The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are an innovative funding instrument provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The program supports long-term research projects in areas that are of strategic importance to the future of science, the economy and society in Switzerland.
Funding is awarded to research projects of outstanding quality which have a special emphasis on both interdisciplinary and new innovative approaches within disciplines. In addition, the initiative encourages the merging of academic talent, enhances the distribution of the workload between the research institutes in Switzerland, and promotes partnerships between academia and the outside world. Moreover, the NCCRs emphasise the recruitment of junior researchers, the transfer of knowledge and the advancement of female researchers.
The management office of each NCCR is situated at a university or another recognised research institution. In addition to the research groups based at the home institution, each NCCR serves as a network in which the other teams working throughout Switzerland are directly involved.
The NCCRs are financed largely through federal funds that are budgeted by parliament. These are complemented by resources from the universities involved and third-party contributions. Launched in 2001, the program currently includes 20 NCCRs.