SNSF
Lead Agency Process – Project Funding (SNSF as Lead Agency)
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.
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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.
Details
| Funder | SNSF |
| Deadline | 1 October 2026 |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Related on Grantsby
- SNSF writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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