While the total number of applications declined
by almost 6%, the requested funding remained stable compared to summer semester
2014. The decline in the number of submitted applications was in evidence in
all areas of research.
The decline was strongest in
mathematics, the natural and engineering sciences, as well as in biology and
medicine (-8% and -6% respectively), but less pronounced in the humanities and
social sciences (-3%). In terms of the amount of funds requested, the humanities
and social sciences, as well as mathematics, the natural and engineering
sciences, registered a slight decrease (-1% and -2% respectively) whereas a
minor increase was recorded in biology and medicine (+3%).
The SNSF will evaluate the submitted
proposals in the coming months and communicate its funding decisions by October
2015.