a) Do I have to be employed at a research institute in order to be eligible to submit a proposal to Spark?

No, not necessarily. You are also eligible if you can find a research institution in Switzerland that is willing to host you for the duration of the project. In this case, you will have to provide a commitment letter from this institution, signed by the head of the institute/department or the grants office.

b) Am I permitted to submit a Spark application if I am already getting support through other SNSF funding schemes?

Spark applications and grants are allowed independently from applications or grants under other SNSF funding schemes. Furthermore, Spark does not breach any restrictions in career funding (Ambizione, Eccellenza or PRIMA). There needs to be a substantive thematic difference between the projects, however. SNSF-funded project staff may submit Spark applications if they terminate their employee status before starting their project in the event of their application being approved.

Withdrawal confirmation template for employees in SNSF projects

c) Since the proposals are anonymized, am I allowed to cite my own work in my Spark proposal?

Yes, you are allowed to cite your own work. However, you should be careful not to reveal that it is yours.

d) I do not have a doctorate (PhD or MD-PhD). Am I eligible to submit a proposal to Spark?

If you do not have a doctorate, you should have completed at least three years of research work as your main source of income since getting your higher education degree. This will be regarded as equivalent to a doctorate. Doctoral students are not eligible.

e) Will there be any further Spark calls?

No further calls are planned for 2020. However, if the evaluation of the pilot phase 2019-2020 confirms the positive experiences to date and if enough money is available, the SNSF will continue the Spark funding scheme in the coming ERI period. The relevant submission deadlines will be communicated in due course.

f) Can I apply for a Spark project that is longer than 12 months?

The maximum duration of a Spark project is 12 months. In exceptional cases, and if scientifically sufficiently justified based on the project description, the applicants may apply for a maximum project duration of two years. However, the maximum budget remains fixed at CHF 100,000. A typical example would be a project that is seasonal and requires measurements to be made over two consecutive seasons.

Projects with a duration of more than 12 months will not be accepted if the duration is not sufficiently justified for scientific reasons. Administrative reasons will not be considered.

g) If the Spark applicant is already employed for the duration of the project, can they cover a part of their salary with the Spark grant?

Persons who are already paid for their research work should in principle not apply for funds for their own salary. Applicants who work part-time and who would absolutely need to increase their working time to be able to work on their Spark project may ask for a small percentage of salary. UAS/UTE professors, who must supplement their salary for their research, may request a supplement for the time spent on the Spark project.

The persons concerned will have to send a letter of confirmation from their institution to confirm the additional percentage of employment.

h) What kind of costs are eligible?

The eligible costs for a Spark project are detailed in Article 7 of the Spark Regulations. The total budget must not exceed CHF 100,000, including salary and social costs.

Spark regulations

i) Can I conduct the project with a team, even though only one applicant is permitted?

​As an applicant, you assume responsibility for the project and represent it legally vis-à-vis the SNSF. You may list project contributors in your application in order to substantiate the feasibility of your project idea. These are persons and groups with whom you will collaborate nationally or internationally within the framework of the project. Please note the chargeable costs in the Spark Regulations.

Spark Regulations

j) No existing data on the research project are required. Is it not possible to collect data in the scope of the Spark project?

The idea must be original/new and unconventional. It is therefore to be expected that only few or no preliminary data are available. This does not mean, however, that data should not be collected in the scope of the project, on the contrary.

k) If my Spark project is funded, is it possible to start it more than four months after the decision date?

No. The purpose of Spark is to fund only highly topical projects which require quick implementation.