboration with countries receiving development assistance.
- Deadline: 2 November (every year)
- EPFL Application Toolkit
- SNSF SPIRIT webpage

In the Weave funding scheme, researchers from two to three European countries submit a joint proposal to one of the funding organisations involved. Weave simplifies the submission of joint applications by centralising evaluation at a single agency. At SNSF, it is integrated into the project funding scheme.
- Deadline: 2 October 2023 (SNSF as Lead)
- SNSF Weave webpage

Extensive presentation of special funding opportunities for collaborations financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Part 1), Horizon Europe (Part 2), and International funders (Part 3).