The work of researchers often bears fruit only after years or even decades have passed. Tracing applications back to specific research projects is generally impossible. However, there are some exceptions to this rule where the origin of the central idea for an application can be identified. Here are a few examples:
What’s intelligent about artificial intelligence?
General intelligence may be nothing more than the ability for someone - or something – to achieve their goals in lots of different environments. Applying this insight, Swiss researchers were able to take artificial intelligence to a new level.
Why kids skip school (& what to do about it)
We know that kids skip school, but are only now learning what to do to keep them in the classroom. To find this out, researchers funded by the SNSF asked teachers, parents and the kids who skipped school themselves.
Why you should abandon some of your dreams
Psychologists found that, sometimes, giving up on a dream can make us happier than actually seeing it through. The research funded by the SNSF influenced therapy and coaching worldwide.
- Tuesday, 18 June 2019: Video
How serendipity led to a new cancer treatment
Cancer has proven hard to beat, but a promising new type of treatment can use the disease's own powers against it. The discovery was made by accident by researchers in Switzerland whose aim was studying the immune system.
- Thursday, 20 June 2019: Video
For more examples, visit our Instagram page:
SNSF on Instagram
Why do we need basic research? SNSF-funded researchers share their views:
Christian Cajochen
Sleep researcher at the University of Basel:
Christian Cajochen's project
Mathilde Bouvel
Mathematician at the University of Zurich:
Hugo Zbinden
Quantum physicist at the University of Geneva:
Elsbeth Stern
Cognition researcher at ETH Zurich:
Francesca Falk
Historian at the University of Fribourg:
Fabien Sori
Materials scientist at EPFL:
Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas
Population geneticist at the University of Lausanne: