National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)
From sustainable architecture to the evolutionary origins of language to quantum computers: the NCCRs fund long-term research projects on topics of strategic importance to Switzerland.
The NCCRs maintain and sustainably strengthen Swiss research in areas that are important for the future of science, the economy and society at large. The NCCRs achieve this by promoting outstanding research and creating additional teaching and research capacities.
An NCCR is always based at one or more higher education institutions. One of these home institutions hosts the NCCR management. The NCCRs moreover form a network with partners from the academic, public, and private sectors. In so doing, they improve the structures and international connectedness of the Swiss research community.
The NCCRs also implement measures in five additional areas:
Education and training of the next generation of scientists
Equal opportunities
Open science
Knowledge and technology transfer
Science communication and outreach
In 2026, a sixth series with 6 new NCCRs will be launched and the 8 NCCRs of the fourth series will end their activities. By the end of 2026, there will be 12 ongoing NCCRs from the fifth and sixth series. The first five NCCR series have been launched in 2001, 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2020 respectively, and since 2001, a total of 48 NCCRs have been established.
On behalf of the Swiss Confederation, the SNSF periodically launches new NCCR calls and announces upcoming calls in a timely manner.
Ongoing NCCRs
Concluded NCCRs
- NCCR Affective Sciences
- NCCR Climate
- NCCR CO-ME
- NCCR Democracy
- NCCR FINRISK
- NCCR Genetics
- NCCR Iconic Criticism
- NCCR IM2
- NCCR Molecular Oncology
- NCCR MaNEP
- NCCR Mediality
- NCCR MICS
- NCCR Nanoscale Science
- NCCR Neuro
- NCCR North-South
- NCCR Plant Survival
- NCCR Quantum Photonics
- NCCR sesam
- NCCR Structural Biology
- NCCR Trade Regulation
- NCCR Chemische Biologie
- NCCR Kidney.CH
- NCCR LIVES
- NCCR MUST
- NCCR QSIT
- NCCR Robotics
- NCCR SYNAPSY
- NCCR TransCure
Youtube Channel #NCCRWomen
NCCRs implement measures to improve equal opportunities and to promote early-career scientists. As women are underrepresented in science, the NCCRs put promoting their scientific careers centre stage. To mark the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage in Switzerland in 2021, the NCCRs have started series of short films profiling female scientists who play a key role in many different areas of Swiss research.
Reports
- Evaluation of the Selection Process of the 5th Series (PDF)
- Swiss National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR): Evaluation of the selection process (PDF)
- The NCCR instrument and its structural effects (German)
- Examen systématique des effets de l'instrument Pôles de recherche nationaux PRN (série 1, 2001 - 2013) (French) (PDF)
Key Figures
News
Year