Funding for Individuals and Projects
How to get the right funding for
your research project?
Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
Division Research and Academic Career Development
Funding for Individuals and Projects
16.10.2012
Page 1
Funding for Individuals and Projects
Overview of funding instruments
• - Swiss
Overview
of funding
instruments
National
Science Foundation
(SNSF)
(SNFS,
EU, UZH)
- EU
funding
Outline of a research
proposal
- Forschungskredit
UZH
- Foundations
Good to know...
16.10.2012
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
•  Switzerland’s leading provider of scientific research funding
•  Established in 1952 as a foundation under private law
•  Supports basic research in all academic disciplines
•  Is committed to promoting young scientists
•  Annual budget of approx. CHF 720 million; supports more than
8,000 scientists every year
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Main funding schemes of the SNSF
abroad
Guidelines for selecting SNSF funding schemes:
www.snf.ch > Services for researchers > Guidelines & documents for researchers
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Project funding vs. Career funding instruments
Project funding:
- Applicant receives salary from home institution
(own salary not covered by project grant!)
- min. 2 years of postdoctoral experience, capable
of conducting project independently and leading
personal employed for project (e.g. PhD
students) è experienced researchers
Career funding:
- Instruments focus on the people: fellowship or
salary for yourself
- Further financing with regard to project
(depending on funding instrument)
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
SNSF project funding
•  SNSF’s main funding scheme (2/3 of total budget, approx.
2,500 applications/year)
•  Grant covers direct research costs (staff salaries, materials,
travel costs etc.) but not the salary of the applicant
•  Evaluation by the SNSF Research Council based on peer
reviews by external experts
•  Submission deadlines: 1 April and 1 October
(decision communicated approx. 6 months later)
è “Guidelines for applicants” and “Description of the evaluation
procedure” available on SNSF website
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
SNSF Mobility Fellowships (as of 2013)
(former Fellowships for prospective/advanced researchers)
Idea:
Postdoctoral research stay at a guest institution abroad for
talented young scientists who envisage an academic career
Conditions:
- PhD or MD
- Swiss nationality or residence permit and at least 3 years
of activity at a Swiss university
- Guest institution abroad
- Intention to pursue a scientific or academic career (and to
come back to Switzerland)
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Early Postdoc.Mobility
Conditions:
Application submission max. 6 months before/ 2 years after
finishing PhD (max. 6 years after MD)
Duration:
18 months (at least 12 months)
Application:
- Submission at university where PhD/MD will be/was
obtained (electronically via mySNF)
- Deadlines: 1 March and 1 September
Evaluation:
- By members of SNSF research committee at UZH
- Decision within 2 months after submission
Fellowship:
Amount depending on host country, family status and family
obligations (currently approx. CHF 43,000/year for singles and CHF
55,500/year for couples)
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Advanced Postdoc.Mobility
Conditions:
- Application submission up to max. 5 years after PhD
(up to 9 years after MD)
- At least one year of research activity at postdoctoral level
Duration:
12 to 36 months
Application:
- Submission to SNSF
- Deadlines: 1 February and 1 August
Evaluation:
- By members of SNSF Research Council
- Decision after approx. 6 months
Fellowship:
Amount depending on host country, family status and family
obligations (currently approx. CHF 48,000/year for singles and CHF
60,500/year for couples)
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Marie Heim-Vögtlin Program - Promotion of
women
•  For women whose scientific career was delayed or interrupted
due to family obligations (children) or a change of residence as
a result of their partner’s career development
•  Continuation of the research activity at a Swiss university;
grant for max. 2 years
•  PhD students and Postdocs
•  No age limit, employment level 50-100%
•  Next submission deadline: 2 August 2013
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Ambizione grants - a first step towards scientific
independency
Idea:
Create conditions for starting an independent scientific
career in Switzerland (e.g. after a stay abroad)
Contribution: - Own salary (research associate level)
- Project funding (equipment, consumables, travel, etc.)
