Horizon Europe measures – update

Applicants whose project was rejected in Step 2 of evaluation for the SNSF AdG 2021 call may apply under SNSF AdG 2022. However, if the application was rejected in Step 1, submission under the SNSF AdG 2022 call is not possible.

Researchers can apply for SNSF AdG 2022 even if they do not yet have ten years of research experience, regardless of the date of their PhD or PhD equivalent. All applicants should be active, established researchers and team leaders with an outstanding track record, which must be detailed in the application. For more information on the expected profile of applicants under SNSF AdG 2022, please refer to the call document.

Yes, in principle an applicant should hold a PhD. Applicants without a PhD must generally have completed 3 years of research work (as their main job) since obtaining their higher education degree. Such research work will be regarded as equivalent to a PhD.

Researchers from abroad can apply for SNSF AdG 2022. However, they must provide confirmation from their host institution stating that they will have a job of at least 50% (0.5 FTE) for the entire duration of the project, if the project is funded.

According to section 1.4 of the Funding Regulations (PDF), eligibility to submit applications ends with the conferral of emeritus status or with retirement. Retired persons or persons with emeritus status continue to be eligible to submit applications if employment of at least 50% (0.5 FTE) at the Swiss research institution is guaranteed. The employment must cover the entire duration of the project, irrespective of the project start date.

SNSF AdGs 2022 are limited to one applicant.

Information from pre-registration is used to search for suitable members of the international evaluation panel. The following information is required: applicant details, host laboratory/institution, basic data I (incl. project title and disciplines), basic data II (summary and keywords). Changes can be made to the information up to the time of final submission. Applicants must send an email to adg@snf.ch confirming completion of their pre-registration.

It is sufficient to store the corresponding information in the appropriate data containers on mySNF.

The host institution commitment letter must be submitted at the time of the final submission of the application, and not at the time of pre-registration. The document must be signed by a person who can legally represent the institution and thus authoritatively confirm the information in the host institution commitment letter (PDF).

Under the SNSF AdG 2022 call, the research plan should not exceed 14 pages (not including the bibliography).

Under the SNSF AdG 2022 call, proposals are evaluated in two steps:

In Step 1, at least three panel members acting as referees independently evaluate the research project’s general scientific merit (based on the extended synopsis, max. 5 pages) and the applicant’s CV and track record. All panel members then discuss the proposal, and a ranking list is compiled based on the individual ratings of panel members. Based on the panel’s ranking list and the available budget, the SNSF AdG 2022 Steering Committee determines the number of proposals that advance to the next selection step (Step 2). Proposals that do not advance to Step 2 are rejected.

Proposals advancing to Step 2 will be assessed in detail by at least three panel members and external reviewers (based on the research plan and the applicant’s CV and track record). Based on the written assessments of the external reviewers and panel members, an interview with the applicant and the discussions at the panel meeting, the evaluation panel generates a ranking list of the Step 2 proposals. The panel submits the final ranking to the SNSF AdG 2022 Steering Committee, which formulates a funding proposal based on the ranking list and the available budget for approval by the SNSF Presiding Board.

The SNSF makes every effort to ensure the high quality and international recognition of reviewers.

The SNSF currently pursues a policy of prioritising reviewers who are based outside Switzerland in order to reduce the risk of conflicts of interest in undertaking objective evaluations.

Under the SNSF AdG 2022 call, the requested budget needs to be entered in the data container “Requested budget” in mySNF (no specific budget table is required).

The justification of resources must be provided in a separate document (see Section 3.1 of the SNSF AdG call document (PDF)) and uploaded to the mySNF data container “Research plan and resources”. All eligible costs must be in line with the aims of the project for its entire duration and fully justified. Project costs should be estimated as accurately as possible. The evaluation panels assess the estimated costs carefully and are entitled to reduce unjustified budgets items. The applicant should not include any description of resources or budget details in the scientific part of the application.

SNSF AdGs are awarded up to a maximum of CHF 2,175,000. Overhead is calculated separately and paid directly to the host institution in keeping with SNSF practices (see Section 3. of the SNSF AdG call document (PDF)).

Applicants may request funding of up to CHF 870,000 over and above the maximum budget of CHF 2,175,000 as additional costs:

• for costs in connection with the move to Switzerland
• for the acquisition or use of scientific infrastructure/major equipment (these costs must be project-specific and not usable for other research groups); standard infrastructure and equipment are partially financed with overhead
• other major experimental and fieldwork costs, excluding personnel costs.

Additional costs may be requested regardless of whether the maximum budget has been reached.

Yes, this is possible.

Applicants are expected to dedicate a minimum of 30% of their working time to the project.

Yes, holders of an SNSF AdG 2022 can submit proposals under other SNSF funding schemes (such as project funding or R’Equip), as long as the proposals address different topics and have different aims and methodologies.

SNSF AdG 2022 does not restrict the number of parallel projects since SNSF project funding is not linked to current ERC calls.

Evaluation of SNSF AdGs takes place independently of ERC frontier research grants.

