Lead Agency process

The Lead Agency process allows researchers in Switzerland and a partner country to submit a joint research proposal to either of the two national funding organisations.

Weave
Project funding is the SNSF scheme that supports Lead Agency applications. SNSF rules apply to the subprojects in Switzerland. The participation requirements of the partner organisation apply to the subproject abroad.

A Lead Agency application can be submitted provided there are no thematic overlaps with project funding grants that are already under way.

Because of coordination activities with the partner organisation, the evaluation usually takes longer than for regular projects.

The Lead Agency process does not support trilateral applications. But you can collaborate with researchers from further countries by designating them “project partners”, regardless of whether the SNSF has signed an agreement with the countries in question. No more than 20% of the Swiss budget can be allocated for project partners.

Costs are calculated on the basis of the relevant national guidelines.

In most partner countries, the success rates are lower than the SNSF rates. These lower rates are applied to Lead Agency applications submitted to the SNSF.

Who the Lead Agency will be, and the corresponding application requirements, will depend on the agreement in place with the country in question. In general, one submission per year is possible either to the SNSF or to the partner organisation. Please consult the respective country pages.

If the evaluation is carried out by a partner organisation, the application must still be submitted via mySNF within seven days.


You can find more information on this page.



Contacts facultaires