In the first quarter of 2024 the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) will launch the MAPS call. The programme will provide funding for projects carried out by Polish researchers in collaboration with partners from Switzerland, as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Romania.
MAPS is a multilateral initiative that promotes knowledge circulation by providing cross-border collaboration opportunities. The programme aims at increasing the competitiveness in the European Research Area and responds to the scientific community’s demand for more international integration and cooperation with colleagues based in Switzerland as well as Central Europe.
MAPS is a part of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. The programme is operated by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) which cooperates with research funders in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.
Joint Research Projects
MAPS will be implemented through joint research projects involving at least one applicant based in Switzerland and two to five additional applicants from two to five of the participating EU-13 countries. Each project is carried out at the research facilities available at the institutions which join the research consortium, while reciprocal visits and short stays may also be supported. An online partner search tool was made available to support partnership formation (link: https://roch.brokerage.uefiscdi-direct.ro/)
The maximum amount of funding for each team in each country is 350,000 francs for four years. All costs of the Polish part of the project are covered by SNSF. The call is not co-funded by NCN or other Polish institutions.
The research projects have a duration of between 36 and 48 months.
The call for proposals will be open to all research areas.
Eligibility
The project must be submitted by a Swiss applicant in the SNSF’s electronic submission system mySNF. It is not necessary to submit the application in the OSF system. Merit based and financial details concerning the Polish side of the partnership must be completed by the Swiss PI in mySNF.
The Polish Principal Investigators must meet the following criteria:
- have obtained their PhD at least 4 years prior to the submission deadline;
- be scientifically independent researchers and be able to lead the project team;
- be employed under an employment contract at an eligible research institution for the duration of the whole project, giving them access to the relevant research infrastructure.
The Polish Principal Investigator must be employed under an employment contract throughout the duration of the project in a Polish institution. Enterprises are ineligible as applicants.
The call is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2024. Further information will follow in due course.