The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is a central instrument for state-funded research and is based on the principle of scientific self-governance. Its activities focus primarily on funding investigator-driven research and promoting junior scientists for which it offers a broad palette of programmes.
The SNSF attaches great importance to funding interdisciplinary research projects and supporting equal opportunities for women and men. The standards for equality are anchored in existing guidelines. In addition to national funding programmes, the SNSF is also committed to initiatives on an international level aimed at reinforcing the pre-eminence of Switzerland as a research location.
The guidelines for medium- and long-term funding policy are in the so-called multi-annual programmes. In addition, the SNSF provides expert opinions on current scientific and research policy issues.