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Switzerland's participation in ERC Starting Grants: the SNSF will also launch its own call

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On 15 October the SNSF expects to launch its own call at the same career level as that targeted by the SNSF Starting Grants.

The ERC Starting Grants 2025 call under the Horizon Europe programme opened on 10 July 2024. Researchers interested in submitting an application with a Swiss host institution can take part in this call.

The SNSF will continue to support the career level targeted by the SNSF Starting Grants and foresees the launch of its own call on 15 October 2024. This call will enable researchers to lead an independent project and a team in Switzerland. The submission deadline will be 15 January 2025. Relative to the SNSF Starting Grants 2024 (call document (PDF)), the following restrictions will apply to this call:

  • Applicants must have carried out research for the equivalent of at least two years with an average work-time percentage of at least 80% at a Swiss research institution in the higher education sector, have Swiss nationality or hold a degree from a Swiss university.
  • For applicants who need to finance their own salary, the grant will cover the project funds (max. CHF 1 million) in addition to their salary. For applicants with guaranteed salaries, the grant will cover the project funds (max. CHF 1 million).
  • The eligibility window will remain unchanged (call document, Art. 1.1.1 (PDF)). Applicants who fall within this eligibility window but who have already achieved the objective of this call (significant experience in conducting an independent research project and in leading a team of researchers) will not be eligible.
  • During the evaluation process, applicants may not have parallel applications for other SNSF grants under evaluation. However, applications for Postdoc.Mobility return grants, NRPs, NCCRs or other one-off funding options are permitted.

For the SNSF, it is important to ensure continuity with its other career funding schemes. For more than 20 years, it has supported talented researchers at this highest level of career funding, first with its SNSF professorships and then with its Eccellenza funding scheme, and it will continue to do so.

Further details of this call (including the new 2025 call document) will follow at the time of launch, which is expected to be on 15 October 2024.