Applicants can apply for SNSF AdG 2022 and for an ERC frontier research grant in parallel. Should both proposals be funded, the applicant would have to choose one project. Applicants have 12 months from the date of the decision letter to choose which project to pursue. In general, funding is not available for projects that have already been funded by the SNSF or third parties. Researchers who apply for SNSF AdG 2022 must inform the SNSF about any existing ERC frontier research grants and parallel applications for funding, as well as any thematic overlaps.

Researchers with an ongoing ERC frontier research grant may not submit a proposal to SNSF AdG 2022 unless the current project concludes before the end of July 2024. An SNSF AdG 2022 project can only start once the ERC frontier research grant has been completed.

The funds allocated and the expected success rate are not communicated. However, the selection process will be very competitive, similar to the ERC frontier research grants.

The earliest possible start date is 1 August 2023. The project start date can be postponed for up to 12 months after receipt of the decision.

Applications to transfer project funds from an SNSF Advanced Grant to move abroad (see also "Money follows Researcher" procedure) are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Salary components of the grantee are not remitted abroad. As a rule, such applications can only be submitted to the SNSF two years after the start of the grant.

The earliest possible start date is 1 February 2023. The project start date can be postponed for up to 12 months after receipt of the decision.

You must inform the SNSF accordingly. If the professorship is in Switzerland, you may generally continue to use the project funds. Any surplus from your salary must be refunded to the SNSF.

Applications to transfer project funds from an SNSF Consolidator Grant to move abroad (see also https://www.snf.ch/en/cwEW5KbgFWs6YNmW/funding/supplementary-measures/money-follows-researcher ) are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Salary components of the grantee are not remitted abroad. As a rule, such applications can only be submitted to the SNSF two years after the start of the grant.

Yes, holders of an SNSF CoG 2022 can submit proposals under other SNSF funding schemes (such as project funding), as long as the proposals address different topics and have different aims and methodologies.

SNSF CoG 2022 does not restrict the number of parallel projects since SNSF project funding is not linked to current ERC calls.

The Call document and other important information can be found under "Participation requirements".

The time window for submission of an SNSF Starting Grant proposal can be extended if the applicant has suffered a delay due to one of the reasons stated in Art. 1.11 of the General implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations (PDF).

The academic age indicates how much time has passed since the doctorate. It is relevant for calculating the time window in accordance with the personal requirements (see Call document). On the other hand, the net academic age (calculated automatically in the new CV format) indicates how much time you have been able to spend doing research since your doctorate; it is taken into account in the evaluation. Hence the net academic age cannot be used to calculate the eligibility window.

The SNSF has signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which recommends that funders be explicit about the criteria they use to evaluate the scientific productivity of applicants, taking due account of the scientific quality, value and impact of their entire research output (including datasets, software, prototypes) in addition to research publications.

You can find additional information on the new CV format here. To create the new CV, click on the following link. (See also: A new CV).

You can submit an application for an SNSF Starting Grant while receiving an Ambizione, PRIMA or Eccellenza grant. The research projects must address clearly distinguishable topics. It will also be evaluated whether you are in a position to make substantial contributions to each of the research projects. If your salary needs to be covered by the SNSF for the duration of the grant (Ambizione, PRIMA or Eccellenza, and SNSF Starting Grant), you should request your full salary under the SNSF Starting Grant.

No exceptions can be granted. This requirement needs to be met by the submission deadline, with the date of the exam or thesis defense being the relevant date.

You can submit an SNSF Starting Grant proposal and an SNSF project or Ambizione proposal. Both grants will only be funded if the research projects clearly address separate topics and you are in a position to make substantial contributions to each of the research projects.

The interdisciplinary character of your proposal will be taken into account during the evaluation. Depending on the choice of research field, your proposal will be evaluated in one of the following three research domains: Social Sciences and Humanities, Mathematics, Information Technology, Natural Sciences and Technology and Life Science. If your project is situated at the intersection between these domains, you should go to “Basic data I” on mySNF and choose the research field according to where you primarily want the proposal to be evaluated. The main referee will then be assigned from the selected research field, while the co-referees may be assigned from the further research field(s).

Yes. For institutions that do not offer assistant professor positions, an equivalent position involving independent project and management responsibilities ("group leader position") is accepted.

Yes, that is possible. However, the salary may not exceed a 100% position (1 FTE).

You must inform the SNSF accordingly. If the professorship is in Switzerland, you may generally continue to use the project funds. The remaining funds of your salary must be refunded to the SNSF.

Yes. You can submit twice to the SNSF Starting Grants regardless of whether your application made it to the second round of the first call.

For clinically active researchers, the SNSF covers the share of the salary awarded for the research work. The share for clinical work must be financed by the research institution/hospital and is not covered by the SNSF.

Applications to transfer project funds from an SNSF Starting Grant to move abroad (see also "Money follows Researcher" procedure) are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Salary components of the grantee are not remitted abroad. As a rule, such applications can only be submitted to the SNSF two years after the start of the grant. 

With the Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships, the SNSF covers the recipients’ salary and social security costs. The average gross salary will be around CHF 105,000 per annum for a work-time quota of 100% (1 FTE). The SNSF and the HR office of the higher education institution where the grant holder is employed will define the precise salary for postdocs in accordance with the salary scales applied by the institution to researchers with comparable qualifications.

