Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
The Swiss partner of the QUANT-ERA Consortium is the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Mandated by the federal government, the SNSF supports basic science in all academic disciplines. To ensure its independence, the SNSF was established as a private foundation in 1952. Its core task is the evaluation of research proposals. By awarding public research money based on a competitive system, the SNSF contributes to the high quality of Swiss research.
The aims of the SNSF are:
- Quality. We promote scientific excellence. We also expect our own performance to be of a high standard.
- Independence. We operate autonomously and evaluate impartially.
- Responsibility. We are a reliable partner. We fulfil our tasks judiciously and always act ethically.
- Fairness. Our decisions are well-founded and we respect equal opportunities.
The SNSF is organised in four divisions (Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Natural and Engineering Sciences, Biology and Medicine, Programmes). Furthermore, three Specialised Committees are responsible for cross-divisional matters (International Co-operation, Careers, Interdisciplinary Research). In addition, the SNSF supports several joint programs designed to reinforce international collaboration with key partner countries.The Presiding Board consists of the President of the Research Council and the Presidents of the divisions and specialised committees. It supervises and coordinates the work of the Research Council and drafts science policy recommendations for submission to the Foundation Council. It focuses mainly on funding policy, the elaboration of funding schemes, evaluation methods and the distribution of funds across the individual scientific disciplines. The Mathematics, Natural and Engineering Sciences division, which will be the Programme Owner and Manager at the SNSF, yearly awards project grants typically worth CHF 140 million. Part of this budget is dedicated for ERA-Nets.
Contact Person: Georges Klein, e-mail: georges.klein@snf.ch