Scholars At Risk

Scholars At Risk (SAR) is an international network of universities that aims to protect academics who are under threat, prevent attacks on the scientific community and promote academic freedom around the world. It gathers over 660 universities in 50 countries worldwide.

> Free to Think Report 2024

EPFL and SAR

EPFL has been a SAR member since 2014 and commits itself in hosting “At Risk” scholars for 1 to 2 years, allowing them to continue their academic activities while in exile, until they can return home or move elsewhere. EPFL is also part of the Swiss section of SAR, which is supported by swissuniversities and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.

Since 2020, EPFL has created 9 placements for SAR scholars, with the support of the SAR-SNSF Scientific Exchanges Funding Scheme.

  • 1 scholar from Turkey (CDH)
  • 2 scholars from Afghanistan (SB, STI)
  • 5 scholars from Ukraine (CDH, SV, ENAC)
  • 1 scholar from Russia (CAPE)

Host a SAR scholar with SNSF funding: applications for 2026 will open soon!

Since October 2020, the SNSF, in cooperation with SAR, offers financial support for the placement of “At Risk” scholars in Swiss universities. As the global geopolitical situation remains troubling, we encourage EPFL faculty to consider hosting a SAR scholar in their lab or institute.

Applications to the 2026 SAR-SNSF Scientific Exchanges Funding Scheme will open soon. This funding instrument operates on a rolling basis, with no specific deadline, until the annual budget (which typically funds around 9 proposals) is fully allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Guidelines for EPFL applications to the 2026 SAR-SNSF funding instrument (limited access to EPFL) provides information to EPFL faculty members on how to apply to SAR-SNSF funding and provides the EPFL contacts.

Applications for the SAR-SNSF grant may only be submitted after prior consultation with the Scholars at Risk coordinator, Dr. Gabriela Tejada.

Links:

Contact:

Dr. Gabriela Tejada, Delegate of Scholars At Risk at EPFL

The CDH actively supports the activities of SAR and other international efforts to defend the safety and freedom of threatened researchers, as we believe that the science system should be free, diverse and internationally open.