Profile

Based on a government mandate, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supports scientific research in all academic disciplines – from chemistry to medicine to sociology. At the end of 2023, the SNSF was funding around 5700 projects involving 21,000 researchers. This makes us the leading Swiss organisation for the promotion of scientific research.

To ensure its independence, the SNSF was established in 1952 as a private foundation. Its core task is the evaluation of research proposals. In 2023, it awarded 959 million francs to the most promising project proposals under its regular funding schemes. We allocated a further 235 million for the Horizon Europe transitional measures. By awarding public research money based on the principle of competition, the SNSF contributes to the high quality of research in Switzerland.

In close collaboration with higher education institutions and other partners, the SNSF strives to create the best possible conditions for the development and global interconnectedness of Swiss research. It pays particular attention to the promotion of early-career researchers. In addition, it accepts evaluation mandates to help ensure that large third-party-funded research initiatives deliver the highest scientific quality.