SPIRIT- Swiss Programme for International Research by Scientific Investigation Teams

The SNSF offers a wide range of international funding schemes and works closely with foreign funding organisations to promote cross-border collaboration. The SPIRIT programme facilitates knowledge exchange between Swiss researchers and researchers in selected countries that are receiving development assistance. With SPIRIT, the SNSF is giving Swiss researchers more opportunities to collaborate with partners in many countries around the world.

Funding is awarded to research projects with clearly defined goals that are submitted by excellent research consortia from two to four countries. Researchers from all disciplines can apply for a SPIRIT grant; the topics are chosen by the researchers themselves. The grants contribute to the education of researchers in all participating countries. Special focus will be given to equal opportunities and the promotion of women scientists, as well as to raising awareness of gender-specific questions.

Eligibility for participants:

• A SPIRIT proposal can be jointly submitted by a minimum of two and a maximum of four applicants. At least one applicant must engage in research work in Switzerland, and at least one must do so in an eligible partner country.
• One of the Swiss-based applicants (the responsible applicant) represents the research team.
• The funding periods of SPIRIT grants must not overlap with those of other SPIRIT grants, or of Ambizione or PRIMA grants.
• Eccellenza grantees and SNSF professors may submit a SPIRIT application two years after starting the Eccellenza grant or SNSF professorship at the earliest.
• Swiss applicants must meet the eligibility requirements applicable to SNSF project funding. These requirements apply mutatis mutandis to applicants from abroad.

Funding:

The evaluation is conducted in accordance with the following criteria:

• scientific relevance of the research project;
• originality of the aims and objectives;
• suitability of the methodology, feasibility;
• track record and expertise of the researchers;
• complementarity of the research partners;
• contribution to increasing scientific capacities in the relevant research field; and
• contribution towards raising gender awareness and promoting equal opportunities.

If proposals are deemed to be equal in terms of their scientific quality, proposals submitted by female applicants, or proposals that show better gender awareness, are given priority.

The project duration is 2 to 4 years.

Application process:

Here is the link to the guidelines to apply.