In its first 60 years as a research funding agency, the SNSF invested over CHF 11 billion in scientific research. During this period, it evaluated more than 70,000 applications in project and career funding and awarded fellowships for a stay abroad to more than 20,000 young scientists.
Since their inception in 1975, the SNSF has launched approximately 70 National Research Programmes (NRPs), to which it has contributed funds of over CHF 660 million. In the space of 10 years, the SNSF also made available CHF 627 million for the 28 National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) set up since 2001.
When the SNSF started its funding activities, the annual budget at its disposal amounted to CHF 4 million. Twenty-five years later, it reached CHF 124 million and exceeded CHF 800 million after 60 years.
The SNSF added numerous funding opportunities to its portfolio over the years. Today, researchers can submit applications to a wide range of schemes within project funding, careers, programmes, infrastructures or science communication.