The SNSF calls for budget cuts to be cancelled
In its statement on "Relief Package 27", the SNSF speaks out against the Federal Council's proposed annual cuts of 10 percent. The repercussions for the Swiss economy and society would be significant.
In the consultation on "Relief Package 27", the Federal Council is proposing to cut SNSF funding by 10 percent in 2027 and 11 percent in 2028. This would mean that the SNSF would receive a total of 270 million Swiss francs less in federal funding in 2027 and 2028.
Above-average innovative strength at risk
The proposed cuts would greatly undermine the quality of Swiss research and Switzerland's status as a hub of knowledge. The SNSF would have to reject at least 500 additional innovative research projects whose outcomes are vital to the economy, society and public administration.
The SNSF is acutely aware of the federal government's tight budget situation and has already contributed to the reorganisation of federal finances. However, in its statement on "Relief Package 27", the SNSF warns that the proposed cuts would jeopardise social and economic progress in Switzerland. This could undermine its international competitiveness and the above-average innovative strength of its economy worldwide.
Robust research funding creates jobs and generates tax revenue. Numerous national and international studies indicate that investments in research and funding yield a high economic return. A recent study on the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), which operates similarly to the SNSF, shows that research-funding investments flow back into the public purse within approximately a year, ultimately leading to higher tax revenues. In Switzerland, for instance, a total of 148 start-ups have emerged from a joint SNSF and Innosuisse funding programme over the last eight years.
Serious consequences for the economy and society
The SNSF believes the proposed savings do not outweigh the negative consequences for the Swiss economy and society. They would not only result in diminished innovation across all sectors but also lead to reduced tax revenues and further exacerbate the challenges faced by the federal budget in the medium term. The SNSF is therefore urging the Federal Council to abandon the proposed cuts.
Next steps
The Federal Council's public consultation is directed at the cantons, political parties, associations, and organisations in the ERI sector. The deadline for submissions is 5 May 2025. Following this, the Federal Council will prepare the relevant dispatch, which is expected to be submitted to Parliament in autumn 2025. The Federal Assembly will begin deliberating the matter in its 2025 winter session.