# Lead Agency Process – Project Funding (SNSF as Lead Agency)

**Funder:** SNSF
**Deadline:** 1 October 2026 (Calls on 1 April or 1 October; next upcoming deadline is 1 October 2026. Partner organisation deadline is decisive when SNSF is not Lead Agency; mySNF submission required within 7 days of partner submission.)
**Consortium:** Required — bilateral; Swiss applicant + partner-country applicant (co-applicant). No trilateral applications.
**Application:** Single stage; simultaneous submission to both national funders required. Applications must be in English.
**Frequency:** Annual
**Next round:** 2026-10
**Eligible countries:** CH
**Official call:** https://www.snf.ch/en/Shcb21B7T7hmJBwM/funding/projects/lead-agency-process
**Last verified:** 24 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Joint bilateral research proposals between Switzerland and a partner country (6 countries/regions with Lead Agency agreements). Swiss subproject governed by SNSF project-funding rules; proposals must be in English. Max 2 simultaneous project-funding grants per researcher; max 20% of Swiss budget for additional project partners. Evaluation may take longer than regular SNSF projects due to coordination.

## Summary

The SNSF Lead Agency Process funds bilateral research projects between Swiss researchers and partners in one of six designated countries/regions, with the Swiss component supported under SNSF Project Funding rules. This is a single-stage call open to Swiss-based researchers proposing joint work with collaborators in participating Lead Agency partner countries. Calls run twice yearly (1 April and 1 October), and applicants may hold at most two simultaneous SNSF project funding grants, one of which must be a Weave, Lead Agency, or ICIS scheme.

## Who should apply

- Swiss-based researchers with an eligible partner institution in a designated Lead Agency country
- Teams proposing genuine bilateral collaboration, not Swiss-only or unidirectional research
- Applicants currently holding fewer than two simultaneous SNSF project funding grants
- Projects proposing up to 20% of Swiss budget allocation for additional project partners

## Key dates

- Deadline 1 October 2026 (and 1 April each year on a rolling basis)
- Single-stage submission: simultaneous application to SNSF and partner organisation required
- Eligibility contingent on bilateral partnership with one of six designated Lead Agency countries/regions

## Tips for applicants

- Coordinate pre-submission contact with both the SNSF and your partner funder early; simultaneous filing is mandatory and misalignment delays review.
- Swiss and partner proposals must be scientifically coherent and linguistically equivalent in English; asynchronous development risks rejection on scope grounds.
- Track your concurrent SNSF project funding grants carefully, you can hold at most two, and if you already hold a non-Lead-Agency project grant, your second must be Weave, Lead Agency, or ICIS.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the SNSF Lead Agency Process?

It funds bilateral research projects between a Swiss applicant and a partner researcher in one of six designated countries/regions, with the Swiss component supported under SNSF Project Funding rules and both teams submitting simultaneously to their respective funders.

### Which countries can I partner with in a Lead Agency project?

SNSF has Lead Agency agreements with six designated countries/regions; consult the SNSF website for the current list.

### How often is the SNSF Lead Agency call open?

Twice per year, with deadlines on 1 April and 1 October.

### Can I hold multiple SNSF project funding grants while applying to Lead Agency?

Yes, but you may hold at most two simultaneous project funding grants, and one must be a Weave, Lead Agency, or ICIS scheme.

### Do I submit to SNSF only or to both funders?

You must submit simultaneously to both SNSF and the partner organisation; single submission to SNSF alone does not constitute a valid application.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/snsf-lead-agency-process-project-funding-snsf-as-lead-a-2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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