As the highest decision-making body of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Foundation Council is responsible for making strategic decisions. It ensures that the Foundation stays on mission, defines the position of the SNSF on research policy issues and produces planning documents.
The members of the Foundation Council are drawn from the most important organisations in the Swiss research community (institutions of higher education, Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities, academies, etc.) and include representatives from politics and industry nominated by the Federal Council. The Foundation Council meets at least once a year and its membership is limited to 50 individuals.
The Executive Committee is composed of 15 members of the Foundation Council. Its responsibilities include the election of members of the Research Council as well as the approval of the financial budget, the central regulations and the scope of service agreements with the federal government. The Executive Committee of the Foundation Council convenes at least four times a year.