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Discovery

For experienced researchers

Who can apply for a grant?

  • You are carrying out research at a Swiss university, federal institute of technology, university of applied sciences and arts, other research institution as defined by the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA; Article 4 & Article 5).
  • You have the skills required to lead a research project independently.
  • You are able to manage the project’s scientific and non-scientific staff.
  • You are submitting your proposal as a single applicant or as part of a small consortium (maximum of three applicants).
  • For the duration of the project, you will be employed by a Swiss research institution as defined by Articles 4 and 5 of the RIPA.
  • You are employed with a workload of at least 50% full-time equivalent (FTE).
  • You are able to successfully run a research project and manage the project’s scientific and non-scientific staff.
  • You will make a substantial contribution to the proposed project and are able to work independently without receiving instructions from third parties.
  • The research facilities necessary are available to you.

For applications submitted by a consortium of up to three applicants, each of you:

  • Must satisfy the eligibility requirements for applications.
  • Must be part of a different and independent research group.
  • Is personally responsible for the project.

Regulations
Checklist

Tips

  • If you are employed on a temporary contract, ensure that you provide proof that your institution will employ you for the duration of the project.
  • Check that each member of the consortium is eligible. If in doubt, contact the BRIDGE office.
  • If you can’t find your research institution on the list of universities and research institutions on mySNF, contact the BRIDGE office.
  • Your project aims to develop innovative products or services based on the findings of your research.
  • Your project is based on research that has been peer reviewed, published or backed up by other work.

Regulations
Checklist

Tips

  • There must be a balance between the scientific and implementation parts of the project. Set out a clear strategy for achieving societal impact and/or bringing your innovation to market.
  • The evaluation criteria include the project’s commitment to sustainable development and impact on the economy, society and the environment.

What you get from BRIDGE

  • We will fund your project for up to four years.
  • The maximum total costs must not exceed 850,000 Swiss francs per applicant over four years.
  • We will cover salary costs for project employees as well as expenses directly related to running your project.
  • Coverage of applicant salaries is not included in the BRIDGE Discovery budget. Applicants employed by a university of applied sciences and arts or by the CSEM may, however, receive a salary supplement under certain conditions.

From the idea to the decision

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  • The regulations set out in detail the criteria and general conditions that your project must meet.

Regulations
Checklist

Tips

  • Carefully read the evaluation criteria outlined in the regulations.
  • BRIDGE Discovery does not support projects focused on research only. Do not overlook the implementation part of your project.
  • Collaborations between universities, federal institutes of technology and research institutions on the one hand, and universities of applied sciences (UAS), and universities of teacher education (UTE) on the other, are looked upon favourably during the evaluation process.
  • The evaluation criteria include the project’s commitment to sustainable development and impact on the economy, society and the environment.
  • You must first submit a letter of intent at mysnf.ch. This allows the BRIDGE office to prepare for the evaluation of Discovery projects.
  • Please note that submission of a letter of intent is a prerequisite for submitting a full application.

Regulations
Letter of intent template

Tips

  • Use the template provided for the letter of intent.
  • Although a definitive budget is not required when you submit your letter of intent, you will have to provide an overall budget for the project.
  • The letter of intent does not form part of the evaluation but allows the BRIDGE office to check that your application meets the formal requirements.
  • You can submit your project proposal at mysnf.ch. Please use the forms and templates provided.

Regulations
Checklist
Project description template

Tip

  • Check the regulations to ensure that the requested budget only includes eligible costs.
  • Based on the criteria set out in the regulations, the BRIDGE office will check the documents submitted and inform applicants if they are ineligible.

Tip

  • Your application will be checked in the days following the application deadline. You will have two days to make any corrections; so make sure you are available to update your proposal after the application deadline has passed.
  • Based on the criteria set out in the regulations and taking into account the opinion of outside experts, the evaluation panel will assess applications received and draw up an initial shortlist.

Tip

  • Be patient: if you are shortlisted for a personal presentation, you will be informed a week before the interview date at the latest. You will also be informed if your project has not been shortlisted. Please wait until you have received the decision letter before contacting the BRIDGE office.
  • If your project is shortlisted, the evaluation panel will invite you to a personal interview.
  • You will present your project and answer questions from members of the panel.

Tips

  • Your presentation must take the form of a pitch that is clear and understandable for people who are not experts in the field.
  • It must also outline your implementation plan and the roles of different partners during the project.
  • Guidelines on the content of the presentation will be sent with the interview invitation.
  • The evaluation panel will submit its recommendations to the Steering Committee for a final decision.
  • You will be informed of the decision in writing, usually within seven months of submitting your application.

Tips

  • If you project is rejected, carefully read the decision letter and contact the BRIDGE office if you have any questions.
  • A rejected application may be re-submitted once if it is revised compared to the first version.

Realized projects

Random selection

Nowadays, research groups at universities and in the industry are intensively using miniature biological organisms, such as the eggs of zebrafish Danio rerio, for studies in genetics, development and behavioral biology, toxicology, etc. Using the exa ...

Applicant:
Bonnet Frank
Institution:
EPF Lausanne - EPFL
Type:
Bridge - Proof of Concept
Innovation Field:
Micro Processing
Date:
01.09.2019 - 28.02.2021
SNF Datenportal:
Keywords:

Automation; Machine learning; Microfluidics; Zebrafish;

This project aims to enable cost-effective label-free imaging of biological samples and non-destructive testing of semiconductor structures with significant performance improvements to standard methods. This will be achieved by utilizing a recently d ...

Applicant:
Pupeikis Justinas
Institution:
ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Type:
Bridge - Proof of Concept
Innovation Field:
Photonics
Date:
01.09.2021 - 31.08.2022
SNF Datenportal:
Keywords:

Dual-comb; Label-free imaging; Lasers; Microscopy; Non-destructive testing; Nonlinear; Thin-film thickess measurements; Ultrafast;

Numerous processes in the life sciences exhibit a trend towards reduced sample volumes. Several process steps require the reliable, reproducible, and contamination-free manipulation of samples with a single-cell selectivity, i.e. in the range of 10-1 ...

Applicant:
Schuck Marcel
Institution:
ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Type:
Bridge - Proof of Concept
Innovation Field:
Biotechnology and Processing
Date:
01.07.2021 - 30.06.2022
SNF Datenportal:
Keywords:

acoustic levitation; acoustic tweezers; acoustofluidics; cell handling; laboratory automation; Microscopy; piezoelectric transducers;