SNSF SPIRIT | Research funding for collaborative scientific projects with countries receiving development assistance

The SNSF SPIRIT programme is aimed at fostering international scientific collaboration between researchers based in Switzerland and their counterparts in 127 SPIRIT partner countries receiving development assistance. A highly competitive selection process is in place, with 8 projects being funded in 2021.

Who can apply:

• Max. 4 applicants.

• At least 1 applicant at a higher education or research institution in Switzerland.
• At least 1 applicant at a higher education, research institution or ONG in SPIRIT partner countries (list in section 1.2 at this link). Note that applicants based at EU member and associated countries, as well as in countries participating in a bilateral call with the SNSF are NOT eligible.
• Applicants must be either employed or given a written assurance of such employment at the time of submission.
• PhD for at least 4 years at the submission or 3 years of research work as main source of income.
• Must be in a position to carry out research projects under their own responsibility and to lead project staff both scientifically and as personnel.
• Gender promotion: scientific quality being equal, preference will be given to women scientists or to proposals showing better gender awareness in the research project and team.
• Project partners are eligible if their contribution is necessary and does not serve any commercial purposes.

• Eligible costs: Personnel, Expendable items, Field expenses, Travel, Subcontracting, Computing time and data, Open access to research data, Direct costs of infrastructure use, Conference and workshops, Gender awareness activities, National and international cooperation and networking activities, Equipment (if > CHF 100’000 in total, contact [email protected] 3 weeks prior to the deadline) and, for the applicant in a SPIRIT partner country, 5% for general costs. Finally, project partners can request the following costs: Designing databases or websites, Data preparation and analysis, Recruiting patients, Curating biobanks, Elaborating legal reviews.
• Does NOT cover: applicants’ salary, open access publications and, for the Swiss applicants, overheads.