50 years of National Research Programmes: science that serves society

Science comes into its own when it moves beyond academic boundaries and helps society advance and progress. For 50 years now, the National Research Programmes (NRPs) have been building bridges to connect research with the real world. During this time, over 84 programmes have helped provide science-backed answers to current challenges – from digitalisation and climate change to the pandemic. The Federal Council periodically mandates the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to implement these programmes. The NRPs form an important basis for political and societal decisions.

From cardiovascular disease to AI: forward-looking research

The very first NRP in the early 1980s already produced groundbreaking insights. It showed that high blood pressure is the crucial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases – a fact that is taken for granted today. The methodological approach of considering the human body holistically was also innovative and was subsequently adopted by the WHO. In the 1990s, NRP 23 focused on robotics and artificial intelligence. The research institutes that were involved in that NRP – Idiap (Martigny) and Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'intelligenza artificiale (IDSIA) (Lugano) – are now internationally renowned in the field. NRP 31 on climate research, which laid the foundations for current climate scenarios and adaptation strategies, was also forward-looking.

Building bridges between research, policy and business

The NRPs not only support scientific insights, but also their implementation. For example, NRP 72 on antimicrobial resistance developed a monitoring system for prescribing antibiotics, which is now used in everyday clinical practice. Meanwhile, NRP 66 “Resource Wood” contributed to the development of wooden tower blocks in Switzerland.

Businesses have also benefitted. For example, NRP 73 “Sustainable Economy” provided valuable input for companies like V-Zug in areas such as the circular economy. “Working with scientists gives us important impetus to improve sustainable value chains,” says Marcel Niederberger, head of sustainability at V-Zug.

A dialogue of equals

During the coronavirus pandemic, NRP 78 “Covid-19” was launched in record time to rapidly gain science-backed insights into the biology and epidemiology of the virus. Shortly afterwards came NRP 80 “Covid-19 in Society”, which looked at the social implications of the coronavirus pandemic in addition to studying how Switzerland can better prepare for future pandemics. A key element of this programme is the so-called ‘pairing scheme’, whereby researchers engage directly with political decision-makers, reinforcing the dialogue between the science community and policymakers.

In addition, the NRPs foster a diverse research culture. They involve stakeholders from society in a targeted way, such as NGOs, cantonal authorities and agriculture. This interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to research continues to be systematically pursued in NRP 82 to support biodiversity. The close cooperation between actors from the science community and society facilitates the practical implementation of scientific insights.

In a knowledge society such as Switzerland, research is a key economic, societal and political factor. And its importance is growing. A look at the challenges ahead shows that there will be no shortage of relevant topics going forward. The NRPs will therefore continue to play a key role in the coming decades, providing knowledge and insights to support evidence-based decisions to benefit policy, society and business.