# National Centres of Competence in Research – 6+ (SSH) call **Funder:** SNSF **Budget:** CHF 8M–20M (first four-year phase) **Deadline:** 20 October 2026 (17:00 CEST; declaration of intent due 1 September 2026) **Duration:** 8-12 years, divided into four-year periods **Consortium:** Required — minimum 2 home institutions (Swiss higher education/research centres); NCCR team of directors and majority of PIs must be SSH-active **Application:** Declaration of intent → outline proposal (5 p.m. CEST, 20 October 2026) → full proposal (5 p.m. CEST, 20 May 2027, by invitation) **Frequency:** One-off **Eligible countries:** CH **Official call:** https://www.snf.ch/en/FJBJ8XGQ1tjG8J8w/funding/programmes/national-centres-of-competence-in-research **Last updated:** 13 Sept 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Call for long-term interdisciplinary research networks (NCCRs) in social sciences and humanities (SSH), based at ≥2 Swiss home institutions; proposals must be in English; director must hold a permanent position and have SSH background. ## Summary The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are large-scale, long-term research networks funded by SNSF to establish Switzerland as a global hub in strategically important fields. This 2026 call seeks to establish at least one new NCCR in social sciences and humanities (SSH), with SNSF contributing CHF 8-20 million over the first 4-year phase, matched by home institutions. Selected centres operate for 8-12 years in consecutive 4-year phases and require a consortium of at least two Swiss universities with interdisciplinary, interuniversity leadership. ## Who should apply - Researchers with permanent academic positions eligible to serve as NCCR director - Research teams with strong roots in social sciences and humanities, where majority of senior directors and PIs hold SSH appointments - Interdisciplinary consortia spanning at least two Swiss universities with complementary research strengths - Groups with the scale, track record, and governance capacity to manage a long-term networked research programme across multiple institutions - Applicants prepared to secure matching funding from home institutions equal to or exceeding SNSF contribution ## Key dates - Declaration of intent: 1 September 2026 (mandatory prerequisite) - Outline proposal: 20 October 2026 (5 p.m. CEST); full proposal: 20 May 2027 - Selected centres expected to start first half of 2028; 8-12 year duration in consecutive 4-year phases ## Tips for applicants - Declaration of intent is compulsory and gates access to the outline round, submit early to avoid procedural rejection. - The call explicitly requires majority SSH leadership: ensure your director holds a permanent SSH position and that PIs and co-directors are predominantly SSH-affiliated; mixed or engineering-heavy teams will not align with call priorities. - Home-institution matching funding is not optional. Secure written commitments from all partner universities before outline submission; unfunded consortia are not competitive. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much funding does an NCCR receive? SNSF contributes CHF 8-20 million over the first 4-year phase; home institutions are expected to provide matching funding. Total centre budgets typically reach CHF 16-40 million per 4-year phase depending on institutional co-investment. ### How long does an NCCR last? Selected NCCRs operate for 8-12 years, divided into consecutive 4-year phases; continuation into later phases depends on mid-term evaluation. ### Who can be the NCCR director? The director must hold a permanent academic position and have a social sciences or humanities background for this 2026 call. ### What institutions can form an NCCR consortium? A minimum of two Swiss universities or research institutions must partner; the NCCR must be based at multiple home institutions and operate as an interdisciplinary, interuniversity network. ### When is the declaration of intent due? 1 September 2026; submission is mandatory and a prerequisite for eligibility in the outline proposal stage. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/snsf-national-centres-of-competence-in-research-nccrs-2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).