The Federal Act on Research states that the SNSF and the federal authorities need to sign a service level agreement (SLA) for every muli-year period. The basis for this agreement are the multi-year programme of the SNSF and the BFI dispatch of the Federal Council. The BFI dispatch usually addresses a four-year period. However, to bring the financial dispatches into line with parliamentary planning, the Federal Council presented a one-year dispatch for 2012 only. Similarly, the SLA between the federal authorities and the SNSF covers only one year. In terms of targets and measures, the agreement is based on the dispatch of 2008-2011.

Continuation with some changes
The new agreement reiterates the most important targets and indicators for the year 2012, while others have been adjusted in view of the new funding period 2013-2016. In addition, the SNSF has introduced new activities such as the SDC-SNSF Fund for Research on Global Issues. The fund, which was established earlier this year, promotes sustainable global poverty reduction and the protection of global public assets in developing countries. Initial calls for two out of five pre-defined research areas as well as for projects defined by researchers are expected to be published in early 2012.

Encouraging overhead results
Since 2009, the SNSF has contributed to the indirect research costs of SNSF funded projects at research institutions by paying overhead contributions. A report on the introduction of overhead payments showed that the simple model implemented by the SNSF has proven effective. Based on the positive results, the SNSF issued permanent overhead regulations in October 2011. The Federal Council approved these regulations on 16 December.