Please note: The Spark Regulations are currently being updated. For the latest information and documents about the Spark call 2020, please check this space regularly.
The aim of Spark is to fund the rapid testing or development of new scientific approaches, methods, theories, standards, ideas for applications, etc. It is intended for projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach. The focus is on promising ideas of high originality, relying on no or very little preliminary data. Taking risks is very welcome, but not a requirement in itself. The focus is on projects or ideas that are unlikely to be funded by other available funding schemes.
It is open to any applicant with a doctorate or equivalent qualifications. Spark is a pilot funding scheme for 2019-2020.
The proposals are evaluated in a double-blind reviewing process (i.e. the identity of the applicant will not be disclosed to the evaluators). In this way, the SNSF aims to ensure that the evaluation will focus on the idea for the project.
Applicants can request between CHF 50,000 and CHF 100,000 for a project duration of six to twelve months. The project must start within three months after the decision.
Participation requirements
Spark grants
- Duration: six months to one year.
- Maximum grant amount: CHF 100,000; minimum grant amount: CHF 50,000
- The Spark grant may cover the applicant’s salary.
- The project must start no later than three months after the decision is communicated.
- Open to all disciplines.
Applicants
- Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent qualification, i.e. they must have completed at least three years of research work as their main source of income since obtaining their higher education degree.
- In specific cases, two or more applicants are eligible per application if needed to achieve the targets set for the proposed activities. The maximum total grant remains at CHF 100,000. Each applicant must meet the eligibility requirements for the submission of applications.
- The applicant(s) must either be employed (no minimum work quota required) at a Swiss institution providing the necessary infrastructure at least for the duration of the project, or have the support of a Swiss host institution providing the necessary infrastructure for the duration of the proposed project. An employment contract is not necessary at the time of submission.
- At the time of submission or during an ongoing Spark project, applicants may also receive grants under all other SNSF funding schemes.
Restrictions
- It is not allowed to have more than one ongoing Spark project.
- Applicants may submit only one Spark application per 12 months.
- Parallel submissions of the same project to other funding schemes are not accepted.
- Doctoral students cannot be employed on a Spark project.
How To
The applications can be submitted via the mySNF platform as of 15 February 2020.
The SNSF recommends reserving enough time for entering the proposal in mySNF. Setting up a new mySNF user account can take up to one week. Detailed instructions on entering and submitting proposals can be found in mySNF.
Proposals must be submitted in English and must contain the following information and documents:
- Administrative information and budget as per the requirements set out on the online submission platform;
- A project description (five pages plus maximum one page summary, plus bibliography), provided in the template made available on mySNF;
- A short statement explaining why the applicant(s) can lead the project successfully given their background and the available infrastructure.
Only the project description will be transmitted to the evaluators. It must be fully anonymised , i.e. the document should be written in such a way that the evaluators cannot guess the identity, the position or the institute of the applicant(s). Particular attention must be paid if referring to one’s own publication.
Evaluation procedure
Assessment criteria
The relevant criteria for the award of Spark grants are:
- originality/novelty of the idea
- scientific quality of the project
- potential impact (scientific, societal, economic, cultural
- unconventionality
Double-blind evaluation
The proposals are evaluated in a double-blind process by members of a dedicated international pool of experts. The experts only evaluate the submitted project plan without knowledge of the identity of the applicant(s).
Documents
FAQ
-
No, not
necessarily. You are also eligible if you find a research institute in
Switzerland willing to host you for the duration of the project. In this case,
you will have to provide a commitment letter from this institute, ensuring that
you will have access to the necessary infrastructures for your project.
-
Yes, as
Spark is not in conflict with restrictions in career funding, you can submit an
application even if you are already being funded by the SNSF. There needs to be
a substantive thematic difference between the projects, however.
-
Yes, you
are allowed to cite your own work. However, you should be careful not to point
out that it is your own work.
-
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 obtaining your higher
education degree. Such research work will be regarded as equivalent to a
doctorate.
-
Yes, one further call is planned on 11 March 2020. Please note that applicants may submit only one Spark application per 12 months.
-
The maximum duration of a Spark project is 12 months. Only in exceptional cases and if sufficiently justified based on the project description, the applicants may apply for a maximum project duration of two years. However, the maximal budget remains set at 100’000 CHF. A typical example would be a project that is season dependent, where it is necessary to make measurements two seasons in a row.
Projects of more than 12 months with no sufficient justifications will not be accepted. Administrative reasons will not be considered as sufficient justifications.
-
Persons paid for their research 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 could eventually 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.
-
The eligible costs for a Spark project are detailed in article 7 of the Spark regulations. The total budget must not exceed 100’000 CHF, including salary and social costs.
Spark regulations
News
-
04.12.2019
The first Spark call has been a great success: the SNSF will support 284 projects with 27 million francs. 354 researchers will be taking part.
Spark budget almost trebled: Details
-
20.08.2019
The new Spark funding scheme has generated enormous interest. Young researchers in particular are applying to the SNSF for financial support.
More than 700 ideas submitted: Details
-
05.06.2019
The SNSF is launching its new funding scheme Spark. With this innovation, the SNSF will be focusing more strongly on daring research approaches and ideas that show potential. The aim: risk-taking projects should also have a chance to receive funding.
Spark: The new SNSF scheme for unconventional projects: Details
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14.05.2019
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is closing a gap in its research funding portfolio: its new funding scheme Spark focuses on promising or daring ideas that would otherwise fall between the cracks.
Spark supports original research projects: Details