For guidelines on the rates for employees and for social contributions, refer to:

Annex 12: Salary ranges, guidelines for employees in SNSF-funded projects
and blankets amounts for social security contributions (PDF)

In addition to the recipients’ salary, project funds, including research costs directly linked to the implementation of the project, training and networking contributions, are also covered. Project funds must not exceed CHF 24,000 for a two-year grant. If the duration of the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship is less than 2 years, the maximum amount will be proportionately smaller.

In principle, the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship is awarded for a continuous stay in Switzerland. It is permissible, however, to conduct the stay at different host institutions in Switzerland or abroad. Also, it is permissible to spend parts of the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship at institutions operating in the practical field (industry, administration, etc.; Intersectoral mobility). The total duration of such stays may not, however, exceed one third of the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship. During the period spent at another host institution, the grantee will remain employed at the (main) host institution in Switzerland.

At the time of the submission deadline, researchers must hold a doctoral degree (PhD) to be eligible as postdoctoral researchers. A medical doctor degree will be accepted only if it corresponds to a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree (PhD, MD-PhD), or if the researcher can show that, they have been appointed to a position that requires doctoral equivalency (e.g. postdoc position, professorship appointment thanks to a Staatsexamen or equivalent exam). Medical doctor degrees corresponding to basic medical training (e.g. MD, see also Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC) will not be considered a doctoral degree.

Researchers who have defended their doctoral thesis but not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered postdoctoral researchers and eligible. An official document confirming that they have successfully passed the doctoral exam is required.

Note that doctoral studies for attaining an MD-PhD degree cannot be funded under the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships call.

Researchers must commit themselves as grantees to a work quota of 100% (1.0 FTE). A part-time work quota corresponding to at least 80% (0.8 FTE) is possible if the grantee has clinical or care duties, or pursues courses at a higher education institution to further his/her career.

For researchers doing clinical work: The salary share dedicated to research (at least 80%) is covered by the SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship. The salary share for the work-time percentage dedicated to clinical work (up to 20%) must be covered by the research institution.

Yes, a delay is possible until one year after the date of the SNSF decision letter.

Recipients of an MSCA grant can apply for an SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship if the eligibility criteria are met. By the submission date and during the evaluation of an application, researchers must immediately inform the SNSF about any other applications currently being evaluated by the SNSF or third parties as well as about ongoing grants from the SNSF or third parties. (Funding Regulations (PDF), Article 18). The SNSF does not award any grants for research projects that are already being funded by the SNSF or third parties (Funding Regulations (PDF), Article 8, Paragraph 3, letter e). In other words, double funding for the same research project is explicitly excluded. Should the applicant receive another grant from the SNSF for the same project, they must decide which one to accept and which one to decline.

Yes, a supervisor can host multiple recipients of a Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship, as long as support for each of them is ensured. However, the SNSF does not award any grants for research projects that are already being funded by the SNSF or third parties (Funding Regulations (PDF), Article 8, Paragraph 3). In other words, double funding for the same research project is explicitly excluded.

No, the researcher would not be eligible for an SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship. In order to ensure the equal treatment of all applicants, the mobility rule is applied strictly. However, short stays for medical reasons (including entry quarantine due to Covid regulations) will not be taken into account for the assessment of the mobility rule. If the researcher had to relocate to Switzerland in order to obtain medical care during a significant period of time, this long stay will, however, be taken into account.

In order to be eligible, the researcher cannot be in either of the two following situations:

• have resided in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the call deadline;
• have carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the call deadline. In case of remote work performed from another country for an employer located in Switzerland, the place of main activity is considered as Switzerland.

Example: A researcher started a contract with a Swiss university in January 2021. However, the researcher worked for the Swiss university remotely from another country. As per the mobility rule in Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships, the researcher will not be eligible.

In case researchers exceed the eligibility window with respect to the submission deadline, an extension may be requested. Researchers must explain their reasons for applying for an extension to the SNSF. In particular, the following reasons for delays are acceptable (see Clause 1.11 para. 2 of the General implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations (PDF)):

a. paternity, adoption or parental leave;

b. inability to work due to illness or accident;

c. care duties;

d. services that benefit the general public, particularly military or civilian service;

e. continuing education in connection with the applicant’s research activities, particularly internships or clinical work;

f. preparatory activities connected to the dissertation, e.g. participation in classes at a doctoral school.

The weeks during which the research activity was interrupted, reduced or not increased for an acceptable reason will be considered for the extension. The difference in percentage between the actual work-time percentage and 100% is recognized. If the research work is interrupted, the relevant weeks will be recognized for the extension in full (100%).

In the event of maternity, the relevant period is extended by 18 months per child. 6 If the applicant can prove that the delay exceeds 18 months, the additional time will be added to the said period.

Important notice: The SNSF will perform the eligibility assessment only after the submission deadline based on the whole dossier. In other words, a pre-eligibility check before the call deadline cannot be made.

Researchers for an SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship can be of any nationality (including Swiss nationality), who have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the submission deadline.