[ Swiss Polar Institute I Exploratory Grants 2021 ]

The Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) was created to provide services to and promote synergies within the polar community in Switzerland.

With the Exploratory Grants, SPI supports Swiss based scientists active in polar regions (including remote high-altitude regions such as the Andes and the Himalayas) by allowing them to launch short-term new ideas (for example pilot projects), fund additional field work or launch new collaborations with financial support for logistics. Collaboration with new teams or across disciplines are particularly encouraged, as well as participation in larger/international activities.

In 2021, SPI has dedicated a total budget of CHF 150’000.- to fund technology development relevant for polar science, the Arctic and Antarctic, according to the SPI’s high latitude focus. The grants can be used to complement the funding of initiatives supported by larger funding schemes (e.g. SNSF, EU, etc.).

The SPI Exploratory Grants are complementary to the existing Polar Access Fund (specifically focused on early-career scientists) and SPI Technogrants (focused on technology developments).

Who can apply:
 

• Established researchers or post-docs (at least 3 years after PhD graduation) based at a Swiss public research institution.
• Researchers from all fields of research, also fields considered as “non-typical” for polar sciences (e.g. engineering, materials, medicine, humanities and social sciences, etc.), are encouraged to apply if they have a project to be conducted in a polar context.

• travel costs to scientific stations/infrastructure in polar regions (including for the performance of technical/maintenance work);
• shipment of scientific equipment or material, samples;
• costs for scientific analysis;
• purchase of small equipment (in duly justified cases) and consumables;
• rental of scientific equipment or sensing systems;
• valorisation or integration of datasets;

• Costs relating to salaries of permanent academic positions, overhead as well as the acquisition of long- term asset are not eligible.

• Complete the online application form (contact, main information and proposal)
• Attachments to be uploaded into online application form as PDF:
  • Letters of support
  • CVs of the applicant and main partners, incl. publication lists as PDF