Scientific Exchanges: new funding scheme for international events and visits
The SNSF is optimising its support for international exchanges between researchers by merging its existing funding schemes Scientific conferences, International Exploratory Workshops and International Short Visits into one.
In recent years, an increasing number of researchers have approached the SNSF requesting financial support for scientific conferences, International Exploratory Workshops and International Short Visits. Around 260 conferences and workshops were hosted with the help of SNSF funding last year. The SNSF also funded 130 research visits by top researchers to Switzerland, or by Swiss researchers who visited a host institution abroad. As of April 2017, these funding options will be merged into a single scheme to be known as Scientific Exchanges. Researchers will find it easier to apply, as the new scheme combines different kinds of exchange. The change will also simplify application management and streamline the funding portfolio. The SNSF intends to continue funding scientific exchanges in future with an annual budget of up to CHF 3.4 million.
Grants for scientific exchanges can be requested for events and visits in all disciplines. In the case of scientific events, the travel expenses and food and board costs of participants from abroad are covered; for research visits, the travel, food and board costs of guests in Switzerland or abroad can be charged to the grant. While there are no fixed submission deadlines, applications must be submitted at least four months before the event or the start of the research visit.