This round closed on 20 October 2026. The details below are from that round.
SNSF
National Centres of Competence in Research – 6+ (SSH) call
17:00 CEST; declaration of intent due 1 September 2026
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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.
Details
| Funder | SNSF |
| Budget | CHF 8M–20M (first four-year phase) |
| 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 |
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.
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.
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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