NRP 80 "Covid-19 in society": 25 research projects approved

The National Research Programme "Covid-19 in Society" (NRP 80) will generate findings relevant to Switzerland on the societal dimensions, processes and measures involved in dealing with pandemics. Based on this, recommendations and concrete measures will be developed, tested and implemented together with the relevant actors across society.

45 project proposals comprehensively reviewed

For NRP 80, a total of 227 pre-proposals from disciplines in the humanities and social sciences were submitted at the beginning of the year and evaluated by an international panel. Of these, 46 were invited to submit a project proposal; 45 responded. All 45 proposals were comprehensively evaluated by at least two external reviewers and the NRP 80 Steering Committee. The evaluators assessed the scientific quality of the projects and their relevance for the political sphere and society at large, as well as the potential transferability of the results to the practical field and the coverage of different topics.

Wide range of topics

The 25 research projects recommended by the NRP 80 Steering Committee and confirmed by the SNSF Research Council address a wide range of research questions. Researchers will examine the impact of the pandemic on work and learning environments, family structures, social cohesion and politics, as well as individual and collective coping. They will focus on different regions as well as different age and population groups, from children and young people to senior citizens and people with impairments or with a background of migration. Just under half (12) of the selected projects are led by a female researcher.

The budget for the 25 research projects amounts to more than 11 million francs. The researchers will be able to start their work in December 2022.

• List of the 25 research projects approved for NRP 80 "Covid-19 in Society"
• Website of NRP 80 "Covid-19 in Society"