- Personnel (e.g. technician)
- PhD student (candidates with sufficient experience only)
- Max. CHF 600,000 for 3 years
Deadline:
15 February
Grants:
40 - 50 per year
Success rate ≈ 28%
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
SNSF Professorship
Idea:
Create conditions for a successful academic career for
the best young scientists in Switzerland
Contribution: - Own salary (assistant professor level)
- Research allowance for a team and equipment
- Contribution to the infrastructure of the host
institution
- Max. CHF 1,600,000 for 4 years (+ 2 years
extension possible)
Deadline:
beginning of May
Grants:
Approx. 40 per year
Success rate ≈ 24%
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Overview of funding instruments
• - Swiss
Overview
of funding
instruments
National
Science Foundation
(SNSF)
(SNFS,
EU, UZH)
- EU
funding
Outline of a research
proposal
- Forschungskredit
UZH
- Foundations
Good to know...
16.10.2012
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
EU GrantsAccess (former Euresearch Zurich)
•  A joined office of the UZH and ETHZ
•  Informs researchers about and supports them with the
participation in international research programs (EU, NIH, etc.)
www.euresearch.uzh.ch
phone: 044 634 53 50
mail: [email protected]
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
EU Funding
Collaboration between
industry and academia
Support for mobility
and career development
of researchers
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
Support frontier
research
Enhance research
and innovation
capacities
15
Funding for Individuals and Projects
Marie Curie Fellowships
International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF)
- For Postdocs of Swiss or EU nationality
- Initial outgoing phase (outside Europe) of 1-2 years, followed by a
mandatory reintegration phase (coming back to Europe) of 1 year
Intra-European Fellowship (IEF)
- For Postdocs of any nationality working within Europe
- 1-2 years research stay at a institution in a different European
country
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
ERC Grants
ERC Starting Grants
ERC Advanced Grants
-  up-and-coming research
leaders
-  2 to 7 years of experience after
PhD
-  up to € 1.5 million for up to five
years
-  excellent established
researchers who have a recent
research track-record which
identifies them as leaders in
their respective field of
research
-  up to € 3.5 million for up to five
years.
ERC Consolidator Grants
-  7 to 12 years of experience
after PhD
-  up to € 2 million for up to five
years
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Overview of funding instruments
• - Swiss
Overview
of funding
instruments
National
Science Foundation
(SNSF)
(SNFS,
EU, UZH)
- EU
funding
Outline of a research
proposal
- Forschungskredit
UZH
- Foundations
Good to know...
16.10.2012
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Forschungskredit of the UZH
•  Funding of research projects of PhD students („Candoc“) and
Postdocs/habilitation candidates („Postdoc“) at the UZH
•  Initiated by the UZH in 2001; more than 1,000 awardees so far
•  Young researchers submit applications independently (project
must include own research ideas)
•  Support manly by salary grants; money for consumables may
be applied for on a limited scale
Submission deadline: 1st February each year
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Requirements for Postdocs
•  Employed at or affiliated with the UZH/USZ
•  Funding can be requested for: -
own salary
salary of a PhD student
“Protected time”
consumables on a limited scale
•  Duration of funding: max. 2 years
•  Funding per project usually
approx. CHF 100’000
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Protected Time – a “Sabbatical” for Postdocs
•  Idea:
Applicant receives funding to pay for a qualified
substitute who will take over duties such as teaching
responsibilities or clinical work for 3 to 6 months
•  Goal:
Applicant can focus on actual research project and,
ideally, complete it
•  Prerequisite: - Employment at UZH/USZ for time period in question
- Permission from supervisor
•  Evaluation:
16.10.2012
based on research project of the applicant and her/
his qualification
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
Page 21
Funding for Individuals and Projects
Overview of funding instruments
• - Swiss
Overview
of funding
instruments
National
Science Foundation
(SNSF)
(SNFS,
EU, UZH)
- EU
funding
Outline of a research
proposal
- Forschungskredit
UZH
- Foundations
Good to know...
16.10.2012
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
22
Funding for Individuals and Projects
Foundations
•  Foundation = Institution that pursues a certain, from the donator
defined, purpose with the help of assets.
è your project hast to be “in line” with that purpose
•  No complete register of all Swiss foundations is available
è search different lists, registers, etc.
In a personal consultation, we can help you to find
suitable foundations. Please contact us for an
appointment.
16.10.2012
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
www.researchers.uzh.ch
[email protected]
Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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Funding for Individuals and Projects
Thank you for your attention...
... and good luck with your grant application!
www.researchers.uzh.ch
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Research Funding | Dr. Beatrice Scherrer
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