New SNSF co-directors: bolstering research, shaping change, securing the future

Katrin Milzow and Thomas Werder Schläpfer had been members of the Executive Management for a number of years and assumed their new roles during a period of upheaval in research, in which the SNSF is also undergoing a transformation process. “In its over 70-year history, the SNSF has always been able to adapt in a forward-looking way. This is partly thanks to the system of honorary bodies,” says Katrin Milzow.

The two co-directors are well-acquainted with the SNSF’s current challenges and are ready to take them on: “We look forward to strengthening research in Switzerland in the years ahead. Our core funding principles, i.e. competition, quality and independence, will remain unchanged as they foster creativity and flexibility among researchers. At the same time, we are continually developing our funding schemes supported by data and evidence. Our goal is to have straightforward funding mechanisms aligned with our broad understanding of excellence and committed to promoting a strong research culture. This, in turn, will make research more resilient and equip our society to navigate future challenges. Central to this effort is ongoing dialogue with partners such as universities, academies, Innosuisse and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Our Delegates Assembly also plays a vital role,” says Katrin Milzow.

Strengthening research – securing the future

This year, however, the budget cuts proposed by the Federal Council present a significant additional challenge for the SNSF. “The SNSF is calling for these cuts to be abandoned as their impact will extend far beyond the thousands of researchers and hundreds of projects directly affected,” explains Thomas Werder Schläpfer.

The envisaged cuts would considerably undermine Switzerland’s position as a leading hub for science and weaken the quality of its research. They would also diminish the SNSF’s capacity to help train the highly qualified staff that the economy needs. “Basic research provides answers to the pressing questions of today and tomorrow, thereby securing our future. If we fail to invest sufficiently in artificial intelligence, for example, Switzerland risks becoming reliant on other countries in the future,” says Thomas Werder Schläpfer.

Focusing on excellence and innovation

Since assuming the co-directorship on 1 April, Katrin Milzow and Thomas Werder Schläpfer have shared their vision with the staff. They want the SNSF to remain an organisation of experts that is effective, innovative and agile, working in partnership with the Research Council. As a key organisation, the SNSF will maintain an ongoing, forward-looking dialogue with national and international stakeholders, positioning itself as a reliable partner with a strategic focus on the international science and research community. “In the current geopolitical context, it is especially important to be proactive and to step up international collaboration in a targeted way,” say the new co-directors.

This commitment to strong, collaborative and forward-looking research will enable the SNSF to select the most promising research projects and attract and support the next generation of researchers in Switzerland, benefiting the entire population and our shared future. “This joint work should provide a better understanding of the importance and impact of this research on Swiss society, innovation and the national economy,” stress the co-directors.