New partnership to support international collaboration for breakthrough science
The SNSF is strengthening cross-border cooperation through a new partnership agreement with CIFAR. It improves access to this international network of top scientists for Swiss-based researchers.
In April 2023, the SNSF accompanied a scientific and economic mission to Canada led by the Swiss government. During this visit, the SNSF signed an Expression of Interest with CIFAR to foster collaboration. CIFAR is a Canada-based global research organisation that brings together the world’s top scientists and future research leaders. Its focus lies on high-risk, high-gain research: in its multidisciplinary programmes, CIFAR assembles extraordinary minds to advance knowledge and change the world. This partnership over four and a half years will ease access for researchers in Switzerland to this network, to interact and do joint research.
More interdisciplinary collaboration for breakthrough science
As of October 2023, CIFAR will host some of their programme meetings in Switzerland to bring its fellows closer to the Swiss-based research community. CIFAR will also organise workshops on jointly defined priority topics and may nominate researchers in Switzerland to become CIFAR fellows. This appointment equips them with unrestricted annual research support and allows them to regularly attend programme meetings in their field of expertise.
Support for research careers
The partnership will also support researchers in the early stages of their careers through mentorship and skills training. CIFAR is going to organise trainings for early-career researchers in Switzerland and involve them in its next-generation initiatives. This will help them to advance their research and address current societal challenges.
Swiss-based researchers interested in participating in CIFAR programmes may send a short abstract with information about the relevant CIFAR programme, their profile and research interests to international@snf.ch. CIFAR will then select the candidates to be invited to the upcoming programme meetings, as the number of participants is limited.