Election of the new Research Council and handover of the presidency

At its meeting on 4 December 2024, the Foundation Council elected 52 current members of the Research Council to continue their mandates. At the same time, it elected 15 new highly qualified members, selected from nearly 200 applications, to complete the collective competencies of the new Research Council. These appointments strengthen the body's expertise in various key areas, reflecting the SNSF's ongoing commitment to rigorous scientific evaluation and support tailored to current challenges.

With the election of the members of the Research Council, the last body of the new SNSF structure has been established. The Research Council will be organised into five programme committees and one policy committee. It will be led by the new Academic Board, which will take up its duties on 1 January 2025 to ensure an optimal transition.

The entry into office of the new Academic Board, comprising six members and the Director of the SNSF (in an advisory capacity), also marks the end of the Presiding Board structure in its current form. This change coincides with the departure of its President Matthias Egger, whose term of office has reached the maximum permitted by the Statutes.

Looking back on Matthias Egger’s presidency

Matthias Egger will conclude his 15-year tenure at the SNSF at the end of December 2024, having served as President of the Research Council for the past eight years. During his term of office, he demonstrated strategic vision, scientific rigour and openness to advancements in the field of research funding.

In 2020, Matthias Egger was instrumental in forming the interdisciplinary Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force that provided policymakers with independent scientific advice. Following Switzerland's designation as a "third country" in 2021, he chaired the committee responsible for ensuring continuity and support for Swiss researchers during the country’s non-association to Horizon Europe.

An internationally acclaimed epidemiologist, Matthias Egger significantly influenced the SNSF’s research funding strategies. His leadership was pivotal for the SNSF's reorganisation project, leaving a lasting imprint on the foundation's future.

"It has been an honour to serve as President of the Research Council at the SNSF. Together, we have accomplished significant milestones: improving evaluation processes, strengthening academic leadership, fostering international collaboration and advancing evidence-based practices and inclusivity," said Matthias Egger. He thanked the SNSF’s partners and stakeholders for their exceptional collaboration and trust.

Vision and mandate of Torsten Schwede, incoming President of the Research Council

Torsten Schwede will succeed Matthias Egger as President of the Research Council from 1 January 2025. As an active scientist and former Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Basel, he is familiar with the needs of researchers in all disciplines as well as with the institutional challenges facing higher education institutions. As President of the Research Council, he will play a central role in implementing the SNSF’s strategic priorities and facing the challenges related to research and its funding.

Torsten Schwede was elected in December 2023 and has actively participated in the ongoing organisational changes at the SNSF in 2024.

“I am starting my mandate at a time when research worldwide and the SNSF are undergoing major transformations,” says Torsten Schwede. “The SNSF can rely on an experienced and innovative Research Council, as well as on highly qualified and committed employees. I very much look forward to working with this team and with our partners in the coming years to contribute to good framework conditions for excellent research in Switzerland.”