With its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is participating in the reduction of economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. Among the countries benefiting from the contribution are Romania and Bulgaria, with whom scientific research is one of the chosen areas of co-operation. The "Romanian- Swiss Research Programme 2011- 2016" (RSRP) and the "Bulgarian-Swiss Research Programme 2011-2016" (BSRP) have been established for this purpose. The total funds available for joint research projects from the enlargement contribution amount to approximately ten and four million Swiss francs respectively, whereby 15% will be provided by the partner country. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has mandated the SNSF to conduct the two programmes. There is a longstanding tradition of collaboration between the two organisations, which have jointly supported research co-operations with transition countries since the early 90s (SCOPES and ESTROM programmes).

Research in key areas
The new programmes will be conducted together with a partner organisation from the relevant country and will focus on the following topics:

• Romania: research on major diseases; impact of waste and pollutants on environment and climate; sustainable energy; economic growth and social disparities.
• Bulgaria: ecological forestry/farming and waste management; social disparities and regional differences; drug development; innovative building methods and materials.

The projects will be submitted and conducted by research groups in Romania, Bulgaria and Switzerland and will run for three years. The call for proposals for Romania is open from 30.09.11 to 31.01.12 and the call for Bulgaria in all probability from 15.11.11 to 15.03.12.

(From: SNSFinfo print No 14 / October 2011)